Sonus faber had a very busy 2022 with some impressive new CI home theater systems that were showcased at CEDIA 2022 and one of the best sounding car audio systems we have ever heard. We flew all the way to Italy to experience it for ourselves inside of a 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo SUV; taking this system and turbo-charged vehicle through the Italian countryside was an unforgettable few days.
We also took a tour of the Sonus faber factory and during that visit noticed that engineers and Chief of Design, Livio Cucuzza, were quietly working on reviving one of their most expensive loudspeaker collections.
Reviving the Sonus faber Homage Collection wasn’t that simple for a number of technical and financial reasons; the design team had to come up with some very innovative and meaningful changes to justify the high price of admission, and everything is a lot more expensive to manufacture right now.
Sonus faber have offered a preview of the first 3 models; detailed information in regard to the Sonus faber Vox Center Channel Loudspeaker is coming soon.
The extension of the current collection highlights Sonus faber’s deep Italian heritage, commitment to its artisans’ craftsmanship, and progression of the brand’s product collection, paying tribute to the musical instruments that inspired the collection’s creation.
The collection honors the genius of the talented creators of musical instruments and the lute making tradition with roots in Cremona, Italy.
Famous Italian families including Amati, Guarneri and Stradivari sought to achieve the highest recognition and achievement in their craft, creating timeless works of art cherished for their perfection in sound and desired for their sublime beauty.
Inspired by the genius of those creators and by their perfect technique and intuitions, Sonus faber developed their Homage speakers, blending performance technology with uncompromising, natural materials and refined design to achieve a sensorial experience of the highest quality.
“The most complex, but also exciting moment for a designer is when he is called upon to improve a timeless icon,” said Chief of Design, Livio Cucuzza. “How do you innovate a product whose image is immune to the passage of time and the changing fashion trends? The only way is to take a step back, reflect and deeply understand why that product was initially created. I faced this challenge straight on with my team at Sonus faber. The third generation of Homage was the first product I worked on, and the latest launch we are unveiling is the fifth – the most evolved, the most mature, but equally authentic and special. A story that repeats itself, crossing the evolutionary path in different stages of my own life, never ceasing to fascinate me and make me proud to be part of it.”
The extension of the Homage Collection will be represented in 4 models available in 3 finishes – red, wenge and graphite. The new models feature the brand’s latest INTONO Technology, new phase coherent philosophy, a new phase plug and the latest innovation in woofer design.
- Guarneri (5th generation)
- Serafino (2nd generation)
- Amati (5th generation)
- Vox (3rd generation)
Guarneri
The fifth generation Sonus faber Guarneri will retail for $19,000/pair (USD), which includes stands and is equipped with a new midwoofer that reduces resonance and delivers nuanced acoustic detail.
New crossover technology lowers the noise floor and eliminates background noise, delivering three-dimensional sound with the timing and layers of a live performance.
Serafino
The second generation Serafino will retail for $26,000 USD/pair (USD) and is a rather substantial 3.5-way design (43″ x 15.6″ x 19″) weighing almost 110 pounds apiece.
In eighteenth century Venice, Santo Serafino masterfully built violins with matching beauty and sound. In keeping with his legacy, the second generation of the Sonus faber Serafino speakers marries artistry and sonic excellence. Enhanced technology creates the sensation of a live performance, delivering pristine and powerful sound.
Amati
The $36,000/pair (USD) Amati fifth generation floorstanding speaker channels the visionary brilliance of Nicolo Amati, the Italian renaissance violin maker who understood the link between artistic form and musical function. New technology delivers balanced sound with stunning detail matching the elegance of the Amati’s exterior design. The Amati is the flagship of the Homage range (46.3″ x 16.2″ x 20.1″) and each loudspeaker weighs 112 pounds apiece.
Vox
Comparison
| Guarneri | Serafino | Amati | |
| MSRP (USD) | $19,000/pair | $26,000/pair | $36,000/pair |
| Type | 2-way | 3.5-way | 3.5-way |
| Tweeter | 1-inch DAD Arrow Point | 1-inch DAD Arrow Point | 1-inch DAD Arrow Point |
| Midwoofer | 1x 6-inch Neodymium Magnet System | 1 x 6-inch Neodymium Magnet System | 1 x 8-inch Neodymium Magnet System |
| Woofer | – | 2 x 7-inch | 2 x 8.6-inch Dual Drive Motor System |
| Crossover | 2,200Hz | 200Hz – 250Hz – 2,400Hz | 200Hz – 270Hz – 2,200Hz |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz – 35,000 Hz | 30 Hz – 35,000 Hz | 28 Hz – 35,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 86 db SPL (2.83V/1 m) | 90 dB SPL (2.83V/1 m) | 91 dB SPL (2.83V/1 m) |
| Nominal Impedance | 4 ohm | 4 ohm | 4 ohm |
| Suggested Amplifier Power Output | 30W – 125W | 50W – 300W | 50W – 450W |
| Dimensions | 14.8 x 9.4 x 14.7 in | 43 x 15.6 x 19 in | 46.3 x 16.2 x 20.1 in |
| (377 x 239 x 375 mm) | (1091 x 396 x 485 mm) | (1176 x 411 x 512 mm) | |
| Net weight each | 32.19 lbs | 109.92 lbs | 112.36 lbs |
| (13 kg) | (48.5 kg) | (55.5 kg) |
Price & Availability
The new Homage Collection will be available through authorized Sonus faber Dealers beginning January 2023 in graphite, red, or wenge finishes.
- Guarneri – $19,000/pair
- Serafino – $26,000/pair
- Amati – $36,000/pair
- Vox (coming soon)
For more information: sonusfaber.com
Related reading: A Look Inside Sonus faber: Italian Artistry in Sound
