The difference between men and boys is the size of their toys” is an innuendo-laced saying of years gone by, but it most certainly holds true when it comes to audio. The difference nowadays is that females have also got into the act.

Hi-fi isn’t the sweaty, geeks-only pastime it used to be, and there is now a wide range of products with true designer chic intended to appeal to both boys and girls.

That’s not to say the Sonus faber Toy Towers are girls-only speakers, but they do come clad in a coat of Louis Vuitton-esque mottled leather. While the leather aesthetic didn’t overly convince this wood-veneer fan at first, the appearance grew on me over time.

The reality is that the Toy Towers are seriously good sounding speakers with a touch of class about them, and only a true functionalist would pass them by in search of something else.

These smallish three-way speakers have borrowed heavily from the earlier Grand Piano Home, and although smaller than that model, the Toys still manage to pack quite a punch. Sonus faber has equipped them with a hi-tech ring radiator tweeter lifted straight from the more upmarket Cremona range, while a 4-inch cellulose mid/bass and 7-inch dedicated bass unit complete the rear-ported Toys’ complement of drivers.

Eschewing modern fashion (and science), the Toys are not bi-wireable, but then they didn’t sound as if they needed it – design a crossover correctly and there’s no need, is there?

Classy binding posts and a natty outrigger assembly for the rear feet complete what is a sophisticated little floorstanding speaker.

Having heard Sonus faber’s Auditor M stand-mounts in combination with the Naim Nait XS recently, the Toys were paired with the Naim Uniti as both source and amplifier. This paid off in spades as the duo worked beautifully together on both CDs and streamed audio from a Mac.

Starting with lossless audio, the Toy/Uniti combination produced super reproduction of the overlooked ’70s Rolling Stones album Black & Blue. The bass was taut and extended, while the vocals were natural and realistic. With sounds emanating from either side of each speaker, the Toys produced a very good soundstage.

Cinematic Orchestra’s Man With A Movie Camera was next on the listening menu, and the Toys delved deeply into the recording to dig out detail, warmth and dynamics in equal measures.

The little Sonus Fabers seemed to take all types of music and produce an event, with no stridency, sibilance or harshness; and although they go low in terms of bass response, it wasn’t at the expense of midrange detail or sweetness of treble.

I’m thinking a lot of you will be buying new toys this year, and these Toys come heartily recommended.

GARY PEARCE

Tech Specs

Toy Tower Floorstanding Loudspeakers

Enclosure type: Three-way rear-ported reflex
Components: Tweeter – 25mm ring radiator; mid – 110mm coated cellulose; bass – 180mm nomex cone
Frequency Response: 45Hz-25kHz
Sensitivity: 89dB
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal
Recommended Power Handling: 35-200w
Dimensions: 950 x 270 x 295mm (H/W/D)
Weight:36.5kg per pair

PROS

• Sweet, detailed and dynamic sound

• Build quality

CONS

• Leather look may not suit everybody

VERDICT

A blend of Milanese fashion and hi-fi, the Toys are seriously good sounding speakers

CONTACT

www.internationaldynamics.co.nz
This article is from Tone Magazine Issue 78. 

What do you think?