In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Sonus faber. Sonus Faber Sonetto Center I is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center I and Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 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): 10" x 20" x 12" ( 242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm )
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 8" Paper Pulp Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 33-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-400watts
- Weight:45.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 46-13/16" x 13-3/16" x 19-7/16" ( 1190.0 x 335.0 x 494.0mm )
Sonetto CI and Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 are members of Sonus faber's Sonetto series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Sonetto Series
History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto Center I and Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonetto CI is a 2-way design whereas the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 8-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 Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 features a 1.1" Soft-dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Paper Pulp Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonetto CI has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2
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 and Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 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
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2
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.
Sonetto CI can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Sonetto CI has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 200 watts less than the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2.
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 Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 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
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 Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2'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 Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 has external dimensions of 1190.0 x 335.0 x 494.0mm ( 46-13/16inch x 13-3/16inch x 19-7/16inch ) .
Sonus Sonetto Center I is 948mm shorter and 191mm less deeper than Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 but it is also 160mm 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 Sonus Sonetto Center I is approximately 1499.9cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is approximately 1654.9cm2 / 256.5inch2. The Sonetto CI requires 9% less surface area than the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2?
Here are the items that come with the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 6 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 2 Binding-post covers (pre-installed)
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Spikes 8 Protective discs
- 8 Locking washers
- Wrench
- Dust cloth