In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto I and Aria 906, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto I and Focal Aria 906 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto I | Focal Aria 906 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 1" Inverted Hard Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25k Hz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 9" x 12"
359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-15/16" x 11-5/16"
391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto I and Focal Aria 906 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 I |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 I and Aria 906 are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Sonetto IFocal Aria 906
TweeterWoofer
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 I |
Focal Aria 906 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonetto I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonetto I has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Sonetto I can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria 906's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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 I is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Aria 906 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 I can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sonetto I sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Aria 906's is rated at 89.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 I can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Aria 906 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Sonetto I.
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 I features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria 906 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonetto I has a front firing port whereas Aria 906 has a rear firing ports. Sonus Sonetto I's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Aria 906 with its rear-firing port.
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 I's and Focal Aria 906's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto I has external dimensions of 359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm (14 x 9 x 12inch) whereas Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch).
Sonus Sonetto I is 9mm narrower and 32mm shorter than Focal Aria 906 but it is also 17mm 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 I is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The Sonetto I requires 2% more surface area than the Aria 906 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 I weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs and the Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Aria 906 57% heavier than the Sonetto I.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto I and Aria 906's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto I:
- 2 Masks
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 906:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles
- User manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
359mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
656cm2
vs
668cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto I |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
cellulose pulp and other natural fibers |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
Inverted Hard Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
219.0mm (8.6") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Aria 906 costs roughly 2x what Sonus Sonetto I 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 | A | Sonus Sonetto I digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Aria 906 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Aria 906 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus Sonetto I takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus Sonetto I: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto I sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Sonus Sonetto I is cheaper - $1,099 against $2,198, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus Sonetto I B Focal Aria 906
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 I 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 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Aria 906 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.