In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto II and Sonetto I, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Sonus Faber Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto II and Sonus Sonetto I 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 )
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 )
Sonetto II and Sonetto I 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 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 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto II and Sonus Sonetto I 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
Both Sonetto II and Sonetto I are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto II |
Sonus Sonetto I |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 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 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.
Frequency Response
Sonetto II has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas Sonetto I has a frequency range of 45-25k 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
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 II and Sonetto I 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 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. 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 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 II and Sonetto I features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto II and Sonetto I 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 II's and Sonus Sonetto 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 I has external dimensions of 359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm ( 14 x 9 x 12inch) .
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 II is approximately 835.0cm2 / 129.4inch2 and base area of the Sonus Sonetto I is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2. The Sonetto II requires 25% more surface area than the Sonetto I 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 Sonus Sonetto I weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs. This makes the Sonetto II 24% heavier than the Sonetto I.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto II and Sonetto I'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 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto II:
2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Jumpers1 Manual
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto I?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto I:
2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Jumpers1 Manual