In this review, we will be comparing R2 Meta and Sonetto CII, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Sonus Faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R2 Meta and Sonus Sonetto Center II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF R2 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 67-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-200watts
- Weight:15.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 177.0" x 21-3/4" x 12-1/4"( 177.0 x 553.0 x 312.0mm )
Sonus Sonetto Center II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 42-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:16.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 289.0" x 30" x 16"( 289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm )
What size room are the KEF R2 Meta 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:
| Listening Environment* |
KEF R2 Meta |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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 KEF R2 Meta 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.
**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 R2 Meta and Sonetto CII are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF R2 Meta |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
2 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
R2 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560Hz and 2500Hz. 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
R2 Meta has a frequency range of 67-28k 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 R2 Meta's min frequency of 67Hz.
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
R2 Meta and Sonetto CII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R2 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Sonetto CII's is at 91 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R2 Meta, 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 R2 Meta and the R2 Meta can provide this impedance level.
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.
R2 Meta can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R2 Meta 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 R2 Meta and Sonetto CII features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R2 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Sonus Sonetto Center II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 KEF R2 Meta's and Sonus Sonetto Center II's external dimensions. KEF R2 Meta has external dimensions of 177.0 x 553.0 x 312.0mm ( 6-15/16-inch x 21-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch) 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 190mm wider, 112mm taller and 97mm deeper than KEF R2 Meta.
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 KEF R2 Meta is approximately 1725.4cm2 / 267.4inch2 and base area of the Sonus Sonetto Center II is approximately 3038.9cm2 / 471.0inch2. The R2 Meta requires 43% 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 KEF R2 Meta weighs 15.45kg / 34lbs and the Sonus Sonetto Center II weighs 16.20kg / 35.6lbs. This makes the Sonetto CII 5% heavier than the R2 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how R2 Meta 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 KEF R2 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R2 Meta:
1 R2 Meta 1 microfiber grille Rubber feet User manual and warranty information
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
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
177mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1725cm2
vs
3038cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1399USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
67 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
KEF R2 Meta |
Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II |
| Brand |
KEF |
Sonus Faber |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
15-200 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
67-28k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
aluminum cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
560Hz and 2500Hz |
1.650 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Width |
553.0mm (21.8") |
743.0mm (29.3") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
409.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
15.45kg (34lbs) |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
|