EQUIPMENT REVIEW Sonus fober Chomeleon B loudspeokers oudspeakers are great, but sometimes they don't do 'sexy'. There are still a lot of rectangular wooden'monkey cotfins' out there, virtually unchanged in basic design for more than two generations. Fortunately, there's also Sonus faber. The Chameleon is Sonus faber's new entry-level range, effectively replacing the diminutive Toy models. The range comprises the Chameleon T ('Tower' tloorstanders), the Chameleon C (Ior 'Centre'), and the bookshelf Chameleon B, tested here. The B is a ported two-way design, with a 29mm lerrofluid-damped fabric dome h,veeter, and a 150mm polypropylene cone bass unit. There are broad similarities in design between the Chameleon and its predecessor; like ihe Toy, the Chameleon has a trapezoid side aspect, which gives the front baffle and back panel a distinct slope. The sloping front and back help break up lnternal standing waves, and also glves the loudspeaker a small degree of time alignment. Both the Toy and the Chamdeon also feature a leather covered wooden cabinet. But the similarities end there. The Toy, so very indicative of the new look of Sonus laber a few years ago, looks positively oldjashioned next to the Chameleon. The older speaker's fixed wood or leather side-cheeks have given away to solid, interchangeable, colourful, and glossy side panels - six in iotal at the moment, with more said to follow You get one set with the loudspeakers when you buy lhem, and can buy more at v\./ill, whether you want to change your mood or d6cor. I imagine most will initially opt for the black, white, or red oplions, but I can see people also getting more ambitious after a while and opting for orange or 'metal blu', or even some of the Juture options, like turquoise or vivid yellow. Theoretically, if you have enough sets of panels, you could create a palette of colours, with difierent colour panels on each side of each loudspeaker (although that could get expensive). Changing these side panels is quick and easy, as you can easily swap over a set in a couple of minutes. What's more,the large push locators don't rattle even when the speaker is played loud. The side panels have by Alan Sircont a small recess cut into one side to allow the "Sonus laber Italy" logos 10 show. And, because the side panels can fit ejther side, Sonus faber has included this logo to the front and rear ot the sides ol the loudspeaker, so there will always be a logo staring back at you, regardless of how you insert these panels. lguess we should not be taken aback by this small, but significant, step change in product design, because Sonus faber has long relished its ltalian style, creating some of the most elegant loudspeakers in the business. And, in great fairness, the idea of interchangeable colour panels is not ftflfi+ 4l
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EQUIPMENT REVIEW
Sonus fober Chomeleon Bloudspeokers
oudspeakers are great, but sometimes theydon't do 'sexy'. There are still a lot of rectangularwooden'monkey cotfins' out there, virtuallyunchanged in basic design for more than twogenerations. Fortunately, there's also Sonus faber.
The Chameleon is Sonus faber's new entry-level range,effectively replacing the diminutive Toy models. The rangecomprises the Chameleon T ('Tower' tloorstanders), theChameleon C (Ior 'Centre'), and the bookshelf ChameleonB, tested here. The B is a ported two-way design, with a29mm lerrofluid-damped fabric dome h,veeter, and a 150mmpolypropylene cone bass unit. There are broad similarities indesign between the Chameleon and its predecessor; like iheToy, the Chameleon has a trapezoid side aspect, which givesthe front baffle and back panel a distinct slope. The slopingfront and back help break up lnternal standing waves,and also glves the loudspeaker a small degree of timealignment. Both the Toy and the Chamdeon alsofeature a leather covered wooden cabinet. But thesimilarities end there.
The Toy, so very indicative of the new lookof Sonus laber a few years ago, looks positivelyoldjashioned next to the Chameleon. The olderspeaker's fixed wood or leather side-cheeks havegiven away to solid, interchangeable, colourful, andglossy side panels - six in iotal at the moment,with more said to follow You get one set with theloudspeakers when you buy lhem, and can buymore at v\./ill, whether you want to change yourmood or d6cor. I imagine most will initially optfor the black, white, or red oplions, but I can seepeople also getting more ambitious after a whileand opting for orange or 'metal blu', or even someof the Juture options, like turquoise or vivid yellow.Theoretically, if you have enough sets of panels,you could create a palette of colours, with difierentcolour panels on each side of each loudspeaker(although that could get expensive). Changingthese side panels is quick and easy, as you caneasily swap over a set in a couple of minutes.What's more,the large push locators don't rattle evenwhen the speaker is played loud. The side panels have
by Alan Sircont
a small recess cut into one side to allow the "Sonus laberItaly" logos 10 show. And, because the side panels can fitejther side, Sonus faber has included this logo to the frontand rear ot the sides ol the loudspeaker, so there will alwaysbe a logo staring back at you, regardless of how you insertthese panels.
lguess we should not be taken aback by this small, butsignificant, step change in product design, because Sonusfaber has long relished its ltalian style, creating some of themost elegant loudspeakers in the business. And, in greatfairness, the idea of interchangeable colour panels is not
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SONUS FABER CHAMETEON B TOUDSPEAKERS
exactly a new one; t's not even a new dea in loudspeakerdesign. But Sonus faber is the first to take the conceptbeyond the lower ends oJ the audio wodd. These are morethan interchangeable cheap plastic colour panels on a cheapplastlc soundbar: the Chame eon ls a credible loudspeaker in
its own right, one that affords the listener considerable inputin the u timate design.
