Sonus Faber Omnia is bellissima

With audiophile DNA and luxe Italian design, the Sonus Faber Omnia takes the concept of the wireless audio speaker a step above the ordinary. Or more like a full stairway. The striking hull-shaped cabinet is topped with a premium walnut veneer that serves as the new Senso touch interface, providing control over wireless and wired connected sources.

Four illuminated lines indicate volume, speaker mode and input, with AirPlay 2 support for streaming from Apple devices, Google Cast (for services such as Tidal, Deezer, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and Apple Music on Android devices) and Spotify Connect. There’s an HDMI ARC port for connecting the Omnia to a TV, and you can also connect an audio source, including a turntable, via the supplied dongle-like MiniDin adaptor. A remote control is supplied, although for streaming playlists, the familiarity of your preferred app will likely be a more capable option.

The Omnia also comes with new Crescendo technology. This is “an advanced signal processing system resulting in a greater sense of dimensionality and immersivity”, according to Sonus Faber, and is served by pair of full-range 0.75 inch side-mounted drivers . These are two of seven integrated drivers in the 460 watt system, with others comprising two 0.75 inch silk dome tweeters, a 3 inch midrange, and 6.5 inch long-throw down-firing woofer.

Sonus Faber describes the Omnia as providing “a mesmerising three-dimensional sound to immerse listeners in a unique, natural acoustic experience. The result is a crisp wavefront and wide soundstage that mimics that of a live performance.”

So how much is it?

Brand heritage

Sonus Faber has been handcrafting loudspeakers in Italy since 1983, using bespoke woods and veneers that pay homage to artisan instrument makers such as Stradivarius, Guarneri and Amati. The speakers it sells are not part of a ‘range’, but a ‘collection’. Like haute couture. Maserati installed Sonus Faber in its MC20 super sports car and, at the time of writing, a pair of Sonus Faber Cremonese Ex3me floorstanding speakers is listed at $94,995.

All of which means its products are a bit ‘spendy’ and that a typical customer tends to be older. Older than the faces in the photos and video on this page, at least, who are the target buyers for the Omnia. If this is you, the Omni price tag is $3495, which the company describes as ‘accessible’.

You can look for the Omnia in specialist audio retailers from March 2022. A graphite edition is expected by June. Comparable premium all-on-one wireless speakers include the B&W Zeppelin ($1299) and Naim Mu-so 2 ($2300).