Chario Academy Sonnet (pack of 2)

Chario Academy Sonnet speakers are high-end bookshelf speakers designed and manufactured in Milan, embodying Italian acoustic excellence. With their unique inverted configuration placing the tweeter below the woofer, these speakers deliver a spacious and natural soundstage that transcends their size. Crafted from premium materials such as solid Italian walnut and equipped with high-precision drivers, the Academy Sonnet promises a musical reproduction that combines warmth and accuracy to satisfy even the most discerning audiophiles.

Innovative Sound Architecture

The most striking feature of the Academy Sonnet is their “Reversed Array” configuration, which places the tweeter below the woofer, contrary to conventional layouts. This architecture is not merely an aesthetic whim but a carefully considered technical innovation. By positioning the woofer higher, Chario moves this driver further from the floor, thereby reducing reflections that can harm sound quality. The tweeter, meanwhile, is ideally placed at ear level for a seated listener, ensuring precise stereo imaging.

Even more remarkable, the Sonnet’s T32 tweeter can extend down to around 1000 Hz, a rare technical feat for this type of driver. This allows the crossover point to be set at 1180 Hz, well below the critical range between 800 and 1500 Hz where the human ear is particularly sensitive to phase distortion. The result is exceptional sonic coherence and an absence of coloration in the midrange—a crucial region for most instruments and voices.

Exemplary Craftsmanship

The Chario Academy Sonnet weighs in at 14 kg, a testament to the solidity of its construction. The cabinet features an outer shell of solid Italian walnut on four sides, enveloping a rigid internal HDF frame. This sandwich structure optimizes both inertia and the damping of unwanted vibrations.

Inside the enclosure, a complex system of internal bracing is specifically tailored to the speaker’s dimensions. The walls are lined with Fiberform polymer fibers that disperse energy within the cabinet. The rear bass-reflex port features a unique horn-shaped geometry, a technology exclusive to Chario.

The finish is flawless, revealing a level of artisanal precision rarely matched in the audio industry. Perfectly fitted edges, meticulously polished surfaces, and attention to the smallest details all reflect a manufacturing process where manual craftsmanship takes precedence over automation.

High-Precision Drivers

The Academy Sonnet is equipped with drivers specially developed by Chario. The 32 mm “SilverSoft” dome tweeter is a technical marvel, capable of reaching exceptionally low frequencies for its type. Its motor uses a rare neodymium-iron-boron (NeFeB) alloy magnet, ensuring superior dynamics and definition.

The 170 mm woofer features a Rohacell Full-Apex diaphragm, an ultra-light yet extremely rigid composite material also used in the aerospace industry. This diaphragm benefits from Poly-Ring technology and a powerful NeFeB motor, allowing for precise and controlled excursions. The combination of these two high-end drivers, connected by a sophisticated LKR4-aligned crossover, ensures remarkable tonal coherence and stereo imaging.

A Refined Sonic Signature

The Academy Sonnet offers a sound presentation that prioritizes tonal accuracy and balance. Far from speakers that aim to impress with spectacular effects, these monitors deliver a serene and natural reproduction that invites long, fatigue-free listening sessions.

The soundstage extends generously beyond the physical limits of the speakers, creating a wide and immersive sonic envelope. Stereo imaging is deep and precisely anchored, allowing each performer to be distinctly located. These speakers particularly excel in layering accuracy, faithfully reproducing sound planes and recording depth.

The bass register, remarkably defined for speakers of this size, extends down to 55 Hz (-3dB), providing a solid foundation without artificial exaggeration. The midrange is exceptionally transparent and free from coloration, while the highs stand out for their smoothness and natural extension.

The Academy Sonnet is characterized by its precision and respect for tempo, preserving the rhythmic integrity of recordings. Dynamic contrasts are faithfully rendered, allowing small instruments to maintain their presence even in dense orchestral passages.

Technical Specifications

Acoustic Features

• Low-frequency loading: rear port
• Port geometry: semi-exponential hourglass type
• Configuration: 2-way system with inverted layout

Drivers

• 1 SILVERSOFT 32 mm dome tweeter with NeFeB motor
• 1 ROHACELL Full-Apex Poly-Ring 170 mm woofer with NeFeB motor

Audio Performance

• Sensitivity: 90 dB SPL standardized at 1 m / 2.83 Vrms / uncorrelated L/R pink noise in accordance with ITU-R BS 1116-1
• Low cutoff frequency: 55 Hz at -3 dB referenced to C4 WETS
• Crossover frequency: 1180 Hz
• Alignment: LKR4-derived (Δf = 45°)
• Nominal impedance: 4 Ω module (min 3.0), argument ± 36°

Physical Characteristics

• Cabinet: solid walnut and HDF, structure composed of an enclosure housing a woofer and a tweeter
• Dimensions: 445 x 235 x 340 mm (H x W x D)
• Weight: 14 kg

Dedicated Stand

• Dimensions: 750 x 540 x 460 mm (H x W x D)
• Weight: 13 kg
• Finish:
  • Black anodized iron (top plate and legs)
  • Varnished HDF (central section)

Recommended Setup and Use

• Speaker orientation: angled inward facing the listener
• Listening distance: optimal speaker-to-listener distance > 2.5 m
• Listening configuration: carpeted floor in front of the speakers recommended
• Positioning: side and rear walls at least 1 m from the front baffle of the speaker
• Recommended amplifier: nominal average power of 120 W / 4 Ω