In this review, we will be comparing NS-600A and Sonetto I, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Yamaha and Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-600A and Sonus Sonetto I first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-600A | Sonus Sonetto I |
|---|
| Brand | Yamaha
Japan · founded 1887 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" Dome | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.125" Cone | 6" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-65k Hz | 45-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85.5 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.89kg / 21.8lbs | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.125" x 8.125" x 13"
384.2 x 206.4 x 330.2mm | 14" x 9" x 12"
359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Yamaha NS-600A and Sonus Sonetto I 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* |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Sonus Sonetto I |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both NS-600A and Sonetto I are 2-way speakers.
Yamaha NS-600ASonus Sonetto I
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Sonus Sonetto I |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.125-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
NS-600A features a 1.25" Dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.125" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.6 kHz. On the other hand, the Sonetto I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz.
Frequency Response
NS-600A has a frequency range of 47-65k Hz whereas Sonetto I has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Sonetto I can go slightly deeper then the NS-600A's min frequency of 47Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
NS-600A is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Sonetto I which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Sonetto I can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. NS-600A sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the Sonetto I's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto I a more sensitive speaker compared to Yamaha NS-600A, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 I can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas NS-600A has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Sonetto I.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sonetto I features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. NS-600A has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Yamaha NS-600A's and Sonus Sonetto I's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-600A has external dimensions of 384.2 x 206.4 x 330.2mm (15.125 x 8.125 x 13inch) whereas Sonus Sonetto I has external dimensions of 359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm (14 x 9 x 12inch).
Sonus Sonetto I is 25.2mm shorter and 25.2mm less deeper than Yamaha NS-600A but it is also 12.6mm wider.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Yamaha NS-600A is 25mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Yamaha NS-600A is 25mm 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 Yamaha NS-600A is approximately 681.5cm2 / 105.6inch2 and base area of the Sonus Sonetto I is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2. The NS-600A requires 2% more surface area than the Sonetto I 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 Yamaha NS-600A weighs 9.89kg / 21.8lbs and the Sonus Sonetto I weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs. This makes the NS-600A 80% heavier than the Sonetto I.
Here is a comparison of how NS-600A and Sonetto I's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto I?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto I:
- 2 Masks
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
65k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.125 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
359mm
vs
384mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
668cm2
vs
681cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
3200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Sonus faber Sonetto I |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85.5 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
47-65k Hz |
45-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.125" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
cellulose pulp and other natural fibers |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.6 kHz |
2500 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
384.2mm (15.1") |
359.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
206.4mm (8.1") |
219.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
330.2mm (13") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
9.89kg (21.8lbs) |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
These sit in different price classes - Yamaha NS-600A costs roughly 2.9x what Sonus Sonetto I 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (47Hz vs 45Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Yamaha NS-600A is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Sonus Sonetto I takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Sonus Sonetto I: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto I sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Sonus Sonetto I is cheaper - $1,099 against $3,200, about 66% less; arguably a different class. |
A Yamaha NS-600A B Sonus Sonetto I
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?
Sonus Sonetto I has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Yamaha NS-600A the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Sonus Sonetto I for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Yamaha NS-600A is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.