In this review, we will be comparing Sonus faber 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.
Sonus faber Duetto Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 700-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Paper-Pulp Woofer
- 37-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 342.0" x 8.3125" x 11.0625"( 342.0 x 212.0 x 281.0mm )
Dynaudio Xeo 20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 260-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer
- 40-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.1 Bluetooth
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 320.7" x 7.125" x 10.125"( 320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Duetto and Dynaudio Xeo 20 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 Sonus faber Duetto and Xeo 20 are 2-way speakers.
| 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
|
Sonus faber 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
Sonus faber 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 Sonus faber Duetto can go slightly deeper then the Xeo 20's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonus faber 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
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 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 Sonus faber Duetto requires 28% more surface area than the Xeo 20 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Duetto?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonus faber Duetto:
2 Wireless powered speakers2 GrillesTwo 6.5-feet AC power cordsRemote controlQuick Start GuideSafety Instructions
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Xeo 20?
Here are the items that come with the Xeo 20:
2 Powered bookshelf speakers2 GrillesTwo 8-feet AC power cordsRemote control2 AAA batteriesSetup Manual
Low Frequency Response 
High Frequency Response 
App-Based Control 
Ethernet Connection 
USB Port 
HDMI Input 
Subwoofer Output 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
3.5mm Connection 
RCA Connection