Loudspeakers

The Amati G5 may be likened to an integrated sub/sat – the 150mm mid and 28mm DAD tweeter working into their own 'Intono' chamber (including a controlled vent for the mid) – while the two 220mm woofers fill-in the lower decade of bass (20Hz-200Hz/270Hz). The off-axis response of this hardworking 'mid/treble' duo is well controlled [see Graph 1, below], especially over the vertical axis where the slightly dished mid/presence output remains consistent ±20° above or below the main axis. This dip, and the eventual rise at 20kHz, results in response errors of ±3.1dB and ±3.0dB, respectively, although Sonus faber's QC ensures the pair matching remains a tight 0.7dB (ignoring a narrowband 1.6dB error at the 2.2kHz crossover). It also diminishes the sensitivity from its 'peak' of 91.9dB/1kHz – better still than Sonus faber's claimed 91dB – to 89.3dB when averaged between 500Hz-8kHz. The response is otherwise very 'smooth' but note a slight discontinuity at the 2.2kHz crossover, and +40° peak in impedance phase, revealed as a resonance on the CSD waterfall [see Graph 2]. The elastic 'wire' grille introduces mild HF effects only [blue trace, Graph 1].

The lower woofer rolls off a little earlier than the upper bass unit (49Hz-220Hz vs. 49Hz-280Hz, re. –6dB) but they combine with the 32Hz port tuning (note strong quarterwave mode at 128Hz – see green shaded area, Graph 1) to yield a corrected bass extension of 36Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz). However, deep bass and high sensitivity is bought at the expense of a tougher load than has been typical of past Sonus faber speakers, so the Amati G5 fully warrants its 4ohm nominal rating. PM