In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto VIII G2 and Sonetto III G2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 and Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 | Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-dome | 1.1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Paper Pulp | 2 x 6.5" Paper Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-40k Hz | 38-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-400 watts | 50-280 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 45.10kg / 99.2lbs | 25.85kg / 56.9lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 42-1/16" x 11-5/16" x 14-5/16"
1069.0 x 288.0 x 364.0mm |
|---|
Sonetto VIII G2 and Sonetto III G2 are members of Sonus faber's Sonetto series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Sonetto Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonetto VIII G2 is a 3-way design whereas the Sonetto III G2 is a 2-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.
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2Sonus faber Sonetto III G2
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 |
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 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 Sonetto III G2 features a 1.1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Paper Pulp Woofer.
Frequency Response
Sonetto VIII G2 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz whereas Sonetto III G2 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the Sonetto VIII G2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto III G2's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Sonetto III G2 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 Sonetto III G2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus faber Sonetto III G2, 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 Sonetto III G2 has a max power handling value of 280 watts RMS, 120 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
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Sonetto VIII G2 and Sonetto III G2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 Sonus faber Sonetto III G2'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 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).
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 47mm wider, 121mm taller and 130mm deeper than Sonus faber Sonetto III G2.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 needs about 58% more floor or shelf area. Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is 130mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is 121mm taller.
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 Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 is approximately 1048.3cm2 / 162.5inch2. The Sonetto VIII G2 requires 58% more surface area than the Sonetto III G2 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 Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 weighs 25.85kg / 56.9lbs. This makes the Sonetto VIII G2 74% heavier than the Sonetto III G2.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto VIII G2 and Sonetto III G2'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
Sonus faber Sonetto III 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 Sonus faber Sonetto III G2?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
280 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1069mm
vs
1190mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1048cm2
vs
1654cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5000USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 |
Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-400 watts |
50-280 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-40k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper Pulp |
Paper Pulp |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1190.0mm (46.9") |
1069.0mm (42.1") |
| Width |
335.0mm (13.2") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Depth |
494.0mm (19.4") |
364.0mm (14.3") |
| Weight |
45.10kg (99.2lbs) |
25.85kg (56.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
|
| Finish |
Wood/Leather/Concrete |
Wood/Leather/Concrete |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Wenge |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
Siblings in Sonus faber's Sonetto series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 digs deeper - 33Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 takes more power (400W vs 280W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 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; Sonus faber Sonetto III G2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 is cheaper - $5,000 against $9,000, about 44% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus faber Sonetto VIII G2 B Sonus faber Sonetto III G2
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 Sonetto VIII G2 measures better, Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 costs about about 80% 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 38Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 much easier to justify. 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, Sonus faber Sonetto III G2 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.