In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CI and RC-64 III, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus Faber and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center I and Klipsch RC-64 III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Sonetto Center I Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer
- 60-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-200watts
- Weight:6.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 242.0" x 20" x 12"( 242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm )
Klipsch RC-64 III Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1-3/4" Tractrix horn Tweeter
- 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer
- 57-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 99 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 200watts
- Weight:25.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 204.0" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"( 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm )
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto Center I and Klipsch RC-64 III 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 |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto Center I and Klipsch RC-64 III 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 Sonetto CI and RC-64 III are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-3/4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
4 x 6.5-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 RC-64 III features a 1-3/4" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonetto CI has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the RC-64 III can go slightly deeper then the Sonetto CI's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
Sonetto CI is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RC-64 III which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 CI can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sonetto CI sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RC-64 III's is rated at 99 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto Center I, 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.
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 Sonetto CI and RC-64 III features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto Center I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RC-64 III'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 Sonus Sonetto Center I's and Klipsch RC-64 III'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 Klipsch RC-64 III has external dimensions of 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm ( 8 x 35-3/4 x 15-1/4inch) .
Sonus Sonetto Center I is 414mm narrower and 85mm less deeper than Klipsch RC-64 III but it is also 38mm 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 Klipsch RC-64 III is approximately 3526.9cm2 / 546.7inch2. The Sonetto CI requires 57% less surface area than the RC-64 III which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.