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.
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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto Center II and Wharfedale Elysian C 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Sonetto CII and Elysian C are 3-way speakers.
| 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.
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 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. 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 Elysian C has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 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 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
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 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 Masks1 Fabric dust guards1 Basis2 Jumpers1 Manual
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Elysian C?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian C:
Center channel loudspeakerGrille2 Terminal-jumpersUser 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 (743x409mm)
vs
3074cm2 (831x370mm)
|
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 |