Sonus Faber has inaugurated its 40th anniversary with the launch of its most ambitious speaker system to date—the Suprema. The unveiling, marked by a high-profile celebration and an extravagant four-day event featuring Kate Moss, showcases a system priced at £695,000. This remarkable setup includes two main speakers, two subwoofers, and an electronic crossover, setting a new standard for luxury audio.
Innovative Design and Heritage
The Suprema system continues Sonus Faber’s tradition of blending aesthetic elegance with advanced technology. The main speakers are designed with a distinctive lute-inspired shape, paying homage to the Guarneri violins of Cremona, Italy. Multi-layer wood panels create a visually striking ‘wing’ effect through a sophisticated 3D bending process, while the leather front panel, developed in collaboration with the luxury furniture brand Poltrona Frau, enhances the system’s opulence.
The subwoofers feature an elliptical shape reminiscent of the Stradivari violin, facilitating the accommodation of large transducers for robust low-frequency performance. The electronic crossover is housed in a sleek rectangular chassis, available in red, graphite, or walnut finishes, blending functionality with refined aesthetics.
Advanced Acoustic Technology
The Suprema speakers are advanced 4/5-way designs, incorporating eight front-firing drivers and two backfiring drivers. Key innovations include the new Camila midrange driver, which utilizes a non-circular pulp diaphragm to achieve superior resolution and reduced resonances. This driver is supported by a dual-drive magnet and an organic basket, previously used in the Stradivari woofers, to enhance airflow control.
Complementing the midrange driver are a new mid-tweeter and super tweeter, both featuring treated silk domes. These components are arranged within a bespoke internal volume, designed for optimal performance. Notably, Sonus Faber has utilized recycled cork in the acoustic chamber’s construction, setting a new standard in sustainable high-fidelity audio materials.
Superior Subwoofer Performance and Isolation
The subwoofer system, designed to operate independently from the main speakers, features two 38cm transducers with carbon fiber membranes and a neodymium magnet motor system. This configuration ensures undistorted sound pressures down to 16Hz. Additionally, the speakers are isolated from the ground using a mechanism developed in collaboration with IsoAcoustics, which enhances stability and performance.
Cutting-Edge Crossover Technology
The electronic crossover in the Suprema system is a dual mono, fully balanced design that uses purely analogue phase cutting and control circuits. It manages the integration between the speakers and subwoofers, pushing the boundaries of conventional frequency band coverage. Sonus Faber asserts that the crossover filters, partially visible on the sides of the main columns, incorporate the most advanced electroacoustic configurations developed by their R&D team over the past decade.
Conclusion
Sonus Faber’s Suprema system not only marks a significant milestone in the brand’s 40-year history but also sets a new benchmark in luxury audio. Combining exceptional craftsmanship, innovative technology, and a deep respect for acoustic tradition, the Suprema represents a pinnacle of high-fidelity audio achievement.
