A Chapter of HFR’s Buyer’s Guide to High-End Audio
Sonus faber is one of the small handful of specialist speaker brands whose identity is inseparable from a specific place — Vicenza, Italy, a region historically famous for its violin makers. Founded in 1983 by a self-taught musician and craftsman, Sonus faber has spent more than forty years building loudspeakers that look and sound like instruments rather than electronics, using materials chosen for their musical character as much as for their measurement performance.
This Buyer’s Guide is Chapter 5 of the HiFi Registry series on the brands that define high-end audio. It exists because Sonus faber is unusual in the used market: the brand has no formal Certified Pre-Owned program, its extended warranty explicitly does not transfer to secondhand buyers, and its cabinet supplier is a small Italian family workshop that has been making Sonus faber cabinets since the mid-1980s. Understanding this landscape matters more for a used Sonus faber buyer than for buyers of most other high-end brands. If you’re considering a used Sonus faber purchase — Lumina, Sonetto, Olympica Nova, Homage collection (Guarneri, Serafino, Amati, Stradivari), or Reference collection (Aida, Il Cremonese, Suprema) — this guide is for you.
Chapter 1 covered Wilson Audio. Chapter 2 covered Dan D’Agostino. Chapter 3 covered Burmester. Chapter 4 covered dCS. Chapter 5 is Sonus faber.
Sonus faber was founded in March 1983 in Vicenza, Italy by Franco Serblin (1939–2013), a musician and craftsman whose passion for both fine woodworking and hi-fi audio led him to design his own loudspeaker company. The name — Latin for “the maker of sound” — established from the start that Sonus faber saw itself as building instruments, not electronics.
Serblin’s path into speaker-making began with the “Snail” — an all-in-one satellite-subwoofer system that debuted in 1980, named for the way it looked. Three years later he formally launched Sonus faber. The company’s first product was the Parva — a compact two-way design with a soft-dome tweeter and a Kevlar-cone midrange-woofer, mounted in a solid-wood cabinet — establishing a design language of natural materials and cabinet-as-instrument that has defined every Sonus faber model since.
Serblin was looking for a new approach to hi-fi in the mid-1980s and, settling on solid wood as his discriminator, discovered Luciano DeSanti’s factory near Vicenza, which at the time specialized in grandfather clocks. Nearly forty years later, that same family workshop — now run by Luciano’s son Stefano — is still the maker of almost every Sonus faber cabinet. The De Santi partnership has become a defining element of the brand: hand-worked cabinets in a region historically famous for its violin makers.
The most consequential product decision in the company’s history came ten years after founding: in 1993 Sonus faber created its first high-end speakers with wooden, lute-shaped cabinets, debuting with the Guarneri Homage standmount. Sonus faber presented the very first pair of Guarneri Homages to the Salon of the Violin in Cremona, Italy, where they remain on demonstration to this day among fine stringed instruments made by Guarneri, Amati, Stradivari, and others. The Guarneri Homage was the debutant for the “Homage” collection, named after those same Cremonese violin-making families — that still anchors the brand’s identity today.
Serblin left Sonus faber in 2006 to pursue more boutique design work and passed away in Vicenza on March 31, 2013. His successors as the creative core of the brand — Livio Cucuzza (now VP of Product Design) and Paolo Tezzon (now Brand Ambassador, having previously overseen the acoustics) — took over industrial design and acoustics respectively, with Cucuzza citing a 1960s Riva Aquarama runabout as the design inspiration for the Homage Tradition series and Tezzon continuing to voice the current speaker range by ear at the factory. Sonus faber moved from its original Monteviale headquarters to a purpose-built violin-shaped facility in nearby Arcugnano in 2003.
The company’s ownership path is worth understanding because it has affected distribution and warranty policy. Sonus faber was independent through the Serblin era. It later became part of Fine Sounds SpA, which merged with McIntosh Laboratory to form McIntosh Group. In June 2022, Dallas-based private equity firm Highlander Partners acquired McIntosh Group. Bose Corporation acquired the entire McIntosh Group — including Sonus faber, McIntosh, and Sumiko — from Highlander Partners, announced publicly in November 2024. Bose has stated that Sonus faber will maintain its focus on amplifiers, loudspeakers, turntables, and other high-end products, and the company remains based and manufacturing in Vicenza as it always has — meaning day-to-day operations for Sonus faber owners and used-market buyers should not change materially, but the corporate landscape now includes Bose’s automotive-audio expertise as a potential future direction.