A clever touch here is the vent itself. A down firing port(complete with permanently fixed foam bung) wou d normalybe a prob em with a standmount deslgn, bul Sonus faber hascreated a combination plinth and front-fiing vent for the portthat manages to look good, provide a mass-loaded base forthe oudspeaker, and make the vent less room dependent. lt'sone of those neat and simple solutions that constitute one ofthe distinctive features of the Chame eon B.
However, the one aspect oi the Chameleon B's designl'm not convinced by is the reintroduction of bi wlre terminalsthat doesn't, I believe, significantly beneflt a loudspeakerof thls kind, even bi amped (at least, il didn't for a Roksan
with integrated and power amp combo); a good, singlewire terminal block shou d be better. This might be a trif e,
but we all know what N,4lchelangelo said about trifles: theyrrake perfect on.
When it comes to the sound quality of the Chameleon B,
the loudspeaker a so conrbines the modern and the classlcpresentations of Sonus faber in one, integrating eementsof the Venere with those of the l\linima standmounts.Consequently, the Chame eon is lyrical and begullng likethe Minima, but deta ed and fast-paced like the Venere.This is a very good and very 'now' baLance. lt lends itsefto contemporary classic tracks lke'Royas' by Lorde lPureHerolne, Universall, giving the music a combination of room-filllng vibrancy and soaring trebles.
It's very c ear, very qu ckly, that you are in the presenceof good qua lty audiophile fare when you sit between theChameleon B's. The soundstaging in particu ar is open andexpressive, with excel ent width and depth, and even sornehelght. The one thing sma standmount speakers like theSonus fabers do exceptionally well, is they act like an effectivepoint source. Play 'lvl Buenos Aires Querido'from the albumof the same name by Daniel Barenboim, Rodo fo lvlederos,
and H6ctor Console fleldecl, and you get the sense ofa classicaLly inspired Tango trio physically occupyingyour own room. Coupled with an overarchjng sense ofrefinement, and you have the sort of insightful and deeplyenjoyable presentation you get from the best high-endaLdio. BJt with one'eservalron: bass.
The'B'in'Chameleon B' might stand for'bookshelf', but it doesn't stand for'bass'. The Sonusfaber loudspeaker tries well to delver good, taut bass,which is a lot better than faking lt with boomy, wooflynoises at around B0Hz, but whlle this honesty meansyou can follow a bass line, it doesn't mean you canfollow it very far. There ls a gentle ro I ofi that kicksin at the upper bass, and by the lime you get to thefar left hand on a piano, the pedals on an organ, orthe deepest, flubbiest bass lines from a dub a bum,those notes are present in homeopathic quantities.
"It's uery cleor, ueryquicl<,|y, that you arein the presence of good
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qullity audiophile fare."
I actually prefer this to a loudspeaker that goes more for the'smoke and min'ors' effect: the Chameleon Bs last few octavesare more akin to a LS3/5a design. Neveftheless, ifyour musicaltastes demand fullon bass depth and solidity, ook elsewhere.
The Chameleon B occupies ground held by no companybefore, and its potential owners will not be swayed by'nondesign' designs. Such design- ed music lovers have oftenbeen fobbed off with poor sounding - but cool ooking -loudspeakers. But here we get that rare thing: a loudspeakerthat looks good, but which also sounds good enough tosatlsfy demanding Listeners. Although there are loudspeakersthat will prove more satisfying 10 those wanling deeper bass ora more taut or a more rh),'thmically integrated sound, I suspectthat is missing the polnt entirely, because the Charneleon B is
an exercise in reducing compromise across the board. Thosewho only care about how a loudspeaker sounds, and not
SONUS FABER CHAMELEON B TOUDSPEAKERS
how i't looks, are never going to 'get' a loudspeaker like theChameleon B, and will tend 10 dismiss a loudspeaker that hasaeslhetically pleasing component out of hand. Bul this js notmirrored in those wantlng a more design-led loudspeaker. lf
many are as unwilling 10 sacrifice sound quality as they are
aesthetlc values, the Sonus faber Chameleon B is their next
bookshef loudspeaker.Think of the Sonus faber Chameleon B as a 'best of both
worlds' design. lt combines old (wood and leather) and new(ABS and state of the ad drivers) design, with performance. lt
is every bit a 2015 loudspeaker in looks and sound, bul onethat doesn't shake off its heritage in the process. Our littleaudio world is hide-bound by those who forget a loudspeakerjn a livinq room has to look good as well as sound good; forthose that remember the jmpodance of both, this importantlittle loudspeaker comes highly recommended. +
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSType: Two-woy vented box slondmounl
loudspeokerDriver compliment: 29 mm high definition
precooted fobric dome iweeter wilh nofeflof,uid. I . 150 'n'n Iee compress;onbqsket woofer with polypropylene cone.Both custom Sonus fober designs
Frequency Response: 50Hz-25kHzCrossover Poinl: 2.5kHzSensilivily: 87dB (2.831V/l M)Nominol lmpedonce: 40Suggested Amplifier power outpul:
30 150W (without clipping)Dimensions (HxwxD):32 x l9 x 28cmOptionol stond (HxWxD): /2 x 3l x 37crnOpiionol dedicoled stond (HxWxD):
725 x 306 x 370 mmWeight (per loudspeoker): 6.7k9Price:t700
Monufoclured by: Sonus foberURL: www.sonusfobetcom
Distribuled in the uK by:Absolute SoundsllRL: www.qbsolutesounds.comlel: +44,0)2OB 971 3909
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