In this review, we will be comparing Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 and Ultra Tower, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 and SVS Ultra Tower first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 Key Specs
- 1.1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Paper Pulp Woofer
- 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-280watts
- Weight:25.85kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1069.0" x 11-5/16" x 14-5/16"( 1069.0 x 288.0 x 364.0mm )
SVS Ultra Tower Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.0" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 8.0" Polypropylene Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 28-32k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:34.27kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1159.0" x 13-15/16" x 17-1/2"( 1159.0 x 355.0 x 445.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 and SVS Ultra Tower 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 is a -way design whereas the Ultra Tower is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 |
SVS Ultra Tower |
|
Driver Setup
|
-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 features a 1.1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Paper Pulp Woofer . On the other hand, the Ultra Tower features a 1.0" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8.0" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 160HZ and 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas Ultra Tower has a frequency range of 28-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Ultra Tower can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonus faber Sonetto III G2'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
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2
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
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Ultra Tower which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2
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.
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 has a max power handling value of 280 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the Ultra Tower.
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 Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 and Ultra Tower features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Tower's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Sonetto III G2's and SVS Ultra Tower's external dimensions. Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 has external dimensions of 1069.0 x 288.0 x 364.0mm ( 42-1/16inch x 11-5/16inch x 14-5/16inch ) whereas SVS Ultra Tower has external dimensions of 1159.0 x 355.0 x 445.0mm ( 45-5/8 x 13-15/16 x 17-1/2inch) .
SVS Ultra Tower is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 67mm wider, 90mm taller and 81mm deeper than Sonus faber Sonetto III G2.
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 Sonetto III G2 is approximately 1048.3cm2 / 162.5inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Tower is approximately 1579.8cm2 / 244.9inch2. The Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 requires 34% less surface area than the Ultra Tower 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 faber Sonetto III G2 weighs 25.85kg / 56.9lbs and the SVS Ultra Tower weighs 34.27kg / 75.4lbs. This makes the Ultra Tower 33% heavier than the Sonus faber Sonetto III G2.
Here is a comparison of how Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 and Ultra Tower's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Sonetto III G2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonus faber Sonetto III 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
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Tower?
Here are the items that come with the Ultra Tower:
Floorstanding loudspeakerCloth grille2 Metal grillesFoam port plug4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Protective discs2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
32k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1069mm
vs
1159mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1048cm2
vs
1579cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
280 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
2600USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 |
SVS Ultra Tower |
| Brand |
Sonus |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-280 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
28-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper Pulp |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
160HZ and 2000Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1069.0mm (42.1") |
1159.0mm (45.6") |
| Width |
288.0mm (11.3") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
364.0mm (14.3") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
25.85kg (56.9lbs) |
34.27kg (75.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood/Leather/Concrete |
MDF/Oak veneer |
| Available Colors |
Wenge |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
5 Years |