Two facts about Sonus faber matter more to a used buyer than the reviews or the awards. First: the cabinets are hand-worked in Italy by a small family workshop that has been making Sonus faber cabinets for almost the entire life of the company, and the design philosophy prioritizes natural materials (wood, leather, silk domes) that are chosen for musical rather than measurement reasons. Second: the warranty landscape and authorized-dealer requirement — which we cover in the next section — makes the choice between dealer-consigned used and private-party used materially different for Sonus faber than for many other brands.
The current Sonus faber lineup is best understood as five tiers of home speakers, with a small handful of specialist collections (Gravis subwoofers, Palladio custom install) sitting alongside.
The Lumina collection is Sonus faber’s most accessible tier, offering the brand’s design language and Natural Sound philosophy at prices that don’t require luxury-tier budgets. Current pricing: Lumina II Amator at $1,499/pair, Lumina III at $2,399/pair, with Lumina V above them. Lumina cabinets are the only Sonus faber cabinets not made by De Santi — Sonus faber outsources Lumina cabinet manufacturing to China while keeping the rest of the range in Italy. Even so, Lumina models carry the DAD tweeter and Sonus faber voicing.
Sonus faber refreshed the Sonetto line at High End Munich 2024, sitting above the Lumina and below the Olympica Nova. The Sonetto G2 lineup includes two standmounts (Sonetto I G2, Sonetto II G2), three floorstanders (Sonetto III G2, Sonetto V G2, Sonetto VIII G2), a center-channel array for surround systems, and a wall-mounted speaker. The Sonetto G2 series introduces the 1.1″ Damped Apex Dome (DAD) silk-dome tweeter with a copper shorting ring, plus incorporating technology derived from the flagship Suprema. The Sonetto VIII G2 is the largest floorstander in the collection.
The Olympica Nova collection sits above Sonetto, offering more sophisticated cabinet construction and driver technology in Sonus faber’s signature asymmetrical lute shape. Current pricing: Nova I bookshelf at $7,000/pair, Nova II floorstander at $10,000/pair, Nova III at approximately $14,000/pair, Nova V at $16,500/pair. The Olympica Nova III uses ClarityCap capacitors custom-made for Sonus faber in a three-way Paracross crossover network, with a 90dB/2.83V/m sensitivity into a 4-ohm nominal impedance. The collection also includes center channels and compact on-wall speakers for home theater.
The Homage collection is where Sonus faber’s lute-shape design and Cremonese violin-making inspiration reach full expression. The collection currently includes the Guarneri (bookshelf/standmount), Serafino, Amati G5, Amati Supreme, and Stradivari. Amati is the flagship of the Homage collection, hand-crafted in Vicenza using nine layers of grain-matched wood and nine layers of fine lacquer. The Homage Tradition series originally launched in 2017 with pricing at Amati Tradition $29,900/pair and Serafino Tradition $21,900/pair. The design language draws from Riva Aquarama runabouts of the 1960s, applied to the top aluminum/wood combination and the wave-shaped extruded-aluminum venting on the back.
The newest Homage model — Amati Supreme, priced at $78,000/pair — inherits driver technology directly from the flagship Suprema: the same silk-dome tweeter and super tweeter, the Camelia midrange driver, and a cork acoustic chamber. Frequency response 28 Hz to 40 kHz, sensitivity 91 dB, recommended amplifier power 50-600W. Amati Supreme is finished in matte metal rather than the traditional wood — the first Homage model to depart from the wooden aesthetic.
Above the Homage collection sits the Reference collection: Aida, Il Cremonese, and the four-piece Suprema system. Aida is a Reference collection floorstander that sells for approximately $120,000/pair. The Suprema — a $750,000 system launched as much as a research project as a commercial product — has been the source of the driver and cork-chamber technology now trickling down through the Sonetto G2 series and Amati Supreme.
Alongside the home speaker lineup, Sonus faber makes the Gravis subwoofer series (Gravis I, II, III, V, VI), the Palladio in-wall and in-ceiling custom installation collection launched in 2019, and Wireless streaming speakers. Sonus faber has also collaborated on automotive audio systems for Pagani (Huayra) and Maserati (Gran Turismo, Grecale, MC20), and on marine audio for Wally yachts.
Unlike Wilson Audio, D’Agostino, or dCS, Sonus faber does not operate a formal Certified Pre-Owned program. What Sonus faber has instead is a distinctive warranty landscape combined with a strict authorized-dealer requirement that shapes the used-market decision differently. For a used buyer, understanding this landscape is more important than any single specification.
All Sonus faber new products carry a 2-year standard warranty from the date of purchase by the original owner, requiring proof of purchase from the original retailer. Demonstration products carry the full manufacturer warranty from the date of original purchase from an authorized dealer, and remain covered within one year of product discontinuation.
Buyers can extend warranty coverage by registering the product on Sonus faber’s website within 30 days of purchase. The extension provides materially longer coverage:
Two limitations in Sonus faber’s warranty policy directly shape the used-market decision:
First, the Extended Warranty is explicitly non-transferable and does not apply to private secondhand sales. When a Sonus faber owner sells their speakers to a private buyer, the buyer inherits nothing of the original warranty. This is meaningfully different from Wilson’s warranty transfer (which is transferable once through authorized channels) and from dCS’s transferable-once policy.
Second, the Extended Warranty is only valid when the product was purchased from an authorized Sonus faber retailer. Products purchased from unauthorized retailers or grey-market channels do not qualify for extended warranty coverage in any circumstance.
Warranty coverage is void if the serial number label has been removed or defaced, and does not cover damage from improper packing during shipping, unauthorized modification, misuse, or accidents. Sonus faber recommends retaining the original box and all packaging materials to ensure safe transit.
All warranty claims must be initiated with the original retailer from which the product was purchased. In most cases, the dealer will address the issue or make arrangements through the Sonus faber distributor in the territory. For service assistance or replacement parts, Sonus faber directs owners to the nearest authorized distributor rather than direct-from-factory service. This means the authorized dealer relationship is not just a purchase-time consideration — it’s an ongoing service pathway that matters for the entire ownership horizon.
Because the vast majority of Sonus faber cabinets (all except Lumina) are made by the De Santi workshop near Vicenza, cabinet-level restoration or refinishing is a specific, coordinated process that involves both the Sonus faber factory and the De Santi partnership. Damaged cabinets on higher-tier models cannot be easily field-repaired by third-party finishers without loss of value; the authorized dealer network is the coordinated pathway back to factory-original condition.
First, for buyers of Homage-tier or Reference-tier speakers (Guarneri, Serafino, Amati, Stradivari, Aida, Suprema), the authorized-dealer channel matters materially more than for lower-tier models. Dealer-consigned or dealer-approved used units come with the assurance that they can be serviced by the authorized network; private-party units carry no factory warranty and require the new owner to establish a dealer relationship for future service.
Second, age matters for warranty. A used Sonus faber unit less than 2 years old with proof of original authorized-dealer purchase still carries transferable standard-warranty coverage. Units 3-8 years old with original registration have extended coverage on the passive loudspeaker components — but only for the original owner, not the used buyer.
Third, documentation matters more than for most brands. Original invoice from an authorized dealer, warranty registration confirmation, and original packaging together determine whether the unit can be brought back to factory-original condition through the authorized network in the future.
Fourth, the Italian craftsmanship story is genuinely different from the mass-produced high-end. A Sonus faber cabinet in good condition — the wood, lacquer, and leather elements that define the brand’s identity — represents artisan work that is difficult to replace. Cabinet condition is often the single largest factor in used-market pricing for the higher tiers, above driver condition or age.
