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Sonus Sonetto I vs Sonus Sonetto II Comparison

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Sonus Sonetto I

Passive Bookshelf | 45-25k Hz

Sonus Faber Sonetto I
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Sonus Sonetto II

Passive Bookshelf | 42-25k Hz

Sonus Faber Sonetto II
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Sonus Sonetto I Sonus Sonetto I
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Sonus Sonetto II Sonus Sonetto II
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Sonus Sonetto I
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Sonus Sonetto II
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Sonus Sonetto I vs Sonus Sonetto II Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto I and Sonetto II, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Sonus Faber

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Sonetto 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 II Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers Woofer
  • 42-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:40-200watts
  • Weight:6.80kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 370.0" x 10" x 13"( 370.0 x 250.0 x 334.0mm )

Sonetto I and Sonetto II are members of Sonus Faber's Sonetto series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Sonus Faber Sonetto Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Sonus Sonetto III
  
Floor-standing 42-25k Hz 89 dB4Ω 2 x 6"
Sonus Sonetto V
  
Floor-standing 38-25k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 7"
Sonus Sonetto II
Bookshelf 42-25k Hz 87 dB4Ω 1 x 6.5"
Sonus Sonetto VIII
  
Floor-standing 36-25k Hz 90 dB4Ω 3 x 7"
Sonus Sonetto I
Bookshelf 45-25k Hz 87 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Sonus Sonetto Center II
  
Center Channel 42-25k Hz 91 dB4Ω 2 x 6"
Sonus Sonetto Center I
  
Center Channel 60-25k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 6"

What size room are the Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Sonetto 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 II
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Sonetto II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Sonetto I and Sonetto II are 2-way speakers.

Driver Sonus Sonetto I Sonus Sonetto II
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1.15-inch 1.15-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 Sonetto II features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2650 Hz.

Frequency Response

Sonetto I has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas Sonetto II has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sonetto II 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

Sonetto I
Sonetto II
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Sonus Sonetto I
Sonus Sonetto II
Min
Average
Max

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 II have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.

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

Sonetto I
Sonetto II
Min
Average
Max

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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Sonetto I has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Sonetto II.

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 II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Sonetto I and Sonetto II have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.

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 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 II has external dimensions of 370.0 x 250.0 x 334.0mm ( 15 x 10 x 13inch) .

Sonus Sonetto II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 31mm wider, 11mm taller and 29mm deeper than Sonus Sonetto I.

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 II is approximately 835.0cm2 / 129.4inch2. The Sonetto I requires 20% less surface area than the Sonetto II 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 I weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs and the Sonus Sonetto II weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs. This makes the Sonetto II 24% heavier than the Sonetto I.

Here is a comparison of how Sonetto I and Sonetto II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Sonus Sonetto I
Sonus Sonetto II
Min
Average
Max

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 Sonus Sonetto II?

    Here are the items that come with the Sonetto II:
  • 2 Masks
  • 2 Fabric dust guards
  • 2 Jumpers
  • 1 Manual

  • Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Sonetto I over Sonus Faber Sonetto II
    Height 359mm vs 370mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 668cm2 vs 835cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Sonetto II over Sonus Faber Sonetto I

    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 150 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 6 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 42 Hz vs 45 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Sonus Sonetto I vs Sonus Sonetto II Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Sonus Faber Sonetto I Sonus Faber Sonetto II
    Brand Sonus Faber Sonus Faber
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 30-150 watts 40-200 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 87 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 45-25k Hz 42-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition cellulose pulp and other natural fibers cellulose pulp and other natural fibers
    Tweeter Size 1.15" 1.15"
    Tweeter Type high definition DAD Dome high definition DAD Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2500 Hz 2650 Hz
    Firing Direction front front
    Physical Specs
    Height 359.0mm (14.1") 370.0mm (14.6")
    Width 219.0mm (8.6") 250.0mm (9.8")
    Depth 305.0mm (12") 334.0mm (13.1")
    Weight 5.50kg (12.1lbs) 6.80kg (15lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Available Colors Wood, White, Black, Wenge Wood, White, Black, Wenge
    Mounting Bracket
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty
    Labor Warranty

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