Sonner Audio builds the Legato Unum as a two-way monitor and the compact member of the Legato series, which also includes the Legato Semis and Legato Duo floorstanders. Sonner Audio was launched in 2015 by two partners with industrial and electrical engineering backgrounds, who had spent 25 years developing their loudspeaker designs and drew on 20 years of engineering, business and manufacturing work at large multinational corporations. Their stated aim was to offer well-made loudspeakers at accessible prices to music enthusiasts in markets worldwide. The Unum shares its driver pair, crossover point and electrical ratings with the Legato Semis, placing the same design in a smaller box meant for stands. Above the Legato models, Sonner catalogues a Reference series made up of the Allegro Unum MKII, sold in black or white versions, plus a Signature Edition.
Key specs that matter
A 1 inch ring radiator tweeter works with a mid-woofer of 5.5 inches with a coated paper diaphragm, crossing over at 2.5 kHz. The enclosure is bass ported. Sonner quotes a frequency range of 43 Hz to 23 kHz and sensitivity of 87.5 dB. Nominal impedance is 8 ohm, and the minimum figure is given as 5 ohm. Recommended amplifier power runs from 10 W to 200 W. Each cabinet measures about 21 cm wide, 32 cm high and 45 cm deep, with a weight of 9 kg net, or 13.6 kg as shipped.
Engineering and use context
Sonner forms the enclosure as a one piece molded curved cabinet rather than a box assembled from flat panels, a construction Sonner applies across the Legato line. Its crossover follows the topology Sonner names Symmetrical Panoramic Design. Sonner recommends a stand height of 66 to 70 cm. Finish choices listed for the Unum are semigloss cherry, red rosewood and satin black or white.
Pairing
Since the Unum asks for very little power and its impedance stays fairly benign, low-output valve amplifiers qualify, while its broad upper power limit leaves room for high-powered solid state units as well. Sonner designed the Legato range so that it can run from a valve amplifier or a transistor one, whether small or large.
Alternatives
The Sonner Allegro Unum MKII is the brand's other two-way monitor, built around a 6 inch magnesium cone woofer crossed at 2 kHz behind an aluminium front baffle.