In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto VIII G2 and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus faber and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Paper Pulp | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-40k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-400 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 45.10kg / 99.2lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 46-13/16" x 13-3/16" x 19-7/16"
1190.0 x 335.0 x 494.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Sonetto VIII G2 and Synchrony T600 are 3-way speakers.
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2PSB Synchrony T600
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 faber Sonetto VIII G2 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonetto VIII G2 features a 1.1" Soft-dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Paper Pulp Woofer. On the other hand, the Synchrony T600 features a 1" titanium with ferrofluid cooling and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonetto VIII G2 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz whereas Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Synchrony T600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto VIII G2's min frequency of 33Hz.
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 G2 and Synchrony T600 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sonetto VIII G2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Synchrony T600's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 G2 and the Sonetto VIII G2 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 Synchrony T600 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 G2 and Synchrony T600 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony T600'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 faber Sonetto VIII G2's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. 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) whereas PSB Synchrony T600 has external dimensions of 1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm (41-1/4 x 9 x 13-1/2inch).
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 107mm wider, 142mm taller and 151mm deeper than PSB Synchrony T600.
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 VIII G2 is approximately 1654.9cm2 / 256.5inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The Sonetto VIII G2 requires 112% more surface area than the Synchrony T600 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 VIII G2 weighs 45.10kg / 99.2lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the Sonetto VIII G2 29% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto VIII G2 and Synchrony T600'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 faber Sonetto VIII G2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of PSB Synchrony T600?
Here are the items that come with the Synchrony T600:
- Floorstanding loudspeakr
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation feet
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
33 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1190mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
1654cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
8000USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-400 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-40k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper Pulp |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1190.0mm (46.9") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
335.0mm (13.2") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
494.0mm (19.4") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
45.10kg (99.2lbs) |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood/Leather/Concrete |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | PSB Synchrony T600 digs deeper - 24Hz against 33Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 takes more power (400W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2: bi-amping; PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | PSB Synchrony T600 is cheaper - $8,000 against $9,000, about 11% less. |
A Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 B PSB Synchrony T600
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 33Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, PSB Synchrony T600 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.