Sonus faber setup considerations run different for different tiers of the range. The essentials that apply across the lineup:
Sonetto V G2 setup is a two-person operation; the larger Sonetto VIII G2 requires two strapping-strong adults. Homage-tier and Reference-tier floorstanders are heavier still. Sonus faber ships setup accessories in a separate box, including choice of rubber feet or spikes for various floor types, and provides specific unboxing procedures in the owner’s manual to protect the cabinet finish during setup.
Higher-tier Sonus faber speakers use the patented Z.V.T. (Zero Vibration Transmission) system to decouple the cabinet from the floor. The Amati Homage Tradition uses four knurled aluminum outrigger spikes with the ZVT system integrated to minimize vibration transmission. Setup requires attention to spike leveling and floor-protection considerations, particularly on hard floor surfaces where the cabinet weight becomes a factor.
Sonus faber does not publish a specific break-in target. Reviewer consensus across the range describes meaningful settling over the first week or so of play at reasonable volumes. Used units bought from a private seller are typically past break-in, which is a mild advantage; new-in-box units and dealer demos may benefit from 50-150 hours of continuous playback before serious evaluation.
Because the cabinets are wood-and-lacquer with leather elements on higher-tier models, care is different from mass-produced high-end speakers. The multi-layer lacquer finish is durable but not scratch-proof; the leather requires periodic conditioning to maintain appearance. Cleaning should use only manufacturer-recommended products (typically damp microfiber and specific wood/leather care products) to avoid finish damage. Direct sunlight over time can affect both the wood veneer color and the leather. For used buyers evaluating a Homage-tier or Reference-tier unit, cabinet condition is often the single largest driver of pricing — a small scratch to the multi-layer lacquer can only be repaired through factory-coordinated refinishing.
Sonus faber’s rounded “lute shape” cabinet is designed to help control internal resonances. Even so, position matters. One Sonetto V G2 reviewer found the speakers could be spread a few inches wider than a strict equilateral triangle before the center-fill weakened, with the tweeters toed in toward the listener’s head. Higher-tier models with more sensitive tweeter designs benefit from more careful positioning; the Amati and Aida particularly reward taking time with placement.
The most common mistake in the used Sonus faber market is buying too much speaker for the room — an Amati Supreme in a 250 sq ft space cannot produce the presentation it’s designed for. Room first, model second.
For a used unit that has been unpowered for months (typical of dealer demos or long-stored trade-ins), a shorter re-settling period of continuous playback at moderate volume before serious evaluation is a reasonable precaution, even though it won’t need the full week or so a brand-new pair takes to fully break in.
Buying a used Sonus faber component is different from buying a used unit of most high-end brands. Cabinet condition, warranty transferability, original dealer origin, and the De Santi cabinet reality all matter to the buy/pass decision. Here’s what to check before committing.
The multi-layer wood lacquer and leather elements are what make a Sonus faber a Sonus faber. Inspect under bright directional light: any scratches, dents, water rings, sun-faded areas, or leather damage. The multi-layer lacquer means small imperfections often can be polished out, but deeper damage requires factory-coordinated refinishing which is expensive and time-consuming. For Homage-tier and Reference-tier units, cabinet condition is typically the single largest driver of used-market value.
Sonus faber grilles vary by model — some are traditional fabric-covered, some incorporate leather stretched over the grille, some models (like Amati Supreme) don’t use conventional grilles at all. Grille damage is not always repairable through the factory pathway; check the specific model’s grille arrangement and confirm the grille (or its absence) matches the buyer’s preference.
Ask the seller for:
The absence of any of these items reduces the unit’s ability to be brought back to authorized-network service later. This particularly matters for higher-tier units where the future value depends on factory-original condition.
Contact your nearest authorized Sonus faber dealer or the Sonus faber distributor for your region with the serial number. The authorized network can typically verify authenticity, original ship date, and whether the unit has been through the authorized service network before. Grey-market units and counterfeit units (yes, they exist for Sonus faber, particularly for older Homage models) are identified this way. If a seller will not provide a serial number, do not proceed.
Visually inspect the tweeter (silk dome), midrange (paper or Camelia depending on tier), and woofers for damage: no dents, tears, or displacement. Ask about original condition and whether any drivers have been replaced. Voice-coil damage from overdriving is not always visible; ask about the previous owner’s amplifier and typical listening levels.
