“Homage collection has its root in the Sonus faber DNA of highest craftsmanship tradition and excellence in sound performances. A visit to the Sonus faber website reveals the following in description of their Homage collection. The Oxford pocket dictionary provides the following definition: Homage n.
I was forewarned that I was likely going to like the speaker I was about to hear.īrownie points for those that picked up on how many times the words homage and tradition are used in the Sonus faber nomenclature… Now, let’s look into that. The Amati Tradition’s little sister, the Serafino has also been reviewed by my esteemed editor, Edgar Kramer, to great acclaim. This latest iteration of Amati is the top model in the Sonus faber Homage collection (sitting just below the company’s specialty and limited models, the Extrema, Il Cremonese, Lilium and the new Aida as launched at the Warsaw show recently – see story and show report here – culminating in the said-to-be-one-off The Sonus Faber). Sonus faber has been producing loudspeakers under the Amati moniker for a number of generations – the Amati, Amati Homage Anniversario, Amati Futura and now, the topic of this review, the Amati Tradition. Andrea’s grandson, Nicolo Amati provided apprenticeships to other famous instrument-makers including Andrea Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari (though his tutelage of Stradivari apparently remains under some contest within the right circles). Tradition followed the Amati family, with further refinements in Andrea’s designs over successive generations, leading to improvements in the instruments’ appearance and musical tone. His works were commissioned by the nobility and royal houses of Europe and examples from this period are held treasured today in museums around the world. Although similar designs existed from other craftsmen in the mid-16th century, Amati formulated and standardised the constituents and form profile of the instruments. The company is still entrenched in the tradition of the design and creation of fine handcrafted loudspeakers echoing the aesthetics and artisanal qualities that first solidified their phenomenal reputation.Īs a burgeoning audiophile many years ago, I can still recall reading through the pages of the audio press admiring many of the Sonus faber creations (and lusting after their ownership), including the Guarneri, the Cremona, the Stradivari and of course, the Amati.Ĭremonese instrument maker Andrea Amati was the designer of the first violins – the violin, viola and cello. Therefore, while much has changed in the foundations of the overall ‘brand’, some things still remain the same at Sonus faber. Further company restructuring from 2014 onwards saw the corporate branding change from World of McIntosh to the current The McIntosh Group while new offices and a high-end demonstration and corporate events space were established in New York, the latter known as ‘The Townhouse’ in trendy SoHo. While Sonus faber was the first of these companies to be acquired, the Fine Sounds Group progressively increased their holdings over the subsequent few years under the strategic guidance of major stakeholders, Italian private equity firm Quadrivio SGR as well as new CEO, Mauro Grange. Incorporating Audio Research, McIntosh Labs, Wadia Digital, Pryma and the distribution companies Fine Sounds Asia and Sumiko, with Sonus faber yet another notable brand under the sizable umbrella. The Sonus faber brand was acquired in 2007 by US holdings company, The Fine Sounds Group. Founded in 1983 by renowned designer, the late Franco Serblin, Sonus faber loudspeakers are widely held amongst the most distinctive and admired in the world. Italian firm Sonus faber is one that is steeped in tradition. Garrecht’s excellent review published on November 15 can be read here, while below, as an independently reinforcing viewpoint from the other side of the world, is Givorshner’s thoughtful take on this remarkable design… Edgar Kramer While SoundStage! Ultra’s Aron Garrecht was thoroughly putting the Amati Tradition through its paces, SoundStage! Australia’s own Joshua Givorshner was tenaciously penning his own views on this important speaker from Sonus faber. From the Editor – Sometimes the convergence of worlds results in events that flout with the laws of the universe.
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