In this review, we will be comparing Reference 9 2023 and Sonetto II, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Canton and Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference 9 2023 and Sonus Sonetto II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference 9 2023 | Sonus Sonetto II |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 6.5" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-40k Hz | 42-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 125-220 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.14kg / 39.9lbs | 6.80kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.7" x 10.2" x 15.4"
449.6 x 259.1 x 391.2mm | 14.6" x 10" x 13"
370.0 x 250.0 x 334.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference 9 2023 and Sonus Sonetto 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Canton Reference 9 2023 |
Sonus Sonetto II |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reference 9 2023 and Sonetto II are 2-way speakers.
Canton Reference 9 2023Sonus Sonetto II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Canton Reference 9 2023 |
Sonus Sonetto II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Reference 9 2023 features a 1" Aluminum ceramic oxyd Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the Sonetto II features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2650 Hz.
Frequency Response
Reference 9 2023 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas Sonetto II has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Reference 9 2023 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto II's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference 9 2023 and Sonetto II have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
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 Reference 9 2023 and the Reference 9 2023 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Reference 9 2023 can handle a max power of 220 watts RMS, whereas Sonetto II has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Reference 9 2023.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sonetto II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Reference 9 2023 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Canton Reference 9 2023's and Sonus Sonetto II's external dimensions. Canton Reference 9 2023 has external dimensions of 449.6 x 259.1 x 391.2mm (17.7 x 10.2 x 15.4inch) whereas Sonus Sonetto II has external dimensions of 370.0 x 250.0 x 334.0mm (15 x 10 x 13inch).
Canton Reference 9 2023 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9.1mm wider, 79.6mm taller and 57.2mm deeper than Sonus Sonetto II.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Canton Reference 9 2023 needs about 21% more floor or shelf area. Canton Reference 9 2023 is 57mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Canton Reference 9 2023 is 80mm taller.
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 Canton Reference 9 2023 is approximately 1013.6cm2 / 157.1inch2 and base area of the Sonus Sonetto II is approximately 835.0cm2 / 129.4inch2. The Reference 9 2023 requires 21% more surface area than the Sonetto II which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Canton Reference 9 2023 weighs 18.14kg / 39.9lbs and the Sonus Sonetto II weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs. This makes the Reference 9 2023 167% heavier than the Sonetto II.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 9 2023 and Sonetto II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto II?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto II:
- 2 Masks
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual
 Max Input Power |
220 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
370mm
vs
449mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
835cm2
vs
1013cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
6300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Canton Reference 9 2023 |
Sonus faber Sonetto II |
| Brand |
Canton |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
125-220 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-40k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
cellulose pulp and other natural fibers |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2650 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
449.6mm (17.7") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
259.1mm (10.2") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
391.2mm (15.4") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
18.14kg (39.9lbs) |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
These sit in different price classes - Canton Reference 9 2023 costs roughly 4.2x what Sonus Sonetto II does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Canton Reference 9 2023 digs deeper - 25Hz against 42Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (220W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Sonus Sonetto II is easier to place; Canton Reference 9 2023 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Sonus Sonetto II: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Sonus Sonetto II is cheaper - $1,499 against $6,300, about 76% less; arguably a different class. |
A Canton Reference 9 2023 B Sonus Sonetto II
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sonus Sonetto II much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Canton Reference 9 2023 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Sonus Sonetto II for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.