For units purchased second-hand at more than 5 years old, crossover components (particularly capacitors) may benefit from evaluation by an authorized dealer. Sonus faber uses ClarityCap capacitors custom-made for the brand in Olympica Nova III and above; component drift over years affects the specific voicing that defines the model.
Confirm the unit was originally sold through an authorized Sonus faber dealer. Grey-market units (typically imported through unauthorized channels to bypass regional pricing) do not qualify for extended warranty coverage in any circumstance and may face difficulty with authorized-network service.
The used market for Sonus faber has four patterns worth understanding before you shop.
The Guarneri, Serafino, and Amati models in the Homage collection depreciate slower than most peers, particularly the well-regarded Homage Tradition series (2017-onward). A used Amati Tradition from 2018 typically retains a higher percentage of original retail than most competing floorstanders at similar new prices. This reflects the Italian craftsmanship story, the difficulty of matching the wood-cabinet aesthetic elsewhere, and the collectors’ interest in the Homage line specifically.
Entry-tier Sonus faber depreciates similarly to other quality mid-market speakers — buyers should expect meaningful discount for 2-3 year old units. Sonetto G2 as the newest refresh will likely hold value through 2026-2027 given its recency, but original Sonetto (pre-G2) has depreciated meaningfully.
The original Guarneri Homage (1993), Amati Homage (early 2000s), Stradivari Homage (2004), and Amati Anniversario command strong secondary-market prices among collectors. These models sit outside the standard used-market analysis: they trade based on collectibility and historical significance more than sonic performance-per-dollar. If you’re considering a historical Homage model, expect prices above equivalent-tier current models.
Because Sonus faber’s warranty landscape makes private-party purchase materially different from authorized-dealer purchase, dealer-consigned used Sonus faber typically commands a meaningful premium over private-party equivalent. This reflects: dealer inspection and reconditioning, dealer-provided limited warranty, and future service pathway through the same dealer relationship. For Homage-tier and Reference-tier units, the premium is often worth paying.
Most authorized-network used-market activity happens through Sonus faber dealers on trade-in or consignment. Private-party listings appear on HFR, Audiogon, US Audio Mart, and specialist forums. Grey-market units appear from time to time; these carry the warranty caveats above and typically trade at meaningful discount.
Two of HFR’s Value Retention metrics work well for Sonus faber. First is Cabinet Aesthetic Longevity: the wood-and-leather cabinets age with character rather than obsolescence, and well-maintained units look as compelling ten years later as when new. Second is Brand Reference Longevity: Sonus faber’s design language (Homage lute-shape) has been consistent for over 30 years, meaning historical models remain visually recognizable and desirable. Buyers considering Sonus faber for long-hold ownership have a strong supporting case, particularly at the Homage tier.
Sonus faber’s design philosophy — Natural Sound, warm and forgiving voicing, wood-and-leather cabinets — creates specific pairing patterns that a used buyer should understand.
Because Sonus faber and McIntosh have been under the same corporate ownership since the mid-2010s (Fine Sounds → McIntosh Group → Highlander Partners → Bose Corporation), the two brands have been designed to complement each other and are the most common flagship pairing shown at dealer events. McIntosh’s warm, harmonically-rich tube and solid-state amplification pairs beautifully with Sonus faber’s voicing — the combined presentation is dominant in demonstration rooms and Sonus faber marketing material. For used buyers who want the “intended” Sonus faber sound, McIntosh electronics are the safest choice.
Sonus faber speakers pair well with high-quality solid-state amplification from Burmester, D’Agostino, Krell, Pass Labs, and Boulder — a natural warmer solid-state pairing style alongside Sonus faber’s own McIntosh partnership. Higher-power tube amplification from VTL, Audio Research, and Nagra also pairs well with Homage and Reference tier Sonus faber — the tube presentation complements the natural wood-cabinet voicing without becoming syrupy.
