Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Clear, perfect sound, due to reduced disturbing vibrations
- The Sound Field Shaper system ensures flawlessly accurate stage images at any room size
- A seamless soundstage that never sounds like a woofer, tweeter, and midrange in a cabinet
- Tonal accuracy and contrast that are the most natural and convincing
- The high-frequency spectrum is well represented with a high degree of resolution and the ability to render musical detail without harshness, distortion, or fatigue
Product Considerations
- Perfection doesn't come cheap
- Aida may not be the speakers you take home because of the high price
- The bass isn't as aggressive, gut-punching, or pants-flapping as that of a few favorite audiophile darlings
- Small amplifiers run out of juice when called upon to really rock
- Older Sonus faber speakers are often criticized for a midrange glow that borders on coloration
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Magico/Wilson Audio/YG Acoustics: Aida has a different approach
- Vs QUAD 57 or the MartinLogan CLX: Aida provides a seamless soundstage that never sounds like a woofer, tweeter, and midrange in a cabinet
Takeaway: The Aida is a luxurious speaker that strives for—and achieves—perfection in sound and artistic design. It delivers a live concert hall level of performance without distortion, offering an unmatched listening experience.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Aida
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- System: 3 and 2/3 way, Sound field Shaper technology, Zero Vibration Transmission™ technology, para-aperiodic vented box "Stealth Ultraflex System™" and staggered low frequency floor standing loudspeaker system
- Sensitivity: 92 db SPL (2.83 V/1 m)
- Frequency response: 18 Hz – 35000 Hz
Description
Born from the heart of Italy's rich musical heritage and artisanal tradition, Aida maintains its typical lute shape with sinuous lines, clad in refined wood and leather. Every curve is deliberate, calculated to enhance both the aesthetic and acoustic experience.
The pinnacle of acoustic immersion.
A reference to Giuseppe Verdi's timeless opera. Inspired by tradition, reinvented with innovative technology.
A unique project
Born from the heart of Italy's rich musical heritage and artisanal tradition, Aida maintains its typical lute shape with sinuous lines, clad in refined wood and leather. Every curve is deliberate, calculated to enhance both the aesthetic and acoustic experience.
A familiar design, elevated to new heights
While maintaining its captivating design elements, Aida presents upgrades in sound engineering. Its "Silent Case" curved on both sides ensures great control over the energy within the speakers.
The signature warm and involving timber is preserved through Mid and High frequencies that encapsulates the "Voice of Sonus faber", determined by a 28mm silk dome tweeter and a mid-range with cellulose pulp cone.
UNFORGETTABLE sound
Accurate sound. Wider dynamic range. Aida delivers enhanced bass depth and minimized sound distortion, reducing external noise interference while giving better control over the sound's dimensionality.
A reference to Giuseppe Verdi's timeless opera. Inspired by tradition, reinvented with innovative technology.
A unique project
Born from the heart of Italy's rich musical heritage and artisanal tradition, Aida maintains its typical lute shape with sinuous lines, clad in refined wood and leather. Every curve is deliberate, calculated to enhance both the aesthetic and acoustic experience.
A familiar design, elevated to new heights
While maintaining its captivating design elements, Aida presents upgrades in sound engineering. Its "Silent Case" curved on both sides ensures great control over the energy within the speakers.
The signature warm and involving timber is preserved through Mid and High frequencies that encapsulates the "Voice of Sonus faber", determined by a 28mm silk dome tweeter and a mid-range with cellulose pulp cone.
UNFORGETTABLE sound
Accurate sound. Wider dynamic range. Aida delivers enhanced bass depth and minimized sound distortion, reducing external noise interference while giving better control over the sound's dimensionality.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- The brand distinguishes itself through its "Lute" shaped cabinet design, aimed at minimizing internal resonances and optimizing sound dispersion.
- Sonus Faber tunes its speakers to be relatively neutral and non-fatiguing, yet also rich and full, making them enjoyable for long listening sessions across various music genres.
