In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto V and Sonetto VIII, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Sonus Faber Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto V and Sonus Sonetto VIII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonetto V and Sonetto VIII 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 V and Sonus Sonetto VIII 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 V and Sonus Sonetto VIII 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 V and Sonetto VIII are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto V |
Sonus Sonetto VIII |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
3 x 7-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 Sonetto VIII features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 7" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270 and 3.000 Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonetto V has a frequency range of 38-25k Hz whereas Sonetto VIII has a frequency range of 36-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Sonetto VIII can go slightly deeper then the Sonetto V's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 V and Sonetto VIII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 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 V and the Sonetto V can provide this impedance level.
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 V and Sonetto VIII has the same power range of 50-300 watts.
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 V and Sonetto VIII features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto V's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Sonus Sonetto VIII's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto V and Sonetto VIII have bottom firing ports.
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 V's and Sonus Sonetto VIII's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto V has external dimensions of 1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm ( 42 x 10 x 16inch) whereas Sonus Sonetto VIII has external dimensions of 1188.0 x 283.0 x 427.0mm ( 47 x 11 x 17inch) .
Sonus Sonetto VIII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 116mm taller and 18mm deeper than Sonus Sonetto V.
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 Sonus Sonetto VIII is approximately 1208.4cm2 / 187.3inch2. The Sonetto V requires 13% less surface area than the Sonetto VIII 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 V weighs 22.60kg / 49.7lbs and the Sonus Sonetto VIII weighs 26.30kg / 57.9lbs. This makes the Sonetto VIII 16% heavier than the Sonetto V.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto V and Sonetto VIII'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 Spikes8 Under Spikes8 Spike locks2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Basis16 Locking screws2 Jumpers1 Allen Wrench1 Manual
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto VIII?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto VIII:
8 Spikes8 Under Spikes8 Spike locks2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Basis16 Locking screws2 Jumpers1 Allen Wrench1 Manual
 Height |
1072mm
vs
1188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1055cm2 (258x409mm)
vs
1208cm2 (283x427mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto V |
Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Sonus Faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-25k Hz |
36-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
aluminum cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
235 and 3.000 Hz |
270 and 3.000 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1072.0mm (42.2") |
1188.0mm (46.8") |
| Width |
258.0mm (10.2") |
283.0mm (11.1") |
| Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
427.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
22.60kg (49.7lbs) |
26.30kg (57.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|