In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Sonus faber. Sonus faber Sonetto II is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Sonetto CI is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto II and Sonus Sonetto Center I first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto II | Sonus Sonetto Center I |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers | 2 x 6" aluminum cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-25k Hz | 60-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-200 watts | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 6.50kg / 14.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.6" x 10" x 13"
370.0 x 250.0 x 334.0mm | 9.5" x 19.5" x 12"
242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm |
|---|
Sonetto II and Sonetto CI 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 II and Sonus Sonetto Center I 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 |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
| 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 II and Sonetto CI are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Sonetto IISonus Sonetto Center I
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 II |
Sonus Sonetto Center I |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6-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 Sonetto CI features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.550 Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonetto II has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas Sonetto CI has a frequency range of 60-25k 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 Sonetto CI's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 II and Sonetto CI have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sonetto II sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Sonetto CI's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto Center I a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto II, 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 II and the Sonetto II 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 200 watts RMS, though Sonetto II is rated 40-200 watts and Sonetto CI 50-200 watts.
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
Both Sonetto II and Sonetto CI features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto Center I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonetto II has a front firing port whereas Sonetto CI 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 Sonus Sonetto Center I 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 II's and Sonus Sonetto Center I's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto II has external dimensions of 370.0 x 250.0 x 334.0mm (15 x 10 x 13inch) whereas Sonus Sonetto Center I has external dimensions of 242.0 x 495.0 x 303.0mm (10 x 20 x 12inch).
Sonus Sonetto Center I is 128mm shorter and 31mm less deeper than Sonus Sonetto II but it is also 245mm wider.
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 Sonus Sonetto Center I is approximately 1499.9cm2 / 232.5inch2. The Sonetto II requires 44% less surface area than the Sonetto CI which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Sonus Sonetto Center I?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto CI:
- 1 Masks
- 1 Fabric dust guards
- 1 Basis
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual