Sonus Sonetto II vs B&W 706 S2 Comparison

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Sonus Sonetto II

Passive Bookshelf | 42-25k Hz

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B&W 706 S2

Passive Bookshelf | 50-28k Hz

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Sonus Sonetto II

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B&W 706 S2

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Sonus Sonetto II

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B&W 706 S2

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Sonus Sonetto II vs B&W 706 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto II and 706 S2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus Faber and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sonus Sonetto II and B&W 706 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 )

B&W 706 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter

6.5" Continuum Woofer

50-28k Hz Frequency Response

88 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-120watts

Weight:8.05kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 340.0" x 7.8" x 11."( 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm )

What size room are the Sonus Sonetto II and B&W 706 S2 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 II	B&W 706 S2
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 II and B&W 706 S2 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 II and 706 S2 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	Sonus Sonetto II	B&W 706 S2
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1.15-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 6.5-inch

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. On the other hand, the 706 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

Sonetto II has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas 706 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sonetto II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 706 S2's min frequency of 50Hz.

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 II

706 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Sonus Sonetto II

B&W 706 S2

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 II is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 706 S2 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 II can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sonetto II sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 706 S2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 706 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Sonetto II

706 S2

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 II can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 706 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 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 II and 706 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Sonetto II has a front firing port whereas 706 S2 has a rear firing ports. Sonus Sonetto II's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 706 S2 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 II's and B&W 706 S2's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto II has external dimensions of 370.0 x 250.0 x 334.0mm ( 15 x 10 x 13inch) whereas B&W 706 S2 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 200.0 x 301.0mm ( 13.5-inch x 7.8-inch x 11.-inch) .

Sonus Sonetto II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 50mm wider, 30mm taller and 33mm deeper than B&W 706 S2.

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 II is approximately 835.0cm² / 129.4inch² and base area of the B&W 706 S2 is approximately 602.0cm² / 93.3inch². The Sonetto II requires 39% more surface area than the 706 S2 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 II weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the B&W 706 S2 weighs 8.05kg / 17.7lbs. This makes the 706 S2 18% heavier than the Sonetto II.

Here is a comparison of how Sonetto II and 706 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

Sonus Sonetto II

B&W 706 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto II?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto II:

2 Masks

2 Fabric dust guards

2 Jumpers

1 Manual

What's in the Box of B&W 706 S2?

Here are the items that come with the 706 S2:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

2 Two-piece foam port plugs

8 Self-adhesive rubber feet

4 Jumper-straps

Manual

Bowers & Wilkins brochure

Warranty Information

Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Sonetto II over Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2

Max Input Power	200 watts vs 120 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Low Frequency Response	42 Hz vs 50 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Port Position	Front vs Rear	Gives more flexibility placing close to walls

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 over Sonus Faber Sonetto II

Sensitivity	88 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Nominal Impedance	8 ohms vs 4 ohms	Less selective with amplifiers
High Frequency Response	28k Hz vs 25k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Height	340mm vs 370mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	602cm² vs 835cm²	Takes less floor space

Sonus Sonetto II vs B&W 706 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sonus Faber Sonetto II	Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2
Brand	Sonus Faber	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	40-200 watts	30-120 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	88 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	n/a	3.7 ohms
Frequency Response	42-25k Hz	50-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	6.5"
Woofer Composition	cellulose pulp and other natural fibers	Continuum
Woofer Surround Material	n/a	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1.15"	1"
Tweeter Type	high definition DAD Dome	Decoupled Soft-Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	2650 Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	front	rear
Physical Specs
Height	370.0mm (14.6")	340.0mm (13.4")
Width	250.0mm (9.8")	200.0mm (7.9")
Depth	334.0mm (13.1")	301.0mm (11.9")
Weight	6.80kg (15lbs)	8.05kg (17.7lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	n/a	MDF/Wood Veneer
Available Colors	Wood, White, Black, Wenge	Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White
Mounting Bracket		No
Recommended Stand Height	n/a	24-26"
Grille	n/a	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	Yes
Other
Parts Warranty		5 Years
Labor Warranty		5 Years