- Sonus Faber leverages its Italian heritage by incorporating materials like leather, wood, and sometimes concrete, into its designs, creating visually striking products.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Lumina V Amator
- Positioning: A slender 3-way floorstanding speaker designed for those seeking powerful, immersive sound in a compact form.
- Description: Impresses with its upgraded crossover network, enhancing the listening experience with improved frequency response. Compared to the Sonetto VIII, it offers a more compact design suitable for smaller spaces, while still delivering robust sound. Its use of iconic Sonus Faber materials like wood and leather provides a luxurious feel, making it ideal for those with a moderate budget seeking high-quality aesthetics and performance.
Sonetto VIII
- Positioning: The flagship model of the Sonetto collection, representing a high-end luxury speaker with a focus on natural sound.
- Description: Stands out with its use of a bespoke cork chamber to enhance midrange clarity, a feature borrowed from the flagship Suprema. It offers a powerful 3-way design, making it suitable for larger rooms compared to the Lumina V Amator.
Olympica Nova V
- Positioning: The flagship of the Olympica Nova collection, embodying Sonus Faber's Natural Sound signature.
- Description: Features a 3-way ported tower design with three woofers for powerful low frequencies, setting it apart from the Sonetto VIII's 3-way design. Its asymmetrical lute-shaped cabinet minimizes internal resonances, offering a purer sound.
Serafino
- Positioning: Part of the Homage collection, offering a balance of artistry and sonic excellence.
- Description: Incorporates upgraded drivers and a refined crossover, delivering a soundstage that captures the essence of live performances. Compared to the Amati, it offers a more compact design while still providing a rich, full sound.
Amati
- Positioning: The flagship of the Homage collection, inspired by the artistry of violin craftsmanship.
- Description: Features advanced Neodymium magnets and ultra-light voice coils for precise sound control, distinguishing it from the Serafino's design. Its elegant lute-shaped cabinet and meticulous craftsmanship make it a top choice for audiophiles seeking the ultimate listening experience.
Suprema
- Positioning: The pinnacle of Sonus Faber's design, representing the most ambitious project in their lineup.
- Description: Features a sophisticated four-column system, including two main columns and two subwoofers. Its innovative combination of drivers and external electronic crossover sets it apart from the Amati and other models.
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Avg. Product Price
$100,001+
Used For Sale
71
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
33
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
42
Founding Year
1983
Our take on the brand
Sonus Faber is an Italian hifi brand that designs speakers with unique lute-shaped cabinets inspired by traditional violin-making, featuring wood and leather materials to achieve a natural sound. Their speakers incorporate distinctive elements like cork chambers for midrange drivers and asymmetrical driver baskets that mimic natural forms, with each unit being individually tuned by ear to ensure tonal perfection.
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Our interview with the brand
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Sonus Faber
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Sonus Faber
Suprema
750000
/
Released
2024
The most ambitious project of Sonus faber to date, Suprema reflects the pinnacle of audio engineering. Building on a legacy of artisanal design and a relentless pursuit of perfection, Suprema honors the 40th anniversary of a brand dedicated to pushing the boundaries of audio excellence.
Sonus Faber is an Italian hifi brand that designs speakers with unique lute-shaped cabinets inspired by traditional violin-making, featuring wood and leather materials to achieve a natural sound. Their speakers incorporate distinctive elements like cork chambers for midrange drivers and asymmetrical driver baskets that mimic natural forms, with each unit being individually tuned by ear to ensure tonal perfection.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The Suprema system stays very clean, however loud it is played
- It sounds great at any volume level
- The Suprema delivered sound precisely as recorded without a hint of subdued highs, understated midrange, or ill-defined bass, being musical and replete with fine musical detail
- The system's imaging was outstanding, presenting a properly scaled, well-proportioned soundstage
- Subwoofers blend seamlessly with main speakers on good stereo systems, with the Suprema system demonstrating how complete such integration can be
Product Considerations
- Without a subwoofer, the Suprema wouldn't qualify as a full-range system, needing it to have a flat response down to 16Hz
- The Suprema system requires ample amplification, needing hundreds or even thousands of watts
- Room modes can affect bass reproduction, requiring careful subwoofer placement
Takeaway: The Suprema has innovative features and a brilliant implementation of known technologies, and it offers invaluable acoustic flexibility, marking a transformative direction for Sonus Faber. The seamless integration of subwoofers and main speakers provides exceptional sound quality at any volume level.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Sonus Faber is an Italian hifi brand that designs speakers with unique lute-shaped cabinets inspired by traditional violin-making, featuring wood and leather materials to achieve a natural sound. Their speakers incorporate distinctive elements like cork chambers for midrange drivers and asymmetrical driver baskets that mimic natural forms, with each unit being individually tuned by ear to ensure tonal perfection.
