In this review, we will be comparing Genelec G Three and Sonos Five, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Genelec and Sonos. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Genelec G Three and Sonos Five first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Genelec G Three and Sonos Five 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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Drivers
Both Genelec G Three and Sonos Five are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Genelec G Three |
Sonos Five |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
3 x 0.8-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.1-inch
|
3 x 2.75-inch
|
Genelec G Three features a 0.75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.1" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Sonos Five features a 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter and 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Genelec G Three has a frequency range of 54-20k Hz whereas Sonos Five has a frequency range of . With a minimum frequency of Hz, the Sonos Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Genelec G Three's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Genelec G Three has a rear firing port whereas Sonos Five has a front firing ports. Sonos Five's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Genelec G Three with its rear-firing port.
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 Genelec G Three's and Sonos Five's external dimensions. Genelec G Three has external dimensions of 299 x 189 x 178 mm ( 11.8 x 7.4 x 7) whereas Sonos Five has external dimensions of 201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm ( 7.9375 x 14.3125 x 6.875inch) .
Sonos Five is 97.4mm shorter and 3.4mm less deeper than Genelec G Three but it is also 174.5mm wider.
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 Genelec G Three is approximately 336.4cm2 / 52.1inch2 and base area of the Sonos Five is approximately 634.7cm2 / 98.4inch2. The Genelec G Three requires 47% less surface area than the Sonos Five 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 Genelec G Three weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Sonos Five weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs. This makes the Sonos Five 28% heavier than the Genelec G Three.
Here is a comparison of how Genelec G Three and Sonos Five's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Genelec G Three?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Genelec G Three:
Genelec G Three 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker (Polar White, Single)Iso-Pod Stand5.9-feet Power Cable
What's in the Box of Sonos Five?
Here are the items that come with the Sonos Five:
Wireless audio speaker 6.5-feet AC power cord Quickstart Guide Important Safety Information
 Woofer Size |
5.1 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
20k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
336cm2 (189x178mm)
vs
634cm2 (363x174mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
201mm
vs
299mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1098USD
vs
1390USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
| General |
Genelec G Three |
Sonos Five |
| Brand |
Genelec |
Sonos |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
54-20k Hz |
|
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
N/A |
16-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
N/A |
44.1kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
5.1" |
2.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Cone |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
3 x 0.8" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
299.0mm (11.8") |
201.6mm (7.9") |
| Width |
189.0mm (7.4") |
363.5mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
178.0mm (7") |
174.6mm (6.9") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Aluminum |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
White,Black,Raw(Aluminum) |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA,XLR |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
n/a |
Optional Wireless |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |