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Sonus Faber Il Cremonese
A Tribute to History and Innovation
The result of both scientific research and deep passion, Il Cremonese pays tribute to Antonio Stradivari’s classic violin.
STRADIVARI’S MASTERPIECE
Il Cremonese is an homage to Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari’s greatest creation. Celebrated for his relentless pursuit of acoustic perfection in string instruments, Stradivari’s 1715 masterpiece, named “Il Cremonese”, remains unmatched. This exceptional instrument stands out for its rich and balanced sound, characterized by a powerful Sol chord and remarkable agility - a testament to Stradivari's enduring legacy in the world of music.
HISTORY, REMADE
Il Cremonese’s form brings together technological innovation and unique design, while paying homage to a centuries-long tradition of Italian violin-making. Its cabinet features fine non-parallel walls with Avional surface treatments, an alloy commonly used in aircraft and aerospace industries. The rhomboidal diamond design optimizes the structural solidity of the wood cabinet while creating clean and elegant lines.
ACOUSTIC PERFECTION
Each transducer’s acoustic environment is meticulously designed to deliver flawless sound. Every volume is insulated with individually-selected materials - from open cell thermoplastic foam to fibrous materials similar to those used in pianos - to optimize the performance of each application.
IL CREMONESE’S STRIKING FINISHES
A harmony of Sonus faber’s signature natural materials
FORM AND FUNCTION
Innovative design concepts, created by Sonus faber’s Research & Development team, enhance both the sound and beauty of Il Cremonese.
Rhomboidal Diamond Design
The innovative "Rhomboidal diamond design" enhances wooden cabinet structural integrity with a unique, recognizable diamond shape inspired by Lilium. It introduces clean lines and an elegant, minimal, sharp design.
Damper Shelves
The "Damper Shelves" in Il Cremonese, created from Avional alloy slabs, collect vibrations to eliminate spurious sounds, ensuring the purity of the musical message.
Intrawoofer Design
To reproduce lower frequencies, Sonus faber developed the SW 22 XT-08, featuring a potent 220 mm infra-woofer with a 2.5" long stroke voice coil and an ultra-dynamic magnetic motor for exceptional performance.
DAD Tweeter
The DAD 28 XTR-04 "Arrow point" tweeter combines the timbre of classic dome drivers with the advantages of a ring tweeter. It uses a "Damped Apex Dome" to prevent resonances and control diaphragm movement at the soft dome's apex.
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Sonus Faber Il Cremonese pairs a storytelling, lyrical midrange with a huge, enveloping soundstage: dense, stable images and muscular low end from the dedicated infra‑woofers. Its multi‑chamber, lute‑shaped cabinet controls resonance while delivering impactful dynamics. Jules Coleman praises its musicality, and Audiophilepure notes the modern voicing — a reference‑class floorstander that invites extended listening.
Pros
- Lush, storytelling midrange that engages the listener and conveys musical narrative.
- Wide, dense soundstage with stable, space‑occupying imaging from top to bottom.
- Powerful, authoritative low end and compelling, propulsive dynamics aided by the infra‑woofer array and multi‑driver layout.
- Premium build and resonance control — multi‑chamber, lute‑shaped cabinet and isolated driver chambers reduce vibration and improve clarity.
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Cons
- Tweeter can sound occasionally forward or a touch intense on some material.
- Voicing departs from Sonus Faber’s older ‘glorious midrange’ signature — a modern presentation that may not suit traditionalists.
Sound Quality
93/100
Bass
96/100
Large cabinet with dual 220mm plus dual 180mm woofers and claimed 35Hz response; reviewers note dedicated 'infra-woofers' and recommend placement to exploit low-end. EnjoyTheMusic highlights the speaker's ability to disappear and present music with authority; no reviewer says it needs a sub. Given driver complement and reviewer praise, bass merits reference-class (excellent) marks.
Mid
90/100
EnjoyTheMusic praises storytelling and musical presence in the midrange, noting coherent, engaging vocals and instrument timbre. Audiophilepure flags a shift away from the brand's older 'glorious midrange,' making this area very strong but with some observers feeling the traditional Sonus Faber mid signature is less prominent.
Treble
91/100
Reviewers describe high resolution and leading-edge transients; EnjoyTheMusic notes the tweeter can occasionally be a touch intense and might 'benefit from a more understated presence.' Overall treble is extended and detailed, with a slightly forward presentation at times.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
EnjoyTheMusic reports a soundstage that spans sidewall to sidewall with stable, dense images that occupy space over time. Audiophilepure criticizes a change from the brand's previous expansive envelope, but both agree imaging is sharply focused and wide—excellent width/depth with slightly different voicing expectations among reviewers.
Dynamics
95/100
Both reviews emphasize propulsive, modern dynamics and leading-edge transients; EnjoyTheMusic calls it an 'intense' modern speaker while Audiophilepure highlights its slam and transient authority. Headroom and impact are frequent positives in the reviews.
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Build Quality
96/100
Massive, lute-shaped double-curvature cabinet, multi-chamber driver mounting, heavy construction and premium finishes are repeatedly praised. Reviewers note extensive vibration-control design and high-end components consistent with Sonus Faber's Reference line aesthetics and engineering.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive tower baseline applied. Binding posts provide separate Mid-Hi and Low connections (bi-amp/bi-wire capable), but feature score held at passive baseline.
Value for Money
85/100
At ~$40–50k/pair (review cites $50,000), reviewers position the Il Cremonese as expensive yet competitively priced versus higher-end Sonus Faber models (Coleman calls it roughly one-third the price of the Aida II), making it a strong-value proposition within ultra-high-end peers for buyers seeking this presentation.
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