“A Rare Talent Indeed”

FOR Big, bold sound; refined and agile; good build AGAINST More analytical alternatives for similar price

High-end Italian speaker specialist Sonus Faber is rightly considered hi-fi aristocracy. Since it was founded in 1983, the company has delivered an array of talented products, quite a few of which have become part of hi-fi legend. These are invariably the company’s top-end models, the no-compromise designs that are as much about luxury build and appearance as they are about the sound.

Yet Sonus Faber also makes more affordable offerings – still premium, but without price tags that could hang off a new car. The Venere range is made up of these, and the S (for Signature) floor standers are the range toppers.

The nuts and bolts

They are undeniably big, standing a touch over 1.2m high, and are imposing but stylish. The two standard finishes are gloss white and gloss black, but for a £200 premium you can have the walnut option as used on our review sample.

Build quality is good, though not outstanding for the price. Still, we’re impressed with the elegance of the heavily contoured side panels, and the neatness of the finish. We’d have liked the metal plinth to be attached to the speaker’s base with bolts rather than wood screws, but it feels secure enough.