Sonus Faber Aster
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
92/100
Features Connectivity
80/100
Value for Money
82/100
Sonus Faber Aster serves a velvety, musical core with musical midrange and precise imaging, pairing airy treble with controlled bass from its passive-radiator cabinet. Attractive finish and solid cabinet control add to the audiophile appeal; the design was showcased by Jay Garrett and reviewed for outdoor use by Ian White.
Pros
Rich, natural midrange and strong vocal presence that underline the speaker's musical tuning.
Airy, extended treble and focused imaging deliver an open, detailed soundstage for nearfield and room listening.
High-quality fit-and-finish and a controlled elliptical cabinet that point to premium build and cabinet control.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Bass
88/100
5.25" mid/woofer with a passive radiator and a claimed 60 Hz lower limit. For a small PR bookshelf this suggests notably extended and controlled bass; the design and frequency spec support bass that reaches low enough for most music without a sub, but sensitivity and small cabinet limit absolute slam.
Mid
90/100
Sonus Faber's elliptical cabinet and two-way topology with a modest crossover point (1.8 kHz) imply a rich, well-bodied midrange and natural timbre. Expect strong vocal presence and musicality appropriate to the brand's tuning and driver choices.
Treble
89/100
26 mm tweeter and a claimed upper extension to 32 kHz point to airy, extended treble with refinement rather than edge. The combination of modest sensitivity and premium brand tuning suggests detail without sibilance.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
Elliptical cabinet geometry and carefully voiced two-way design indicate strong imaging and a convincing soundstage for the bookshelf form factor. Expect focused images and good depth for nearfield/listening-room placements.
Dynamics
86/100
88 dB sensitivity and a 125 W recommended amplifier imply the Aster benefits from a capable power amp for best macro dynamics. Within its size it should deliver satisfying punch, though ultimate headroom depends on amplification.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
92/100
Sonus Faber's design language and an elliptical, finished cabinet point to high-quality construction and premium fit-and-finish. Expect good cabinet control, attractive finishes, and well-chosen drivers/crossover parts.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive baseline applied. Single pair binding posts (passive bookshelf) — no DSP/streaming expected or penalized.
Value for Money
82/100
At a listed price around 550 (presumed pair), the Aster offers strong brand cachet, build quality and musical performance that justify the premium compared with mainstream compact monitors, though competition in this price band is stiff.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- System
- 2 way, passive radiator, closed box
- Loudspeakers
- Tw: Ø 26 mm Mw: Ø 134 mm
- Crossover Points
- 1800 Hz
- Frequency response
- 60 Hz – 32000 Hz
- Sensitivity
- 88 dB SPL (2.83V/1 m)
- Nominal impedance
- 6 Ohm
- Recommended power amplifier
- 125 W
- Connectivity
- 2 connectors binding post
- Product dimensions (HxWxD)
- Mounting Depth: 208 mm 8.1 in 195 x 330 x 150 mm / unit 7.6 x 12.9 x 5.9 in / unit
- Dimensions with packaging (HxWxD)
- 274 x 413 x 278 mm / unit 10.8 x 16.3 x 11.0 in / unit
- Weight
- 3.1 Kg / unit 6.8 lb / unit
- Packaging weight
- 4.0 Kg / unit 9.0 lb / unit
- Cabinet
- Elliptical shape
Manufacturer's Description — Sonus Faber
Sonus faber Natural Sound - outdoors.
Pairing elegant design with simple set-up, Aster elevates sound quality and ambience on terraces, patios, gardens and more.
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT
Latin for “star,” Aster shines pristine audio in open-air spaces.
WITHSTANDS THE ELEMENTS
Aster is IP65 certified to ensure longevity, withstanding all outdoor elements — from rain to snow, dust, and sun.
UNIQUE DESIGN
Aster’s slim, streamlined shape allows it to fit perfectly into any outdoor space. The symmetrical positioning of the passive radiators optimizes the acoustic performance, delivering deep and clear bass.
SIMPLE SET-UP
The aluminum mounting bracket provided ensures a fast and secure installation. Simply mount the wall bracket to the wall, then attach the speaker with a turn using Aster’s bayonet mounting system.
ADJUSTABLE TILTING SYSTEM
Aster utilizes a spring-loaded mechanism that allows for easy 15-degree tilting adjustments without the need for tools.
ELEGANT DESIGN, ELEVATED SOUND
Aster is available in two essential finishes.
DESIGN AND ENGINEERING
Aster combines with Sonus faber’s four decades of acoustical engineering expertise and elegant design – all in a resilient and versatile outdoor speaker.
EASY INSTALLATION
Aster brings Sonus faber’s signature Natural Sound outdoors with straightforward set-up. The aluminum mounting bracket system is both intuitive and functional. A simple installer screw attaches Aster to the wall, and the bayonet system secures the cabinet with a simple turn.
WEATHERPROOF
Aster is IP65 certified to ensure a long life regardless of weather conditions.
MATERIALS
Aster is constructed of materials designed to provide a premium fit and finish, while also ensuring excellent visual and sound quality for many years to come. The body is constructed of a PC-ABS blend with a UV absorber coating. The front grille is made of painted metal - available in black or white.
ORGANIC SHAPE
Aster’s slim, organic shape channels modern design language while delivering Sonus faber’s signature Natural Sound. The two passive radiators on the sides increase efficiency and eliminate distortion.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Sonus Faber Aster
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- 110Hz — online and in-store — Kielce, Województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- ABSOLUTE ADOBE — in-store — Port Erin, Port Erin, United Kingdom (website)
- Absolute Sound (SG) — online and in-store — Singapore, Singapore (website)
- Acoustic Designs Inc. — in-store — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Anquan — online and in-store — Glika Nera, Greece (website)
- Arctic Audio — in-store — Fargo, North Dakota, United States (website)
and 224 more verified dealers