In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CII and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus Faber and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center II and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto Center II and Polk ES30 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 Polk ES30 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 ES30 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 |
Polk ES30 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
2 x 6-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 5.5-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 ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k 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 ES30's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 ES30 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 ES30's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES30, 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 ES30 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 175 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. ES30 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto CII and ES30 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 Polk ES30'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 Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm ( 7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch) .
Sonus Sonetto Center II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 233mm wider, 98mm taller and 139mm deeper than Polk ES30.
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 Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The Sonetto CII requires 121% more surface area than the ES30 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 Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Sonetto CII 88% heavier than the ES30.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto CII and ES30'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 Polk ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
191mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1377cm2 (510x270mm)
vs
3038cm2 (743x409mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
50-300 watts |
20-125 watts |
Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
5.5" |
Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
High-res dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
N/A" |
Crossover Frequency |
1.650 Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
289.0mm (11.4") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
Width |
743.0mm (29.3") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
Weight |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Black, Walnut, White |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |