In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto III and RP-6000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus Faber and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto III and Klipsch RP-6000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto III and Klipsch RP-6000F 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto III and Klipsch RP-6000F 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 III is a 3-way design whereas the RP-6000F is a 2-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 III |
Klipsch RP-6000F |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonetto III features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 220 and 3.250 Hz. On the other hand, the RP-6000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonetto III has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas RP-6000F has a frequency range of 34-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the RP-6000F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto III's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 III is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-6000F 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 III can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sonetto III sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the RP-6000F's is rated at 97 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-6000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto III, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 III can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-6000F has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the Sonetto III.
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 III and RP-6000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonetto III has a bottom firing port whereas RP-6000F has a rear firing ports. Sonus Sonetto III's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-6000F 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 III's and Klipsch RP-6000F's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto III has external dimensions of 1018.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm ( 40 x 9 x 12inch) whereas Klipsch RP-6000F has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 237.0 x 432.0mm ( 39-3/4 x 9-5/16 x 17inch) .
Sonus Sonetto III is 18mm narrower and 127mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-6000F but it is also 8mm 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 III is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-6000F is approximately 1023.8cm2 / 158.7inch2. The Sonetto III requires 35% less surface area than the RP-6000F 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 III weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs and the Klipsch RP-6000F weighs 22.27kg / 49lbs. This makes the RP-6000F 39% heavier than the Sonetto III.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto III and RP-6000F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto III:
8 Spikes8 Under Spikes8 Spike locks2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Basis16 Locking screws2 Jumpers1 Allen Wrench1 Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-6000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-6000F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (installed)Grille (installed)2 Terminal jumpers (installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Base Surface Area |
668cm2 (219x305mm)
vs
1023cm2 (237x432mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Height |
1010mm
vs
1018mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto III |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F |
Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Klipsch |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
50-250 watts |
up to 125 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
97 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
34-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
Cerametallic |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
220 and 3.250 Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1018.0mm (40.1") |
1010.0mm (39.8") |
Width |
219.0mm (8.6") |
237.0mm (9.3") |
Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
432.0mm (17") |
Weight |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
22.27kg (49lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Walnut, Black |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |