In this review, we will be comparing Duetto and Xeo 20, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Dynaudio. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Duetto and Dynaudio Xeo 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Duetto | Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 700-watt RMS | 260-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Paper-Pulp | 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-30k Hz | 40-21k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.1 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 6.21kg / 13.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.4375" x 8.3125" x 11.0625"
342.0 x 212.0 x 281.0mm | 12.625" x 7.125" x 10.125"
320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Duetto and Xeo 20 are 2-way speakers.
Sonus faber DuettoDynaudio Xeo 20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus faber Duetto |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
Duetto features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Paper-Pulp Woofer. On the other hand, the Xeo 20 features a 1.1" Coated Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer.
Frequency Response
Duetto has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz whereas Xeo 20 has a frequency range of 40-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the Duetto can go slightly deeper then the Xeo 20's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Duetto and Xeo 20 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Sonus faber Duetto Port
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 faber Duetto's and Dynaudio Xeo 20's external dimensions. Sonus faber Duetto has external dimensions of 342.0 x 212.0 x 281.0mm (13.4375inch x 8.3125inch x 11.0625inch) whereas Dynaudio Xeo 20 has external dimensions of 320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm (12.625 x 7.125 x 10.125inch).
Sonus faber Duetto is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 31mm wider, 21.3mm taller and 23.8mm deeper than Dynaudio Xeo 20.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus faber Duetto and Dynaudio Xeo 20 in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus faber Duetto and Dynaudio Xeo 20 Size and External Dimensions
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 faber Duetto is approximately 595.7cm2 / 92.3inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Xeo 20 is approximately 465.5cm2 / 72.2inch2. The Duetto requires 28% more surface area than the Xeo 20 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Sonus faber Duetto and Dynaudio Xeo 20 on a Media Console
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 faber Duetto weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the Dynaudio Xeo 20 weighs 6.21kg / 13.7lbs. This makes the Duetto 10% heavier than the Xeo 20.
Here is a comparison of how Duetto and Xeo 20's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Duetto?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Duetto:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- Remote control
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Xeo 20?
Here are the items that come with the Xeo 20:
- 2 Powered bookshelf speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 8-feet AC power cords
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Setup Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Service only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
|
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
320mm
vs
342mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
465cm2
vs
595cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2500USD
vs
3999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Sonus faber Duetto |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
37-30k Hz |
40-21k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
700-watt RMS |
260-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper-Pulp |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
342.0mm (13.5") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
257.2mm (10.1") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
6.21kg (13.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
Service only |
Service |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
No |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
eARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yrs (3 Yrs registered) |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yrs (3 Yrs registered) |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
A generation apart: Sonus faber Duetto is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Sonus faber Duetto digs deeper - 37Hz against 40Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Sonus faber Duetto has the bigger amplifier (700W vs 260W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Sonus faber Duetto adds Wi-Fi, streaming and HDMI. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Xeo 20 is easier to place; Sonus faber Duetto is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Sonus faber Duetto: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Dynaudio Xeo 20 is cheaper - $2,500 against $3,999, about 37% less. |
A Sonus faber Duetto B Dynaudio Xeo 20
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 Duetto measures better, Dynaudio Xeo 20 costs about about 60% 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 $1,499 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.