In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Sonus Faber. Sonus Faber Sonetto I is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Sonetto CII is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Sonetto Center II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Sonetto I Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
- 6" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers Woofer
- 45-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:5.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 359.0" x 9" x 12"( 359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm )
Sonus Sonetto Center II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 42-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:16.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 289.0" x 30" x 16"( 289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm )
Sonetto I and Sonetto CII are members of Sonus Faber's Sonetto series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus Faber Sonetto Series History
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Sonetto Center II 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 |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Sonetto Center II 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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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonetto I is a 2-way design whereas the Sonetto CII is a 3-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 I |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6-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 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.
Frequency Response
Sonetto I has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas Sonetto CII has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sonetto CII can go slightly deeper then the Sonetto I's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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 I and Sonetto CII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sonetto I sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Sonetto CII's is at 91 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center II a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sonetto I and the Sonetto I can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 I can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Sonetto I has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 150 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 I and Sonetto CII 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonetto I has a front firing port whereas Sonetto CII 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 Sonus Sonetto Center II with its rear-firing port.
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 I's and Sonus Sonetto Center II's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto I has external dimensions of 359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm ( 14 x 9 x 12inch) whereas Sonus Sonetto Center II has external dimensions of 289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm ( 12 x 30 x 16inch) .
Sonus Sonetto I is 524mm narrower and 104mm less deeper than Sonus Sonetto Center II but it is also 70mm 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 I is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2 and base area of the Sonus Sonetto Center II is approximately 3038.9cm2 / 471.0inch2. The Sonetto I requires 78% less surface area than the Sonetto CII which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto I:
2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Jumpers1 Manual
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto Center II?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto CII:
1 Masks1 Fabric dust guards1 Basis2 Jumpers1 Manual
Port Position 
Base Surface Area 
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Number of Woofers 
Height