In this review, we will be comparing Duetto and 4305P, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and JBL. 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 JBL 4305P first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Duetto | JBL 4305P |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 700-watt RMS | 300-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" Horn-Loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Paper-Pulp | 5.25" Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-30k Hz | 45-25k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 192kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.1 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 6.60kg / 14.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.4375" x 8.3125" x 11.0625"
342.0 x 212.0 x 281.0mm | 13.3125" x 8.3125" x 8-3/4"
336 x 210 x 223 mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Duetto and 4305P are 2-way speakers.
Sonus faber DuettoJBL 4305P
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 |
JBL 4305P |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Duetto features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Paper-Pulp Woofer. On the other hand, the 4305P features a 1" Teonex Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1750 Hz.
Frequency Response
Duetto has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz whereas 4305P has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the Duetto can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 4305P's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Duetto has a rear firing port whereas 4305P has a front firing ports. JBL 4305P's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Sonus faber Duetto with its rear-firing port.
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 JBL 4305P'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 JBL 4305P has external dimensions of 336 x 210 x 223 mm (13.3125 x 8.3125 x 8-3/4 inch).
Sonus faber Duetto is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 2mm wider, 6mm taller and 58mm deeper than JBL 4305P.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus faber Duetto and JBL 4305P in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus faber Duetto and JBL 4305P 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 JBL 4305P is approximately 468.3cm2 / 72.6inch2. The Duetto requires 27% more surface area than the 4305P 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 JBL 4305P 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 JBL 4305P weighs 6.60kg / 14.5lbs. This makes the Duetto 3% heavier than the 4305P.
Here is a comparison of how Duetto and 4305P'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 JBL 4305P?
Here are the items that come with the 4305P:
- 2 Powered speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 69-inch AC power cords
- 10-feet CAT5e cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- Owner-feets Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
336mm
vs
342mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
468cm2
vs
595cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
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 |
| General |
Sonus faber Duetto |
JBL 4305P |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
37-30k Hz |
45-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
700-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
192kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper-Pulp |
Pulp |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Horn-Loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1750 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
342.0mm (13.5") |
336.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
223.0mm (8.8") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
6.60kg (14.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
3/4-inch MDF with real wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
Satin Walnut, Black Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
Service only |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
eARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yrs (3 Yrs registered) |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yrs (3 Yrs registered) |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
These sit in different price classes - Sonus faber Duetto costs roughly 1.8x what JBL 4305P 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 | A | Sonus faber Duetto digs deeper - 37Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Sonus faber Duetto has the bigger amplifier (700W vs 300W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Sonus faber Duetto adds HDMI. |
| Size | depends | JBL 4305P is easier to place; Sonus faber Duetto is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus faber Duetto: a sub output; JBL 4305P: a sub output. |
| Price | B | JBL 4305P is cheaper - $2,200 against $3,999, about 45% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus faber Duetto B JBL 4305P
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, JBL 4305P costs about about 82% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL 4305P much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,799 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.