Sonus Faber Elipsa SE

Four weeks since launch, and Noho Sound has just received its first trade-in, and it's a stunner. If Chris and I didn't already have big gear at home, we'd buy these for ourselves.

The Sonus Faber Elipsa SE's are the recently discontinued bridge between their hi-end and ultra hi-end products. Originally $22,900, we are offering them used, in mint condition with boxes, for $13,500 + tax/shipping from NYC.

Want to hear them? Call or e-mail us for an appointment in lower Manhattan.

How good were the Elipsa SE's? Here's what Tone Audio had to say:

"I am of the belief that life’s too short to have ugly speakers in your living room. As it turns out, I am not alone. In an informal poll, the Elipsa SEs have the highest spousal-acceptance factor of any speaker we’ve ever reviewed, as well as the highest interest among non-audiophiles of either gender."

"If you want a perfect fusion of acoustic purity and aesthetic beauty, these are the speakers you’ve been waiting for."

"Many audio pundits cling to the philosophy that the source is everything in a system, and that is sound advice.  However, I find the speakers to be the biggest variable in a system—they have to integrate with your room and those you share it with, so they are often the highest hurdle to jump.  These speakers are so easy to drive, you would have little trouble starting your journey with modestly priced amplification and avail yourself to a new experience as your budget permits system upgrades."

— Jeff Dorgay, Editor-In-Chief, Tone Audio

Read the entire review for yourself.

From the manufacturer's official page:

OVERVIEW

The Sonus Faber Elipsa Special Edition is a modified and upgraded version of the already exceptional performing Elipsa. Chief among the updates is the implementation of the same high frequency drive unit found in the flagship model of the Homage range, the Stradivari. The addition of this ultra-high performance ring radiator provides an extraordinary level of sonic refinement, openness and extension.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

System Type: 
3-way floorstanding vented box loudspeaker.

Cabinet: 
Elliptical shaped enclosure crafted using sandwich construction techniques with 20 hand-selected wood layers of solid maple. Each layer is graded and oriented for optimized resonance control and the sub-structural ribs are strategically placed for absolute rejection of spurious vibration and standing wave control.

Woofer: 
10 in. (260 mm) lightweight Aluminum/Magnesium alloy cone driver. Ultra dynamic performance and linearity. Special coaxial anti-compressors are used, designed to remove cavity resonance and distortions.

Midrange: 
6 in. (150 mm) cone driver with Symmetric Drive Motor System and hand-selected “black wood” fiber cone treated for control of break-up. Driver features a dynamic linear suspension designed synergistically with its vented acoustic chamber.

Tweeter: 
1.3 in. (33 mm) ultra dynamic linearity ring radiator driver using a neodimium magnet structure with dual-toroidal wave-guide. A natural wood “acoustic labyrinth” rear chamber functions synergistically as a mechanical anti-resonance device.

Crossover: 
Non-resonant second order design with optimized phase characteristics for optimal space/time performance. Crossover points 250Hz and 2.3kHz. 

Frequency Response: 
35Hz – 30kHz, tuning ports included.

Sensitivity: 
91db SPL (2.83 V/1m)

Nominal Impedance: 
4 ohms

Power Handling: 
50W – 300W, without clipping.

Dimensions (WHD): 
21.75 x 49 x 18 in. 
550 x 1250 x 420 mm

Weight: 
214 lbs. (97 Kg) per pair – net weight
250 lbs. (113.5 Kg) per pair – shipping weight.

Finish: 
Graphite

Sonus Faber online: Sonus Faber