Напольная акустика — Sonus Faber STRADIVARI G2

The Stradivari G2 is a large passive floorstander by the Vicenza-area Italian company Sonus faber, and the second generation of the Stradivari model. It was shown at High End 2023 in Munich with a pair price of EUR 50,000. The G2 was re-engineered with all new parts, a new crossover topology and an updated industrial design by Livio Cucuzza. The first 120 pairs carry individually numbered commemorative plates.

Key specs that matter

The layout is 3.5-way with four bespoke Sonus faber drivers. A 28 mm DAD Arrow Point tweeter sits above a 150 mm midrange with a neodymium magnet system, and two 260 mm woofers with a Dual Drive Motor System work below them. The tweeter hands over to the midrange at 2,200 Hz and the midrange to the upper woofer at 220 Hz, while the lower woofer runs only below 160 Hz. Rated response begins at 25 Hz, sensitivity is 92 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m, and nominal impedance is 4 ohm. The cabinet is 137.4 cm tall, 71.5 cm wide and 42.8 cm deep, and the net mass per speaker is 63 kg. Finishes are Wenge, Graphite and Red, each with an upward slanting woodgrain on the front baffle.

Engineering and use context

The enclosure is tall, wide and shallow, with a pentagonal geometry that replaces the elliptical outline of the first Stradivari. The midrange driver is loaded by a closed chamber of its own using Intono technology, which Sonus faber says reduces the complexity of the crossover. The woofer section is vented through the Stealth Ultraflex system, and Clepsydra Technology shapes the reflex port to get the most from the low frequency range. A Low Frequency Adjuster lets the owner change the tuning of the lowest octaves. A window in the lower rear panel shows the crossover board inside, and the rear plate has a double terminal set allowing bi-wired or bi-amplified connection. In the 3.5-way scheme the two woofers share the deep bass, but only the upper one extends up to the midrange.

Pairing

Suggested amplifier power is 100 W to 600 W. Given the high sensitivity, the lower end of that range is usable, while the low nominal impedance suggests an amplifier specified for low-impedance loads. The dual terminals allow two stereo amplifiers, or one stereo amplifier per speaker, to drive the woofers and the upper section separately.

Alternatives

The Sonetto V G2 is a smaller Sonus faber floorstander, a three-way design with two woofers and a Camelia midrange.