In this review, we will be comparing HTM71 S3 and Sonetto CII, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Sonus Faber. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W HTM71 S3 and Sonus Sonetto Center II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W HTM71 S3 and Sonus Sonetto Center II 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W HTM71 S3 and Sonus Sonetto Center II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both HTM71 S3 and Sonetto CII are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W HTM71 S3 |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
2 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
HTM71 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Solid Body Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 4 x 5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer . On the other hand, the Sonetto CII features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.650 Hz.
Frequency Response
HTM71 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sonetto CII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM71 S3's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
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
HTM71 S3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Sonetto CII which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sonetto CII can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HTM71 S3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Sonetto CII's is rated at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W HTM71 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
HTM71 S3 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM71 S3 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Sonetto CII.
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
Both HTM71 S3 and Sonetto CII features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
B&W HTM71 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Sonus Sonetto Center II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HTM71 S3 and Sonetto CII have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 B&W HTM71 S3's and Sonus Sonetto Center II's external dimensions. B&W HTM71 S3 has external dimensions of 235.0 x 629.0 x 356.0mm ( 9-1/4inch x 24-3/4inch x 14inch ) whereas Sonus Sonetto Center II has external dimensions of 289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm ( 12 x 30 x 16inch) .
Sonus Sonetto Center II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 114mm wider, 54mm taller and 53mm deeper than B&W HTM71 S3.
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 B&W HTM71 S3 is approximately 2239.2cm2 / 347.1inch2 and base area of the Sonus Sonetto Center II is approximately 3038.9cm2 / 471.0inch2. The HTM71 S3 requires 26% less surface area than the Sonetto CII which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The B&W HTM71 S3 weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Sonus Sonetto Center II weighs 16.20kg / 35.6lbs. This makes the HTM71 S3 8% heavier than the Sonetto CII.
Here is a comparison of how HTM71 S3 and Sonetto CII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W HTM71 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTM71 S3:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleTwo-piece foam port plug4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty InformationOnline Registration Card
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto Center II?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto CII:
1 Masks1 Fabric dust guards1 Basis2 Jumpers1 Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
235mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2239cm2 (629x356mm)
vs
3038cm2 (743x409mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 |
Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Sonus Faber |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil Profile |
aluminum cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
Solid Body Soft-Dome |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1.650 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
235.0mm (9.3") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Width |
629.0mm (24.8") |
743.0mm (29.3") |
| Depth |
356.0mm (14") |
409.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|