Sonus Faber Gravis II subwoofer

With limited space in their living rooms, many turn to bookshelf speakers. While these often offer transparency, definition, and undeniable tonal quality, they can be criticized for lacking deep bass and truncated low frequencies.

The Sonus Faber Gravis II subwoofer has been physically and acoustically designed to complement speakers in the Sonetto range, but it also pairs perfectly with the Lumina series from the Italian manufacturer.

The Gravis range by Sonus Faber addresses the lack of low-frequency extension in speaker systems. Of course, this subwoofer can also be added to floor-standing speakers like the Sonus Faber Sonetto III.

SONUS FABER GRAVIS II: ENCLOSURE

The Sonus Faber Gravis II subwoofer is elegantly designed as a parallelepiped. Its compact dimensions make it easily accommodated in any interior (404 x 356 x 408 mm).

The Gravis II is available in 4 finishes: two lacquered versions in White or Black, and two wood veneer versions in Wenge or Walnut. The top of the enclosure is covered in leather.

It features two drivers, one on the front and one placed underneath the subwoofer. At the rear of the enclosure, there are access points for connections and adjustment knobs.

SONUS FABER GRAVIS II: FEATURES

The Gravis II amplifier boasts a nominal power of 350 watts and peak power of 700 watts! It drives a superb 26 cm driver positioned at the bottom of the subwoofer, specially designed by Sonus Faber to handle very low frequencies. Its 360° radiation pattern makes it less critical in terms of placement.

On the front, it is complemented by another driver similar in membrane size, but without a motor as it operates as a passive radiator.

The Sonus Faber Gravis II subwoofer allows adjustment of several essential parameters. It offers manual phase adjustment (0 or 180°), high-pass cutoff frequency adjustment from 30 to 120 Hz, and independent volume control for both LFE and Line inputs. These separate settings cater to both Hi-Fi and Home Cinema usage scenarios.

An ON/Auto switch allows the subwoofer to remain permanently on or to power on/off automatically based on audio signal detection.

Inputs include RCA Line and LFE inputs, while high-level input uses a Speakon connector. A Speakon cable is provided for connecting the subwoofer to speaker terminals or outputs of an integrated stereo amplifier or power amplifier. The upper frequency limit for this input can be adjusted via the "Cross-over" potentiometer.

SONUS FABER GRAVIS II: LISTENING

We paired the Sonus Faber Gravis II subwoofer with a pair of Sonus Faber Sonetto 2 speakers, choosing a crossover frequency around 50 Hz.

From the first measurements, we were impressed by the depth and spaciousness achieved by adding one or two octaves in the bass, even at low volume. The bass response harmonizes seamlessly with a Sonetto II or III.

After fine-tuning, the Gravis II becomes transparent, enhancing presence in vocals and strings, adding a sense of smoothness across the entire spectrum. Its harmonic contribution delivers naturalness and realism to music of all genres.

While defining and dynamic in the lower register, the Gravis II maintains articulation and control without overwhelming with excessive bass.

Whether playing a bass guitar, organ pedal, or bass drum, these instruments gain realism, enhancing tempo accuracy. The bass and sub-bass remain precise, firm, and articulate, without coloring or muddying the overall sound.

Sonus Faber introduced its first subwoofer in 1986, and with 35 years of refinement, the Gravis II exemplifies their expertise.

The Sonus Faber Gravis II subwoofer is a remarkable enhancement for Sonus Faber speakers, particularly with the Sonetto range.