Product Page
Product Page
Burmester
BC150
150000
/
Released
2021
The new BC150 loudspeaker model by Burmester is now making the innovative leaps in sound quality, technology, and design from the Signature Line possible for other product lines. Within this loudspeaker model, elements of the BC350 loudspeakers from the Signature Line were incorporated.
Burmester, a high-end audio brand renowned for its German craftsmanship, designs and handcrafts its components in Berlin. Known for its distinctive industrial aesthetic with chrome finishes, the brand supplies premium sound systems for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Detailed, exciting, dynamic, and transparent sound
- Vanishingly low cabinet coloration, contributing to speed and detail
- Lung-emptying, bowel-clearing, demolition-grade bass
- Bass integrates well with the rest of the frequency range for an integrated musical performance
- Voices have breath and contour, yet the result always retains a minimum of warmth
Product Considerations
- Room acoustics should be a strong consideration, as the BC150 reveals room issues
- Needs a lot of quality electronics upstream
- Requires firm control and ample current capacity from the amplifier
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The BC150 sounds more like a Burmester B38 with greater abilities to scale
Takeaway: The Burmester BC150 is a high-precision audio instrument that is both musically communicative and musically analytical, offering a detailed and transparent listening experience. It offers clarity and purity of sound, and brings music to another level.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Burmester, a high-end audio brand renowned for its German craftsmanship, designs and handcrafts its components in Berlin. Known for its distinctive industrial aesthetic with chrome finishes, the brand supplies premium sound systems for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
Product Page
Product Page
Borresen
M3
283975
/
Released
2023
The M3 speakers are the perfect blend of form and function, which reflects the excellent and highly productive partnership between two great minds in the audio industry – Michael Børresen and Flemming Erik Rasmussen. The sleek and elegant design of these speakers, combined with their outstanding audio performance, makes them a testament to Audio Group Denmark's commitment to audio excellence.
Børresen Acoustics stands out for its iron-free magnetic motors and cryogenically treated metal components, which reduce inductance for clearer sound. The brand's speakers feature unique elements like zirconium-based 3D-printed baskets and a patented ribbon tweeter design, combined with series crossover networks for phase-locked electrical current across frequencies.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The M3 presents music with an unprecedented degree of individuality and specificity, without sacrificing tonality, texture, or body
- Remarkable level of resolution
- Astonishing transparency and is resolute
- Accurate tonality and represents timbre faithfully
- Exceptional high-frequency detail and speed due to a planar tweeter
- Accepts only banana terminations
Product Considerations
- The planar tweeter misses the very last measure of extension, shimmer, and effortlessness accomplished by the very best available today
- Low-frequency extension was limited to the high 20 Hz, low 30 Hz range
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Magico M9, the M3 has recalibrated the resolution yardstick by which all other loudspeakers must be measured and compared
- Compared to Von Schweikert Audio ULTRA 9s, the M3 has recalibrated the resolution yardstick by which all other loudspeakers must be measured and compared
Takeaway: The Børresen M3 loudspeakers boldly represent the realization of striking potential in audio and push known boundaries. People who choose the M3 will enjoy a specific level of playback that is unavailable from other loudspeakers.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Børresen Acoustics stands out for its iron-free magnetic motors and cryogenically treated metal components, which reduce inductance for clearer sound. The brand's speakers feature unique elements like zirconium-based 3D-printed baskets and a patented ribbon tweeter design, combined with series crossover networks for phase-locked electrical current across frequencies.
