In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto V and Concord, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus faber and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto V and KLH Concord first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto V | KLH Concord |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 7" aluminum cone | 2 x 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-25k Hz | 28-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 94 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | up to 225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.60kg / 49.7lbs | 20.45kg / 45lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42" x 10" x 16"
1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm | 40-3/8" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonetto V is a 3-way design whereas the Concord 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.
Sonus Sonetto VKLH Concord
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 V |
KLH Concord |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonetto V features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 235 and 3.000 Hz. On the other hand, the Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Sonetto V has a frequency range of 38-25k Hz whereas Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto V's min frequency of 38Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 V is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Concord 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 V can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sonetto V sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Concord's is rated at 94 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KLH Concord a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto V, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Sonetto V can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Concord has a max power handling value of 225 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Sonetto V.
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
Sonetto V features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Concord has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto V's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
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 V's and KLH Concord's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto V has external dimensions of 1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm (42 x 10 x 16inch) whereas KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm (40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch).
Sonus Sonetto V is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 46mm wider, 46mm taller and 29mm deeper than KLH Concord.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Sonus Sonetto V needs about 31% more floor or shelf area. Sonus Sonetto V is 29mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Sonus Sonetto V is 46mm 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 V is approximately 1055.2cm2 / 163.6inch2 and base area of the KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Sonetto V requires 31% more surface area than the Concord 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 V weighs 22.60kg / 49.7lbs and the KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the Sonetto V 11% heavier than the Concord.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto V and Concord'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 V?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto V:
- 8 Spikes
- 8 Under Spikes
- 8 Spike locks
- 2 Masks
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 2 Basis
- 16 Locking screws
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Allen Wrench
- 1 Manual
What's in the Box of KLH Concord?
Here are the items that come with the Concord:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Rubber feet
- Port plug
- Manual
- ATTENTION! note
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
225 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1026mm
vs
1072mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1055cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
4499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto V |
KLH Concord |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
up to 225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-25k Hz |
28-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
235 and 3.000 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1072.0mm (42.2") |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
| Width |
258.0mm (10.2") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
22.60kg (49.7lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Sonus Sonetto V costs roughly 4.5x what KLH Concord does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KLH Concord digs deeper - 28Hz against 38Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Concord is more sensitive (94dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KLH Concord is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus Sonetto V takes more power (300W vs 225W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Concord is easier to place; Sonus Sonetto V is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus Sonetto V: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KLH Concord is cheaper - $1,000 against $4,499, about 78% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus Sonetto V B KLH Concord
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
KLH Concord has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Concord is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.