In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Sonus faber. Sonus faber Vox is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Serafino is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Vox and Sonus faber Serafino first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus faber Vox Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 7" Paper Woofer
- 40-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:37.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 12-3/8" x 32-15/16" x 15-3/16" ( 315.0 x 836.0 x 385.0mm )
Sonus faber Serafino Key Specs
- 4-way Design
- 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 7" Paper Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 30-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:52.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 42-15/16" x 15-9/16" x 19-1/8" ( 1091.0 x 396.0 x 485.0mm )
Vox and Serafino are members of Sonus faber's Homage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Homage Series
History
What size room are the Sonus faber Vox and Sonus faber Serafino speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Sonus faber Vox |
Sonus faber Serafino |
| Near-field |
Good |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Vox and Sonus faber Serafino compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Vox is a 3-way design whereas the Serafino is a 4-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 Vox |
Sonus faber Serafino |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
4-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
Vox features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280, 2100 Hz. On the other hand, the Serafino features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 200, 250, 2400 Hz.
Frequency Response
Vox has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz whereas Serafino has a frequency range of 30-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Serafino can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Vox'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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Vox and Serafino have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
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 Vox and the Vox can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
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.
Vox and Serafino has the same power range of 50-300 watts.
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
Vox features Binding post type posts and Serafino has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 Vox's and Sonus faber Serafino's external dimensions. Sonus faber Vox has external dimensions of 315.0 x 836.0 x 385.0mm ( 12-3/8 x 32-15/16 x 15-3/16inch) whereas Sonus faber Serafino has external dimensions of 1091.0 x 396.0 x 485.0mm ( 42-15/16 x 15-9/16 x 19-1/8inch) .
Sonus faber Vox is 776mm shorter and 100mm less deeper than Sonus faber Serafino but it is also 440mm wider.
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 Vox is approximately 3218.6cm2 / 498.9inch2 and base area of the Sonus faber Serafino is approximately 1920.6cm2 / 297.7inch2. The Vox requires 68% more surface area than the Serafino which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.