Sonus faber Maxima Amator - Walnut

Description

The Only Floorstander in the Heritage Collection

The Maxima Amator is a special case in the Sonus faber catalog: it is the only floorstanding model in the Heritage Collection, which otherwise gathers bookshelf loudspeakers built with solid wood (Electa Amator III, Concertino). Its technical goal: to transpose the acoustic and aesthetic DNA of the Amator series (purist 2-way, solid walnut cabinet, round edges, marble plinth) into a format capable of sustaining a full listening room. The result: 112 cm tall, 38 kg per speaker, bass extension to 35 Hz — while retaining the imaging coherence of a 2-way monitor. Hand-built in the Sonus faber workshops in Vicenza, Italy.

Solid Walnut Cabinet with Three Internal Chambers

The cabinet is built entirely from solid walnut, a woodworking feat at this scale: solid wood requires extended drying and precise internal-tension management to prevent warping over time. The internal volume is divided into three distinct chambers, each with a specific role. The first is the acoustic chamber for the driver, damped by a new three-layer material: two outer layers of recycled carbon fiber sandwiching a layer of silica fiber. The second is filled with an inert material that adds weight, lowers the center of gravity, and minimizes unwanted resonance. The third, visible from outside (it forms the rear section of the cabinet), houses the passive crossover in complete isolation from the vibrations generated by the drivers.

Purist 2-Way Architecture: DAD™ Tweeter + 180 mm Midwoofer

The H28 XTR-04 tweeter is a 28 mm silk dome with Damped Apex Dome (DAD™) technology, driven by a high-power neodymium "cup design" motor. Apex damping eliminates the anti-phase behavior typical of soft domes at high excursion and extends response up to 35 kHz. The midwoofer is a 180 mm MW18 XTR-04 loaded in a bass-reflex enclosure. The choice of a 2-way topology (versus a typical 3-way architecture for this format) simplifies the crossover and preserves phase coherence through the critical midrange.

IFF (Interactive Fusion Filtering) Crossover at 2,100 Hz

The crossover network is an IFF (Interactive Fusion Filtering) design that reimagines the Paracross topology developed by Sonus faber. It relies on non-conventional transfer functions based on accelerated progressive slopes, designed to make the two drivers work together in a maximally connected way. Crossover point at 2,100 Hz. Premium Hi-Fi components. Housing the crossover in its own external chamber (visible at the rear of the cabinet) physically isolates it from the micro-vibrations generated by the driver — critical protection against microphonic effects in a cabinet of this volume.

Port Saint Laurent Marble Plinth and Brass Accents

The base of the loudspeaker is machined from a block of Port Saint Laurent marble, a dense stone with a dark, veined surface that anchors the 38 kg mass of the speaker. Brass accents complete the Heritage palette — walnut, marble, brass — inherited from classic Italian cabinetmaking. Floor decoupling is provided by adjustable iron spikes, allowing precise leveling on all types of flooring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose the Maxima Amator?

The Maxima Amator is the only floorstanding loudspeaker in the Sonus faber Heritage Collection. It transposes the purist 2-way philosophy and the solid walnut cabinet of the Amator bookshelf models into a floorstanding format of 112 cm and 38 kg per speaker, with bass extension to 35 Hz. Result: the imaging coherence of a 2-way monitor with the scale and output of a full floorstander.

How does it compare to the Electa Amator III?

The Electa Amator III is the equivalent Heritage bookshelf model: same 2-way philosophy, same solid walnut cabinet, same driver family, same marble plinth. The Maxima Amator is simply the floorstanding version, larger and with deeper bass extension (down to 35 Hz). Listeners who love the Electa Amator III but need deeper bass for a larger listening room will find the Maxima Amator to be the logical progression.

What amplification is appropriate?

At 88 dB sensitivity and 4 Ω nominal, the Maxima Amator is relatively easy to drive but rewards amplifier quality. Sonus faber recommends a range of 25 to 125 W per channel. A high-current solid-state amplifier or a medium-power tube amp (30 to 100 W) both deliver excellent results. Single-wire binding posts — no bi-wiring possible.

What does the IFF (Interactive Fusion Filtering) crossover bring?

The IFF crossover is a reinterpretation of the Paracross topology developed by Sonus faber. It uses non-academic transfer functions based on accelerated progressive slopes, designed to make the tweeter and midwoofer work together in a maximally connected way at the 2,100 Hz crossover point. The crossover is mounted in its own dedicated external chamber (visible at the rear of the cabinet), completely isolated from the vibrations generated by the drivers.

Why only 2 ways in such a large cabinet?

Most floorstanders of this size adopt a 3-way architecture with a dedicated midrange driver. Sonus faber made a different choice for the Maxima Amator: retain the purist 2-way topology of the Amator bookshelf models to avoid a second crossover point in the midrange, where the ear is most sensitive to phase shifts. The trade-off: the 180 mm midwoofer must cover a wider spectrum, but imaging coherence and vocal purity come out reinforced.

What's in the Box

Sonus faber Maxima Amator Loudspeakers (pair)

Magnetic grilles

Iron spikes and protective shoes

Care kit

Owner's manual