Bookshelf Speakers — Sonoro ORCHESTRA

The ORCHESTRA is the first generation of sonoro's compact bookshelf speaker, a passive two-way design with a bass reflex port, made by sonoro audio GmbH, based in Neuss in Germany, and developed as the external speaker for the sonoro MAESTRO all-in-one receiver. It went on sale in June 2020 through specialist shops at a recommended price of EUR 999 per pair. It was later followed by the ORCHESTRA (Gen.2), and this first version has also been sold by sonoro as a refurbished product.

Key specs that matter

A low-midrange driver with a PE coated cone, a sturdy cast frame and twin magnets covers the lower band. High frequencies are reproduced by a neodymium-driven Air Motion Transformer, and the filter point between the two drivers sits at 2,500 Hz. sonoro states a frequency range of 44 Hz to 28 kHz and a sensitivity of 88 dB SPL at 2.83 V RMS and 1 m. The load is rated at a nominal 4 ohm, with sonoro suggesting amplifiers of 50 to 170 W. Each speaker measures 210 x 288 x 365 mm and weighs 10 kg.

Engineering and use context

sonoro chose the Air Motion Transformer because it produces high sound pressure with only small membrane amplitudes, and the strong neodymium drive supports that aim. The low-midrange unit relies on the rigid die-cast basket to keep the driver frame from flexing. The speaker was developed in Germany, and sonoro describes its wooden housing as a timeless design intended for everyday home furnishing. The cabinet is built from high-strength HDF with an internal matrix to reduce vibrations, and its surfaces are hand-sanded before finishing. The first series used a fine piano lacquer with aluminium accents, available with a black or a white surface, with a matt graphite version also listed later. Despite the compact size, sonoro describes the pair as suited to larger rooms, and in practice it fits a living space of 20 m2 or more on stands or a sturdy shelf. Being a passive design, the speaker has no built-in amplifier, streaming or controls.

Pairing

The natural partner is the sonoro MAESTRO receiver, which was designed together with this speaker and supplies the amplification and sources. Any other stereo amplifier or receiver within the recommended power range and stable into low impedance loads is also suitable, and a solid state integrated amplifier is the straightforward choice for the modest sensitivity.

Alternatives

The sonoro ORCHESTRA SLIM is a narrower bookshelf speaker in the sonoro range, pairing an Air Motion Transformer with a 5.25 inch mid-bass driver.