Because Sonus faber’s voicing is warm and forgiving, revealing digital sources (dCS Rossini or Vivaldi, MSB Reference, Weiss DAC) work beautifully — the speakers accept the resolution without becoming clinical. For vinyl, the natural pairings are Clearaudio, Kuzma, or VPI turntables with high-quality moving-coil cartridges (Sumiko is under the same corporate ownership and is the natural partner). Sonus faber does not have a specific “house” source component, but the Sumiko cartridge connection is worth understanding for buyers thinking about ecosystem synergy.
The five tiers represent progressive levels of craftsmanship, materials, and price, with the Homage and Reference collections representing Sonus faber's heritage identity. Lumina is Sonus faber's most accessible tier ($1,499-$2,399/pair for standmounts), the only line with cabinets outsourced to China. Sonetto G2 (refreshed at High End Munich 2024) sits above Lumina with Italian cabinets and DAD tweeter technology derived from Suprema. Olympica Nova is the mid-tier evolution ($7,000-$16,500/pair) with the signature asymmetrical lute-shape cabinet and ClarityCap custom capacitors. Homage collection (Guarneri, Serafino, Amati, Stradivari, plus new Amati Supreme) is the heritage tier at $21,900-$78,000/pair, with wood-and-leather cabinets in the lute shape that established the brand's identity. Reference collection (Aida, Il Cremonese, Lilium, Suprema) represents flagship-tier work at $100,000-$750,000.
No — Sonus faber does not operate a formal Certified Pre-Owned program like Wilson Audio or dCS. What Sonus faber has instead is a distinctive warranty structure combined with a strict authorized-dealer requirement. Standard warranty is 2 years from original purchase by the original owner; extended warranty (registered within 30 days of purchase) provides 8 years on passive loudspeaker components. Critically, the extended warranty is explicitly non-transferable and does not apply to private secondhand sales. Buying used Sonus faber through an authorized dealer typically includes a dealer-provided limited warranty and future service pathway; buying private-party requires the new owner to establish an authorized dealer relationship for any future service.
The extended warranty is explicitly non-transferable to private secondhand sales — the buyer of a private-sale unit inherits none of the original warranty coverage. This is meaningfully more restrictive than Wilson's or dCS's warranty transfer policies. For the 2-year standard warranty, transferability is not explicitly addressed in Sonus faber's warranty policy but proof of purchase from an authorized retailer is required for any warranty claim. For the extended warranty (8-year on passive loudspeakers), Sonus faber's policy explicitly states it applies only when the product was purchased from an authorized retailer and is non-transferable. Practical implication: dealer-consigned used Sonus faber (where the dealer typically provides its own limited warranty) is materially different from private-party used, and typically commands a premium reflecting that assurance.
Cabinet refinishing on Sonus faber speakers is a coordinated process through the authorized dealer network, not a direct-to-factory service. Because the vast majority of Sonus faber cabinets (all except Lumina) are made by the De Santi family workshop near Vicenza, cabinet-level repair or refinishing requires coordination between Sonus faber and De Santi. This is not something the average field-service technician can perform; damaged cabinets on higher-tier models typically require the unit to be sent back to Italy or worked on through an authorized dealer with factory support. Contact your nearest authorized dealer with the specific model and damage description — they will coordinate the pathway and provide pricing. Small imperfections in the multi-layer lacquer can sometimes be polished out; deeper damage is more involved.
Sonus faber's natural upstream partner is McIntosh — the two brands have been under the same corporate ownership since the mid-2010s and are designed to complement each other. McIntosh amplification pairs beautifully with Sonus faber voicing across the range, from Sonetto through Suprema. Beyond McIntosh, Sonus faber speakers pair well with warm-neutral solid-state from Burmester, D'Agostino, Krell, Pass Labs, and Boulder. Higher-power tube amplification from VTL, Audio Research, and Nagra also pairs well with Homage and Reference tier Sonus faber. Common mismatches include small single-ended triode designs (impedance curves drop below 4Ω in bass regions) and cool/clinical class-D designs that fight the speaker's natural warmth. Power requirements scale with the tier: Lumina 50-150W is sufficient; Amati Supreme calls for 50-600W per Sonus faber's own spec.
