Sonus Faber Extrema (1991)

All things bright and brutal

Avoid bright or aggressive system electronics; the Extrema’s revealing drive units and unusual crossover design can combine to brutal effect, revealing flaws with glee

Launched back in 1991, Sonus Faber’s original Extrema were seen as the culmination of everything the Italian manufacturer had learned in its first decade. Up to that point, the brand had carved out a niche at premium price levels, with a limited range of compact standmounters that were lauded as much for their immaculately crafted cabinets as their artfully judged sound.

The Extrema marked its first assault on the top end of the speaker market – at £6000, they were up there with