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Wilson Audio
Alexx V
154000
/
Released
2021
The original Alexx loudspeaker, launched in 2016, quickly gained critical acclaim throughout the industry. Alexx benefited from several elements developed during the five years Wilson Audio's founder David A. Wilson, and his unwavering R&D team, brought to life his magnum opus: the WAMM Master Chronosonic. Now, five years after the monumental accomplishment of the WAMM, Alexx V builds upon the original Alexx's success by offering a completely re-engineered performance envelope without greatly increasing the footprint. Comparing the overall size of Alexx V to the original, Alexx V is only 1" deeper and 1" taller while maintaining the same width.
Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Sublime image size and expansiveness, coupled with an ability to be driven as hard as your ears or your amps can take
- A sense of balance to the sound of the Alexx V makes renewal possible, expressive and articulate from the deepest bass to the highest treble
- Trickle-down benefits from the WAMM Master Chronosonic and Chronosonic XVX
- Bass performance is otherworldly
- The Alexx V has the ability to uncover and continue to deliver micro-details at extremely high SPLs, even after that slam of a transient
Product Considerations
- Some power behind the throne is needed, because the loudspeaker's impedance plot drops to two ohms at 250Hz
- The dome tweeter does sacrifice the last ounce of micro-detail, compared to the insane resolving power of the best diamond and beryllium drivers
- The choice of finish needs to be considered with care
- Cable management can impact performance
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the original Alexx, the Alexx V is a massive improvement—closer to a baby XVX in so many ways
- Compared to the Alexia 2, the Alexx V was more than a mere additive sum, a step-function improvement
- Compared to the Wilson XVX and WAMM Master Chronosonic, the tweeter is effortless and resolving by normal standards, but no match for the extraordinary levels of detail retrieval
Takeaway: The Alexx V offers a sublime listening experience with excellent balance and dynamic range that allows the listener to get closer to the music. It is a worthy contender for those looking to upgrade their listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Product Page
Product Page
Linn
360
110180
/
Released
2023
360 is audibly invisible. It produces a performance with unprecedented clarity and realism, that's entirely absent of sonic colouration. Incorporating innovative drive unit and amplifier technologies, 360 turns out our lowest ever levels of audible distortion. The honed curves of its cabinet are partnered with meticulously matched drive units to deliver the cleanest possible dispersion characteristics.
Linn is a hifi brand known for its modular designs, particularly the Sondek LP12 turntable where users can upgrade virtually every component over time to maintain performance across decades. The brand stands out for developing its own technologies in-house, including the Organik DAC with FPGA processing and Space Optimisation, which models room acoustics without needing microphone measurements.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent imaging, providing a strong stereo image for multiple listeners due to wide dispersion and Space Optimisation+
- Flexible and capable of playing all kinds of music, getting out of the music's way, and suitable for both large and smaller rooms
- Dynamic, detailed, and can play at a wide range of volume levels, from quiet listening to near PA levels
- Features a new driver array, including a Beryllium dome tweeter, thin-ply woven carbon fiber midrange (used on NASA's Mars Rover), and aluminum-magnesium alloy bass units
- Incorporates new amplifier technologies—'Power DAC' for the lower bass and 'Adaptive Bias Control' for the mid and treble—reducing distortion
Product Considerations
- The midrange dome is exposed, which might be a concern with children
- Owners of previous Linn systems may find the price difficult to accept
- Some audiophiles may prefer Linn to trawl its past rather than building its future, and they will want an Isobarik
- Some audiophiles may not be able to see past the LP12
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The 360 offers significantly improved imaging and soundstaging compared to the Klimax 350
Takeaway: The Linn 360 is a high-end loudspeaker that provides excellent sound quality and flexibility, making it a great choice for enjoying music with friends or for personal listening sessions. Its innovative design and technology deliver a detailed and immersive audio experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Linn is a hifi brand known for its modular designs, particularly the Sondek LP12 turntable where users can upgrade virtually every component over time to maintain performance across decades. The brand stands out for developing its own technologies in-house, including the Organik DAC with FPGA processing and Space Optimisation, which models room acoustics without needing microphone measurements.
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