In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CII and VELA CC 401, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus Faber and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center II and ELAC VELA CC 401 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Sonetto Center II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer
- 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 )
ELAC VELA CC 401 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter
- 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich Woofer
- 30-50k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:40-120watts
- Weight:19.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 193.0" x 25-9/16" x 9-7/16"( 193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm )
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto Center II and ELAC VELA CC 401 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 II |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 II and ELAC VELA CC 401 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonetto CII is a 3-way design whereas the VELA CC 401 is a 2-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 II |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6-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 VELA CC 401 features a " JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas VELA CC 401 has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the VELA CC 401 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto CII's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 and VELA CC 401 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sonetto CII sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the VELA CC 401's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC VELA CC 401, 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 Sonetto CII and the Sonetto CII 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.
Sonetto CII can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas VELA CC 401 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 180 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
Sonetto CII features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. VELA CC 401 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto Center II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto CII and VELA CC 401 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 ELAC VELA CC 401'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 ELAC VELA CC 401 has external dimensions of 193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm ( 7-9/16 x 25-9/16 x 9-7/16inch) .
Sonus Sonetto Center II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 93mm wider, 96mm taller and 169mm deeper than ELAC VELA CC 401.
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 ELAC VELA CC 401 is approximately 1560.0cm2 / 241.8inch2. The Sonetto CII requires 95% more surface area than the VELA CC 401 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 ELAC VELA CC 401 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the VELA CC 401 18% heavier than the Sonetto CII.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto CII and VELA CC 401'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 ELAC VELA CC 401?
Here are the items that come with the VELA CC 401:
1 Center channel speaker2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)Operating And Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
193mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1560cm2
vs
3038cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
aluminum/paper sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1.650 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
289.0mm (11.4") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
743.0mm (29.3") |
650.0mm (25.6") |
| Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Gloss Black |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |