In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CI and HDI-4500, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus faber and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center I and JBL HDI-4500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto Center I | JBL HDI-4500 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" aluminum cone | 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-25k Hz | 50-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.50kg / 14.3lbs | 20.15kg / 44.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.5" x 19.5" x 12"
242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm | 7-3/4" x 33-1/8" x 12-3/16"
197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto Center I and JBL HDI-4500 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* |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
JBL HDI-4500 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Sonetto CI and HDI-4500 are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Sonetto Center IJBL HDI-4500
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
JBL HDI-4500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
Sonetto CI features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.550 Hz. On the other hand, the HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
Sonetto CI has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HDI-4500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto CI's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Sonetto CI and HDI-4500 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 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 Sonetto CI and the Sonetto CI 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
HDI-4500 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Sonetto CI has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the HDI-4500.
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 CI features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. HDI-4500 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto Center I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
JBL HDI-4500's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto CI and HDI-4500 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
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 Sonus Sonetto Center I's and JBL HDI-4500's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto Center I has external dimensions of 242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm (10 x 20 x 12inch) whereas JBL HDI-4500 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm (7-3/4 x 33-1/8 x 12-3/16inch).
Sonus Sonetto Center I is 347mm narrower and 7mm less deeper than JBL HDI-4500 but it is also 45mm 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 Sonus Sonetto Center I is approximately 1499.9cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2. The Sonetto CI requires 43% less surface area than the HDI-4500 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 Sonus Sonetto Center I weighs 6.50kg / 14.3lbs and the JBL HDI-4500 weighs 20.15kg / 44.3lbs. This makes the HDI-4500 210% heavier than the Sonetto CI.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto CI and HDI-4500'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 Sonus Sonetto Center I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto CI:
- 1 Masks
- 1 Fabric dust guards
- 1 Basis
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual
What's in the Box of JBL HDI-4500?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-4500:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
1499cm2
vs
2610cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1925USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
197mm
vs
242mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto Center I |
JBL HDI-4500 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
50-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
horn-loaded high-frequency compression |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1.550 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
242.0mm (9.5") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
495.0mm (19.5") |
842.0mm (33.1") |
| Depth |
303.0mm (11.9") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Weight |
6.50kg (14.3lbs) |
20.15kg (44.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - JBL HDI-4500 costs roughly 1.8x what Sonus Sonetto Center I 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 | B | JBL HDI-4500 digs deeper - 50Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | JBL HDI-4500 takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Sonus Sonetto Center I is easier to place; JBL HDI-4500 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus Sonetto Center I: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto Center I sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Sonus Sonetto Center I is cheaper - $1,099 against $1,925, about 43% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus Sonetto Center I B JBL HDI-4500
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?
JBL HDI-4500 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 75% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Sonus Sonetto Center I looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the JBL HDI-4500 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sonus Sonetto Center I much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus Sonetto Center I the better fit for a small room, and JBL HDI-4500 for a large room and a very 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.