In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Sonus faber. Sonus faber Olympica I is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Olympica Nova W is a On-wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Olympica I and Sonus faber Olympica Nova W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus faber Olympica I Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Paper Woofer
- 57-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-250watts
- Weight:11.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 14-9/16" x 8-1/4" x 14-9/16" ( 370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm )
Sonus faber Olympica Nova W Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Paper Woofer
- 78-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:9.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 22-1/8" x 12-1/8" x 8-7/16" ( 562.0 x 308.0 x 215.0mm )
Olympica I and Olympica Nova W are members of Sonus faber's Olympica series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Olympica Series
History
What size room are the Sonus faber Olympica I and Sonus faber Olympica Nova W speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
Sonus faber Olympica Nova W |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Olympica I and Sonus faber Olympica Nova W compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Olympica I and Olympica Nova W are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus faber Olympica I |
Sonus faber Olympica Nova W |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Olympica I features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300 Hz. On the other hand, the Olympica Nova W features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300 Hz.
Frequency Response
Olympica I has a frequency range of 57-40k Hz whereas Olympica Nova W has a frequency range of 78-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Olympica I can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Olympica Nova W's min frequency of 78Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sonus faber Olympica Nova W
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Olympica I and Olympica Nova W have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Olympica I sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Olympica Nova W's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Olympica Nova W a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus faber Olympica I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Olympica I and the Olympica I can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Olympica I can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Olympica Nova W has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Olympica I.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Olympica I features Binding post type posts and Olympica Nova W has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Sonus faber Olympica I's and Sonus faber Olympica Nova W's external dimensions. Sonus faber Olympica I has external dimensions of 370.0 x 210.0 x 370.0mm ( 14-9/16 x 8-1/4 x 14-9/16inch) whereas Sonus faber Olympica Nova W has external dimensions of 562.0 x 308.0 x 215.0mm ( 22-1/8 x 12-1/8 x 8-7/16inch) .
Sonus faber Olympica I is 98mm narrower and 192mm shorter than Sonus faber Olympica Nova W but it is also 155mm deeper.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Sonus faber Olympica I is approximately 777.0cm2 / 120.4inch2 and base area of the Sonus faber Olympica Nova W is approximately 662.2cm2 / 102.6inch2. The Olympica I requires 17% more surface area than the Olympica Nova W which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.