While smart speakers tend to get most of the media attention, serious audiophiles continue to flock to traditional speakers – and there’s a new version of some of the most sought-after pairs, the Sonus Faber Concertino. The new model, the Concertino G4, offers a typically impressive sonic performance, but the speaker pair is interesting for another reason too: they’re made from advanced materials, but chosen with durability in mind.
The key material here is cork, which has been used in previous generations of Concertinos. But for this new generation, cork has been combined with a mid-woofer for the first time, which Sonus Faber calls a “significant advance in sound quality” by reducing internal resonance and eliminating the need for additional damping in the cabinet.
Concertino G4: main features
The sidewalls of the speakers are made from solid walnut with ribbed surfaces for structural integrity without internal bracing. The cork and front baffle are covered in recycled leather and a plant-based leather alternative, and the alternative leather is a coated textile made from orange and cactus byproducts to make it both sustainable and vegan.
The G4 speakers are built with a 1” silk dome tweeter and a 5” long-throw paper-pulp mid-woofer, and there’s a reflex duct around the rear to help eliminate frontal turbulence. And there’s a simplified phase-coherent crossover that Sonus Faber says provides precise phase alignment and a more defined, three-dimensional image. The crossover point is 1,700Hz, and the frequency response is 60-25,000Hz; sensitivity is 85dB; nominal impedance is 4 ohms; and recommended amplifier power is 30-150W.
The prices for the new Concertino G4 are:
- Concertino G4 (per pair): £4,248 / €4,750
- Concertino G4 Stands (pair): £1,250 / €1,500
The G4 will be available from Sonus Faber retailers from September 2024. As Sonus Faber undoubtedly makes some of the best stereo speakers on the market (they’re a little pricey for our guide above, but also check out the Sonus Faber Suprema ), it’s worth adding them to your list if you’re after a great set of more traditional passive stereo speakers.