No — Lumina is the only Sonus faber line with cabinets outsourced to China, while the rest of the range uses Italian cabinet manufacturing. Sonetto G2, Olympica Nova, Homage collection, Reference collection, Gravis subwoofers, and Palladio custom install all use Italian cabinet manufacturing. The vast majority go through the De Santi family workshop near Vicenza — a partnership that has been in place since the mid-1980s and is now run by Stefano De Santi, son of the original Luciano DeSanti. Lumina cabinets are outsourced to keep the entry tier accessible, but the acoustic design, driver selection, and voicing remain Italian. For buyers who specifically want Italian-made Sonus faber cabinets, any model from Sonetto G2 or above meets that requirement.
The De Santi family workshop, located near Vicenza, has made almost every non-Lumina Sonus faber cabinet since the mid-1980s. De Santi originally specialized in grandfather clocks when Franco Serblin discovered them and commissioned them to make Sonus faber cabinets. The partnership has grown collaborative over the years — De Santi's main business is now Sonus faber cabinet work. The workshop is currently run by Stefano De Santi, son of the original Luciano DeSanti. Cabinets are hand-worked using traditional woodworking techniques adapted for the specific acoustic requirements of each Sonus faber model. This partnership is the reason cabinet refinishing and restoration on higher-tier Sonus faber models involves a specific coordinated pathway rather than generic third-party service.
Bose Corporation acquired McIntosh Group (Sonus faber's parent company), with the deal publicly announced in November 2024, but Sonus faber's day-to-day manufacturing, product roadmap, and dealer network continue in Vicenza with no changes announced for owners. The acquisition transferred ownership from Highlander Partners (a Dallas-based private equity firm that had owned McIntosh Group since June 2022) to Bose Corporation. Bose has publicly stated that Sonus faber will maintain its focus on amplifiers, loudspeakers, turntables, and other high-end products, and the company remains based and manufacturing in Vicenza as it always has. The most notable potential future direction is Bose's automotive-audio expertise combined with Sonus faber's existing partnerships with Pagani and Maserati. For current Sonus faber owners and used-market buyers, warranty policy, dealer network, and service pathways continue unchanged from pre-acquisition.
Homage Tradition was the 2017 generation of the Homage collection; Amati G5 was a later-generation Amati; Amati Supreme (2025) is the newest and inherits driver technology directly from the flagship Suprema. The Homage Tradition series launched in 2017 with Amati Tradition ($29,900/pair) and Serafino Tradition ($21,900/pair), continuing the Cucuzza-Tezzon design era. The G5 designation refers to a later generation of the Amati specifically. Amati Supreme is a new addition in 2025 that uses the same silk-dome tweeter, super tweeter, Camelia midrange, and cork acoustic chamber found in the flagship Suprema — packaged in a $78,000 floorstander with matte metal finish rather than the traditional wood. Amati Supreme sits alongside Amati G5 rather than replacing it, giving buyers two current Amati options at different price points.
Sonus faber distributes through a global network of authorized specialist retailers. In the United States, HiFi Registry's anchor Sonus faber dealer is LMC Home Entertainment (Scottsdale/Tempe, Arizona). LMC handles Sonus faber sales, dealer-consigned used inventory, and service coordination for the Southwest region. For buyers outside the Southwest, Sonus faber's dealer locator on their official website (sonusfaber.com) lists all authorized dealers globally. All sales and service go through the authorized dealer network — Sonus faber does not sell direct from the factory, and grey-market units purchased through unauthorized channels do not qualify for extended warranty coverage. For factory-coordinated service or cabinet refinishing, an authorized dealer coordinates the pathway; owners never ship directly to Sonus faber's Vicenza factory without dealer involvement.
Sonus faber distributes through a global network of authorized specialist retailers. Authorized-dealer status matters with Sonus faber because all warranty coverage, cabinet refinishing, and factory-coordinated service go through that same dealer channel.
Authorized dealers can facilitate warranty claims, coordinate cabinet refinishing through the De Santi pathway, and run a serial number against the authorized network. Buyers considering a used Sonus faber purchase from a private party should still consider engaging with a local authorized dealer for a pre-purchase check.
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Create a listing →A curated bibliography of the sources cited throughout this Buyer’s Guide chapter. All specialist reviews and manufacturer materials referenced in the sections above are indexed here.