In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CII and HTM71 S2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus Faber and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center II and BW HTM71 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto Center II and BW HTM71 S2 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto Center II and BW HTM71 S2 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 CII and HTM71 S2 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
BW HTM71 S2 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
2 x 6-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the HTM71 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas HTM71 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k 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 HTM71 S2's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 CII is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the HTM71 S2 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 CII can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sonetto CII sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the HTM71 S2's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM71 S2, 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.
Sonetto CII can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM71 S2 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 Sonetto CII and HTM71 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto CII and HTM71 S2 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
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 II's and BW HTM71 S2's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto Center II has external dimensions of 289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm ( 12 x 30 x 16inch) whereas BW HTM71 S2 has external dimensions of 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm ( 8-15/16 x 23-1/4 x 11-7/8inch) .
Sonus Sonetto Center II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 152mm wider, 61mm taller and 107mm deeper than BW HTM71 S2.
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 II is approximately 3038.9cm2 / 471.0inch2 and base area of the BW HTM71 S2 is approximately 1784.8cm2 / 276.6inch2. The Sonetto CII requires 70% more surface area than the HTM71 S2 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 II weighs 16.20kg / 35.6lbs and the BW HTM71 S2 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs. This makes the HTM71 S2 11% heavier than the Sonetto CII.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto CII and HTM71 S2'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 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto CII:
1 Masks1 Fabric dust guards1 Basis2 Jumpers1 Manual
What's in the Box of BW HTM71 S2?
Here are the items that come with the HTM71 S2:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Two-piece foam port plugs4 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
228mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1784cm2 (591x302mm)
vs
3038cm2 (743x409mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2 |
Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Bowers Wilkins |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
50-300 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.0 ohms |
Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
Aerofoil Profile |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
4" |
Crossover Frequency |
1.650 Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
289.0mm (11.4") |
228.0mm (9") |
Width |
743.0mm (29.3") |
591.0mm (23.3") |
Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
Weight |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
18.05kg (39.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Gloss Black, Satin White, Rosenut |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |