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Sonus Faber Il Cremonese ex3me
A Fusion of Master Artisanship and Innovation
The Cremonese Ex3me comes to life by fusing original design elements of Il Cremonese with advanced technology in a celebration concept model.
AN ENDURING LEGACY
The original Il Cremonese takes its name from renowned Italian luthier Antionio Stradivari’s most famous creation: a masterpiece violin lauded for its great vitality and surprising tonal balance. The innate versatility of the electroacoustic configuration of the original speaker revealed it to be a very effective bench test for new technological advancements. The result: complete sound neutrality, without resonance or coloration.
ACOUSTIC ELEGANCE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
Il Cremonese Ex3me speakers are designed to deliver an uncompromisingly precise and transparent sound, without any interpretation of the musical message. This makes the speakers suitable as an extremely high-performance professional studio monitor. Il Cremonese Ex3me combines elements from the original project, such as midrange and woofers, with cutting-edge solutions to create Sonus faber’s 30th anniversary concept speakers.
IL CREMONESE EX3ME’S STRIKING MATERIALS
A harmony of Sonus faber’s signature natural materials
ANNIVERSARY CONCEPT MODEL
Il Cremonese Ex3me’s revolutionary neutral sound enhances the underlying design concepts of the original Il Cremonese through novel electroacoustic innovations.
TWEETER
Il Cremonese Ex3me leverages aBeryllium DLC tweeter, which has exceptional transparency and micro dynamics. The Beryllium DLC tweeter delivers highly detailed sound free of coloration, thanks to a custom treatment pioneered by the Sonus faber Research & Development team.
MIDRANGE
The dedicated mid-frequency transducer delivers a clean timbre through the iconic “Voice of Sonus faber” design concept. The midrange driver leverages a combination of natural materials to deliver uncompromising dynamic and true sound.
WOOFER
The dual woofers of Il Cremonese Ex3me, each with a diameter of 180 mm, are placed in an independent acoustic chamber, acoustically amorphous and fitted with ‘Stealth Reflex’ ducts. The woofers use a combination of natural and technical materials to deliver transparent and pristine low frequencies.
INFRA-WOOFER
The two side-firing infra-woofers are a new design concept introducedfor Il Cremonese Ex3me. Their diaphragm is made from nanocarbon fiber, sourced for its incredible structural rigidity.
THE CROSSOVER NETWORK
The blend between the Beryllium DLC tweeter and the midrange is obtained courtesy of a totally redesigned mid-high crossover network, using non-inductive resistors and air core inductors. The entire crossover network implements Paracross Topology™, a trademark technology involving a special circuit that makes the crossover less sensitive to radio frequency interference, thereby lowering the noise floor.
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The Il Cremonese ex3me delivers strikingly refined microdynamics and air from its DLC beryllium tweeter, paired with powerful, tightly controlled deep bass from dual woofers and infra‑woofers. StereoNET and Best of High End note its pitch‑perfect tonal balance, exquisite craftsmanship and wide, layered soundstage—an ultra‑exclusive flagship for collectors.
Pros
- Exceptionally refined treble and resolution thanks to the Diamond‑Like‑Carbon beryllium tweeter and premium crossover components.
- Authoritative, deep and controlled bass from dual 180 mm woofers and side‑firing infra‑woofers for room‑shaking extension with coherence.
- Flagship build quality and artisanal finish—double‑curved lute cabinets, aluminum billet parts and hand‑voicing underscore luxury craftsmanship.
- Wide, layered soundstage and precise imaging driven by cabinet geometry and Paracross crossover topology.
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Cons
- Ultra‑limited production and very high price make these an exclusive collector's piece rather than broadly attainable speakers.
- Very large and heavy cabinets (84 kg each) demand dedicated space and careful installation.
- Requires powerful, well‑matched amplification (4 Ω nominal, recommended 100–800 W) to reach its full dynamic potential.
Sound Quality
95/100
Bass
96/100
Large driver complement (2x180 mm woofers + 2x220 mm long-throw subwoofers), 3.5-way para-aperiodic vented box and quoted 25 Hz–35 kHz response point to authoritative, deep extension and strong low-end control in-room. Heavy 84 kg cabinet and dual subwoofers support slam and low-frequency authority; rounded to the 'excellent' reference band given specs.
Mid
94/100
Single 180 mm mid with dedicated neodymium motor (M18 XTR-04) and premium high-end crossover components indicate very accurate timbre and strong vocal presence. Cabinet design and careful crossover points (80, 250, 2500 Hz) imply coherent integration through crossover regions.
Treble
95/100
30 mm Diamond-Like Carbon Beryllium dome tweeter and rated extension to 35 kHz suggest exceptional refinement, air and detail without typical harshness. Premium driver and crossover pairing supports crisp, resolved highs.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
Double-curvature lute-shaped cabinet and large enclosure volume favor wide, layered presentation and stable imaging. High-end driver suite and cabinet engineering (ZVT decoupling) support excellent image focus and depth.
Dynamics
95/100
High sensitivity (92 dB) combined with recommended amplifier headroom (100–800 W) and long-throw subwoofers indicate outstanding micro- and macro-dynamics and robust headroom. Expect tight transient punch and scale on complex material.
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Build Quality
97/100
Massive 84 kg cabinets, double-curved lacquer and leather finishes, aluminum details and dedicated decoupling (ZVT) reflect flagship-level materials and construction. Crossover and driver spec list (premium components) corroborates top-tier fit-and-finish and engineering.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive tower baseline applied. Four binding posts (Mid-Hi, Low) present but feature scoring held to passive baseline per guidelines.
Value for Money
65/100
At a list price around €/$75,000 these are a rarefied, ultra-high-end purchase—outstanding performance for enthusiasts but limited value for most buyers. Exceptional engineering is offset by steep cost and very small target market.
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