By: Dipin Sehdev

When Italian luxury brands collide, expectations run high. The latest collaboration between Sonus faber, the legendary Vicenza-based loudspeaker maker, and Automobili Lamborghini, the icon of exotic performance cars, has arrived in the form of the Il Cremonese Ex3me – Automobili Lamborghini Edition. Debuting during Monterey Car Week at the Lamborghini Villa in Pebble Beach, this ultra-limited loudspeaker promises to fuse “the soul of Italian sound with the emotion of Italian speed.”

On the surface, it’s a tantalizing pitch: the visceral thrill of Lamborghini wrapped into the acoustic mastery of Sonus faber. But peel back the branding and the reality becomes clearer—this isn’t a reinvention of the acclaimed Il Cremonese Ex3me. It’s a re-skinned, re-finished special edition. And while the craftsmanship and performance are unquestionable, the jump in price raises a critical question for serious audiophiles: is this collaboration truly worth the premium?

A Familiar Masterpiece in New Clothes

The Il Cremonese Ex3me is not new. First launched as a tribute to Sonus faber’s 40th anniversary, the speaker already carried legendary status in the high-end audio world. With its five-sided rhomboid cabinet, advanced driver complement, and uncompromising crossover design, the Ex3me quickly established itself as one of the company’s finest creations. CE Critic awarded it a near-perfect 95% score, praising its holographic imaging, natural timbre, and thunderous yet controlled bass.

The Lamborghini Edition, limited to just 50 numbered pairs, doesn’t alter that sonic DNA. The tweeter remains a 30mm Diamond-Like Carbon Beryllium dome, inherited from the rare Ex3ma project. The midrange driver still uses Sonus faber’s unique mix of cellulose, kapok, and kenaf fibers for organic warmth. Dual 180mm woofers and side-mounted 220mm infrawoofers deliver scale and depth without muddying the mids.

In other words: the Lamborghini Edition sounds exactly like the Il Cremonese Ex3me. And that’s no slight—these are already among the finest loudspeakers available today. But for those expecting a sonic upgrade, the truth is this release is more about branding and visual identity than acoustic evolution.

The Lamborghini Touch

So what exactly distinguishes the Lamborghini Edition? In essence: paint, materials, and logos.

• Finishes – Customers can choose from five Lamborghini-inspired colors: Giallo Countach, Arancio Egon, Blu Marinus Matte, Verde Mercurius, and Nero Nemesis Matte. These are pulled directly from Lamborghini’s automotive palette, instantly recognizable to owners and enthusiasts.

• Materials – Corsa-Tex® and exposed carbon fiber accents mirror those found in Lamborghini cockpits.

• Branding – The iconic Automobili Lamborghini shield is emblazoned on the front, signaling the crossover intent.

• Cabinet detailing – Subtle contouring tweaks echo Lamborghini design language, though the underlying cabinet geometry remains identical to the original.

It’s easy to be cynical about cosmetic rebranding, but the reality is this: Lamborghini’s design ethos meshes seamlessly with Sonus faber’s sculptural approach. The result is a loudspeaker that looks every bit as dramatic as it sounds, commanding attention even in the most opulent listening room.

Performance That Needs No Reinvention

For prospective buyers, the real appeal isn’t in the Lamborghini badge. It’s in the fact that the Il Cremonese Ex3me remains one of the most musically satisfying loudspeakers ever engineered.

Technical Breakdown

• Frequency Response: 25 Hz – 35 kHz

• Sensitivity: 92 dB SPL (2.83V/1m)

• Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohms

• Recommended Power: 100W – 800W

• Driver Complement:

  • 30mm DLC Beryllium Tweeter

  • 180mm Natural Fiber Midrange

  • Dual 180mm Woofers

  • Dual 220mm Nanocarbon/Nomex Infrawoofers

• Cabinet Design: 3.5-way, para-aperiodic vented box

• Weight: 84 kg (185 lbs) each

Sonus faber has always voiced its speakers by ear, a painstaking process that ensures not just accuracy but emotional connection. The Ex3me exemplifies this philosophy: instruments are holographically separated, vocals are rich without coloration, and bass is both seismic and articulate.

The Price of Exclusivity

Here’s where things get complicated. The standard Il Cremonese Ex3me retails for around $60,000–70,000 per pair, depending on finish and market. The Lamborghini Edition? A staggering $130,000 (€125,000).

That’s nearly double the price for what is, in technical terms, the same speaker. Yes, the finish is rare. Yes, only 50 pairs will be produced worldwide. And yes, Lamborghini’s brand equity adds aspirational cachet. But sonically, there is no difference.

This positions the Lamborghini Edition squarely as a collector’s item, not a rational upgrade path. For Lamborghini owners looking to extend their brand ecosystem into their homes, the appeal is obvious. For seasoned audiophiles, the value proposition is murkier.

Branding Collaborations in High-End Audio

The Sonus faber x Lamborghini project is not unique. We’ve seen similar collaborations across the luxury landscape:

• Bowers & Wilkins x Maserati offered special-edition headphones and in-car systems.

• Bang & Olufsen x Aston Martin crafted bespoke speaker finishes.

• Devialet x Paris Opera tied high-tech wireless speakers to cultural icons.

These partnerships rarely alter core product performance. Instead, they function as brand storytelling exercises, designed to reach new audiences and build cross-market prestige.

In that sense, the Il Cremonese Lamborghini Edition is textbook marketing—successful in aligning two icons of Italian craftsmanship, but not essential for those who already appreciate the original speaker.

Is It Worth It?

That depends entirely on perspective.

• For Lamborghini Owners & Collectors – Absolutely. At this level of luxury, the ability to display a matching set of Sonus faber loudspeakers in Lamborghini paint is irresistible. It’s about lifestyle continuity, not just sound.

• For Audiophiles – Much harder to justify. The sonic performance is identical to the standard Ex3me, which is already among the world’s best. Unless the Lamborghini aesthetic specifically resonates, the price premium is difficult to defend.

• For Investors in Luxury Goods – Possibly worthwhile. With only 50 pairs worldwide, these could appreciate as collectible objects, particularly given Lamborghini’s cult following.

Ultimately, the Lamborghini Edition doesn’t diminish the achievement of the Il Cremonese Ex3me—it merely reframes it for a different audience.

Conclusion: Italian Icons, Different Motives

The Sonus faber Il Cremonese Ex3me – Automobili Lamborghini Edition is a stunning loudspeaker, both visually and sonically. But let’s be clear: the brilliance lies not in technical reinvention, but in branding synergy. This is about heritage, exclusivity, and spectacle, not about pushing audio boundaries.

And yet, perhaps that’s the point. In a world where luxury is often measured as much by scarcity and storytelling as by performance, Sonus faber and Lamborghini have created an object that embodies Italian passion in its purest form.

For audiophiles chasing absolute performance, the standard Il Cremonese Ex3me remains the smarter buy. For those who already have a Lamborghini parked in the garage, the Lamborghini Edition is an equally dramatic statement piece for the listening room.

At $130,000 per pair, these speakers may not redefine what we hear—but they certainly redefine how we feel about it.