John
From the uber-design-conscious Sonus faber comes a more affordable collection of loudspeakers. The new LUMINA range comprises the Lumina III floorstander (US$2199/£1999 per pair), the Lumina I standmount (US$899/£799 per pair) and the Lumina Center I (US$699/£649 each).
According to the press release, LU-MI-NA can be broken into three to indicate the loudspeaker range’s three key design elements.
LU? Luxury: each loudspeaker is made in Vicenza, Italy and features a multilayer real-wood front baffle, real wood veneer and real leather wrap.
MI? Minimalism. Apparently, each model’s proportions were carefully analysed and implemented to emphasise material quality.
From the press release: “Lumina’s multilayer wood on the front baffle (and the real-wood veneer) is available in iconic premium finishes including Walnut and Wengè (both in matte finish with maple inlays), with a third option of Piano Black; all other surfaces of the cabinet are painstakingly hand-covered in the company’s iconic black leather. The chrome rings around the drivers highlight shapes and proportions and give brightness to the front baffle while outlining the Voice of Sonus faber. Luminas are also provided with two pairs of nickel-plated terminals, allowing for by bi-wiring and bi-amping. Lumina’s crossover features some specially designed Sonus faber-branded high-quality capacitors.”
NA? Natural sound. The LUMINA range borrows its 12.5cm ‘proprietary natural fibre and paper blend air-dried diaphragm’ midrange drivers and Damped Apex Dome tweeters – complete with Kurtmueller hand-coated soft-silk 29mm diaphragm – from the Italian manufacturers Sonetto series. However, the 12.5cm bass and 10cm midrange drivers were developed from the ground up to feature a custom-made basket and cellulose pulp cone.
Bass reflex ports have been placed on the front baffle of the standmount and centre channel – but on the underside of the floorstander – to maximise end-user placement possibilities.
Shipping begins at the very end of September.
Further information: Sonus faber
