While smart speakers often get the most media attention, audio aficionados still opt for traditional speakers, and there’s a new version of one of the most coveted pairs: the Sonus Faber Concertino. The new model, the Concertino G4, offers impressive audio performance, but the speaker pair is interesting for other reasons too: they’re made from cutting-edge materials, but were chosen with sustainability in mind.
The key material here is cork, which has been used in previous generations of Concertino. But for this new generation, cork has been combined with a mid-woofer for the first time, offering what Sonus Faber describes as a “significant advance in sound quality” by limiting internal resonance and reducing the need for additional damping in the cabinet.
Concertino G4: Main Features
The speaker sidewalls are made from solid walnut with grooved surfaces to ensure structural integrity without internal bracing. The cork and front baffle are covered in recycled leather and a plant-based leather alternative, and the leather alternative is a coated textile fabric made from orange and cactus byproducts to make it sustainable and vegan.
The G4 speakers are made with a 1-inch silk dome tweeter and a 5-inch long-throw paper pulp mid-woofer, and there's a reflex duct around the back to prevent frontal turbulence. And there's a simplified coherent phase crossover that Sonus faber says ensures precise phase alignment and a more defined three-dimensional image. The crossover point is 1,700 Hz and the frequency range is 60-25,000 Hz; sensitivity is 85 dB, nominal impedance is 4 ohms, and recommended amplification power is 30 to 150 W.
Prices for the new Concertino G4 are:
- Concertino G4 (per pair): £4,248 / €4,750
- Concertino G4 Stands (pair): £1250 / €1500
The G4 will be available from Sonus Faber retailers from September 2024, and because Sonus Faber undoubtedly makes some of the best stereo speakers out there (they're a little on the pricey side for our guide above, but check out the Sonus Faber Suprema as well), they're worth adding to your shortlist if you're looking for a great set of more traditional passive stereo speakers.
