In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto CII and Elysian C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sonus faber and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto Center II and Wharfedale Elysian C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto Center II | Wharfedale Elysian C |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 6" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" aluminum cone | 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-25k Hz | 35-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 50-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.20kg / 35.6lbs | 30.23kg / 66.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.4" x 29.3" x 16"
289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm | 12-5/8" x 32-11/16" x 14-9/16"
321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto Center II and Wharfedale Elysian C 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 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
| 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.)
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 Elysian C are 3-way speakers.
Sonus Sonetto Center IIWharfedale Elysian C
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 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 8.5-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 Elysian C features a 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900HZ.
Frequency Response
Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas Elysian C has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto CII's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Elysian C which has a nominal impedance of 6 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.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 91 dBdB.
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.
Sonetto CII can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Elysian C has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Sonetto CII.
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
Both Sonetto CII and Elysian C features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto Center II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale Elysian C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto CII and Elysian C 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
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 Wharfedale Elysian C'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 Wharfedale Elysian C has external dimensions of 321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm (12-5/8 x 32-11/16 x 14-9/16inch).
Sonus Sonetto Center II is 88mm narrower and 32mm shorter than Wharfedale Elysian C but it is also 39mm deeper.
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 Wharfedale Elysian C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2. The Sonetto CII requires 1% less surface area than the Elysian C which gives it a small advantage 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 Wharfedale Elysian C weighs 30.23kg / 66.5lbs. This makes the Elysian C 87% heavier than the Sonetto CII.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto CII and Elysian C'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 Wharfedale Elysian C?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian C:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
289mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
3038cm2
vs
3074cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
Foamed Rubber
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto Center II |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
50-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
coated fiberglass matrix |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
27 x 45mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1.650 Hz |
360Hz and 2900HZ |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
289.0mm (11.4") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
743.0mm (29.3") |
831.0mm (32.7") |
| Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
30.23kg (66.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Elysian C costs roughly 2.3x what Sonus Sonetto Center II does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale Elysian C digs deeper - 35Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale Elysian C is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus Sonetto Center II: bi-amping; Wharfedale Elysian C: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto Center II sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Sonus Sonetto Center II is cheaper - $2,199 against $4,995, about 56% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus Sonetto Center II B Wharfedale Elysian C
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale Elysian C measures better, Sonus Sonetto Center II costs about about 127% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sonus Sonetto Center II much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus Sonetto Center II the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Wharfedale Elysian C for a small 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.