In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CII and Performa3 C208, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus faber and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center II and Revel Performa3 C208 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto Center II | Revel Performa3 C208 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 6" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" aluminum cone | 2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-25k Hz | 50Hz- 20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 50-350 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.20kg / 35.6lbs | 23.41kg / 51.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.4" x 29.3" x 16"
289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm | 12-1/16" x 29" x 13-11/16"
307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto Center II and Revel Performa3 C208 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 |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Bad |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Sonetto CII and Performa3 C208 are 3-way speakers.
Sonus Sonetto Center IIRevel Performa3 C208
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
|
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 8-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 Performa3 C208 features a 1" aluminum dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer.
Frequency Response
Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sonetto CII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Performa3 C208's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. 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 Performa3 C208 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 Performa3 C208's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel Performa3 C208, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Performa3 C208 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS, whereas Sonetto CII has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Performa3 C208.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sonetto CII features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Performa3 C208 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
Revel Performa3 C208's Binding post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Revel Performa3 C208'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 Revel Performa3 C208 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm (12-1/16 x 29 x 13-11/16inch).
Revel Performa3 C208 is 6mm narrower and 61mm less deeper than Sonus Sonetto Center II but it is also 18mm 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 II is approximately 3038.9cm2 / 471.0inch2 and base area of the Revel Performa3 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm2 / 397.5inch2. The Sonetto CII requires 18% more surface area than the Performa3 C208 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 Revel Performa3 C208 weighs 23.41kg / 51.5lbs. This makes the Performa3 C208 45% heavier than the Sonetto CII.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto CII and Performa3 C208'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 Masks
- 1 Fabric dust guards
- 1 Basis
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual
What's in the Box of Revel Performa3 C208?
Here are the items that come with the Performa3 C208:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Short feet
- 2 Long feet
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
 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 |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
289mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
2564cm2
vs
3038cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto Center II |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
50-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
50Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1.650 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
289.0mm (11.4") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
743.0mm (29.3") |
737.0mm (29") |
| Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
348.0mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
23.41kg (51.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Sonus Sonetto Center II is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Sonus Sonetto Center II digs deeper - 42Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Sonus Sonetto Center II is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Revel Performa3 C208 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 350W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus Sonetto Center II: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto Center II sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,199 vs $2,200 a pair). |
A Sonus Sonetto Center II B Revel Performa3 C208
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Sonus Sonetto Center II has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus Sonetto Center II the better fit for a mid-size room, and Revel Performa3 C208 for a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.