In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto VIII and Sonetto VIII G2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto VIII and Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto VIII | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 1.1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 7" aluminum cone | 2 x 8" Paper Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-25k Hz | 33-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 50-400 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.30kg / 57.9lbs | 45.10kg / 99.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 47" x 11" x 17"
1188.0 x 283.0 x 427.0mm | 46-13/16" x 13-3/16" x 19-7/16"
1190.0 x 335.0 x 494.0mm |
|---|
Sonetto VIII and Sonetto VIII G2 are members of Sonus faber's Sonetto series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Sonetto Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Sonetto VIII and Sonetto VIII G2 are 3-way speakers.
Sonus Sonetto VIIISonus faber Sonetto VIII G2
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 VIII |
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 7-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the Sonetto VIII G2 features a 1.1" Soft-dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Paper Pulp Woofer.
Frequency Response
Sonetto VIII has a frequency range of 36-25k Hz whereas Sonetto VIII G2 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the Sonetto VIII G2 can go slightly deeper then the Sonetto VIII's min frequency of 36Hz.
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 VIII and Sonetto VIII G2 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 VIII and the Sonetto VIII 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Sonetto VIII G2 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas Sonetto VIII has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Sonetto VIII G2.
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.
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Sonetto VIII and Sonetto VIII G2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto VIII's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 VIII's and Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto VIII has external dimensions of 1188.0 x 283.0 x 427.0mm (47 x 11 x 17inch) whereas Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 has external dimensions of 1190.0 x 335.0 x 494.0mm (46-13/16inch x 13-3/16inch x 19-7/16inch).
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 52mm wider, 2mm taller and 67mm deeper than Sonus Sonetto VIII.
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 faber Sonetto VIII G2 needs about 37% more floor or shelf area. Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is 67mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 VIII is approximately 1208.4cm2 / 187.3inch2 and base area of the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is approximately 1654.9cm2 / 256.5inch2. The Sonetto VIII requires 27% less surface area than the Sonetto VIII G2 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 VIII weighs 26.30kg / 57.9lbs and the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 weighs 45.10kg / 99.2lbs. This makes the Sonetto VIII G2 71% heavier than the Sonetto VIII.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto VIII and Sonetto VIII G2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto VIII?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto VIII:
- 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 Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto VIII G2:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 6 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 2 Binding-post covers (pre-installed)
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Spikes 8 Protective discs
- 8 Locking washers
- Wrench
- Dust cloth
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
1188mm
vs
1190mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1208cm2
vs
1654cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5499USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII |
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
50-400 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-25k Hz |
33-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
Paper Pulp |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
270 and 3.000 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1188.0mm (46.8") |
1190.0mm (46.9") |
| Width |
283.0mm (11.1") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Depth |
427.0mm (16.8") |
494.0mm (19.4") |
| Weight |
26.30kg (57.9lbs) |
45.10kg (99.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Finish |
n/a |
Wood/Leather/Concrete |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Black |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
Siblings in Sonus faber's Sonetto series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 digs deeper - 33Hz against 36Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 takes more power (400W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Sonus Sonetto VIII is easier to place; Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus Sonetto VIII: bi-amping; Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Sonus Sonetto VIII is cheaper - $5,499 against $9,000, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus Sonetto VIII B Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2
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?
The usual trade-off: Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 measures better, Sonus Sonetto VIII costs about about 64% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $3,501 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.