Stand Loudspeaker Reviews

Sidebar 4: Manufacturer's Comment

Editor: When it comes to electroacoustic design choices, Sonus Faber's tradition, approach, and philosophy is to trust human perception over measurements, valuing vivid and natural sound over all else. However, we do feel that measurements, instruments, and technology are essential tools in achieving the final goal of the most natural sound reproduction possible. We always place emphasis on the electrical behavior of our creations; our impedance response never drops below 85% of the nominal value and always with minimum phase rotation (within ±36 degrees) in order to guarantee an easy match with virtually any amplifier.

Studying human hearing perception means being aware that it is not linear at all, another cultural asset which influenced Sonus Faber in designing speakers the way we do. The slight lack of energy in the crossover region is purposeful because this is the range of frequencies where our human hearing is most sensitive, and we compensate for that. For the exact same reason, we also introduced increased energy in the high frequencies: There, the human hearing apparatus is less sensitive.

One of the benefits of this design choice is testified to by the excellent staging ability of the Olympica Nova I (also highlighted by the review) and of course requires a custom-designed tweeter able to sound transparent and detailed without being harsh or aggressive when pushed.

The highlighted midband emission coming out of the duct is an effect relative to the minimal fill displacement inside the enclosure. Adding some extra damping material would have avoided this emission but would have seriously compromised bass speed and articulation, so, after having carefully checked that such rear-firing emission has no impact in the front side midband presentation, we made our choice after also evaluating that this will be easily dissipated by the listening environment.—Paulo Tezzon, Chief of Acoustics Sonus Faber