Short answer: the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2, if you are buying new. The Audio Craftsmen Victoria measures as well as it (#102 vs #103 of 131 bookshelf speakers, 3.1/5 vs 3.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 is still sold new at $3,500.
The case for the Audio Craftsmen Victoria: Two-way bass-reflex design with a 180mm mid-base driver and 29mm tweeter in a distinctive slit-pattern cabinet, well-built overall. The catch: A notably thin, hollow midrange (a dip roughly 1-2 octaves wide) reduces vocal fullness and “thump,” seemingly from a baffle-step compensation shortfall in the crossover design.
Why pick the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2: Two-way design with a 1.125” damped Apex Dome silk tweeter and 6.5” cone woofer, using a base of concrete, aluminum, and steel with under-cabinet venting. The tradeoff: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully.
Buy the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2, since the Audio Craftsmen Victoria is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio Craftsmen Victoria | Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4000 per pair Discontinued | $3500 per pair |
| Ranked | #102 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #103 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 37 lbs (16.8 kg) | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) |
| Dimensions | 15.9”H x 9.1”W x 14”D (405.0 x 230.0 x 355.0 mm) | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.87 | 4.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 | 6.54 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Audio Craftsmen Victoria: $4000 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Two-way bass-reflex design with a 180mm mid-base driver and 29mm tweeter in a distinctive slit-pattern cabinet, well-built overall. Wide, enveloping horizontal radiation of about ±70° through the midrange and lower treble. Low, well-controlled distortion overall, staying below about 1% up to roughly 100Hz at both 86dB and 96dB. Easy to drive electrically (minimum impedance about 7.3 ohms, minimum EPDR 4.4 ohms), fine for most Class AB amplifiers. Best placed closer to the rear wall (about 6 inches to a foot) rather than the typical 1-meter recommendation, reducing a mid-range cancellation dip that worsens with more wall clearance. Measured bass extension of 65Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.7dB.
Cons: A notably thin, hollow midrange (a dip roughly 1-2 octaves wide) reduces vocal fullness and “thump,” seemingly from a baffle-step compensation shortfall in the crossover design. Very light bass overall; a subwoofer is recommended for both deep bass (30-40Hz) and even basic mid-bass kick (50-80Hz). Highly aiming-dependent in the treble: toeing the speaker away from the listener (about 30°) causes a significant loss of high-frequency shimmer and detail. A crossover handoff mismatch between the mid-woofer and tweeter shows up in directivity measurements, correlating with the midrange dip. Multitone distortion becomes elevated around 1kHz at higher output levels, confirmed through careful band-pass diagnostic testing and independently corroborated by another reviewer’s similar impression. Limited dynamic range below about 100Hz at higher volumes: driver excursion appears suspension-limited, causing real compression above roughly 90dB for a pair at typical listening distances. Below-average sensitivity (about 84dB versus a typical 85-86dB for bookshelf speakers) partly offsets its easy-to-drive impedance. Not well suited to listening beyond about 10 feet or much above 85-90dB. Discontinued.
Full Audio Craftsmen Victoria review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.9”H x 9.1”W x 14”D (405.0 x 230.0 x 355.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 |
| Weight | 37 lbs (16.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2: $3500 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Two-way design with a 1.125” damped Apex Dome silk tweeter and 6.5” cone woofer, using a base of concrete, aluminum, and steel with under-cabinet venting. Notably more neutral than Sonus Faber’s own Lumina 2, which runs 2-5dB hotter in the treble. Horizontal directivity narrows at a fairly constant, well-behaved rate rather than narrowing-then-widening-then-narrowing like some rivals (including the Lumina 2), meaning sidewall reflections match the direct sound well enough that the reviewer doesn’t recommend sidewall absorption for this speaker. The tweeter-to-woofer crossover handoff around 3kHz looks clean, suggesting a higher-order crossover than typical for the size/price class. Good dynamic range: the low end loses only about 2dB from 76dB to 96dB, otherwise holding up well. Not a difficult amplifier load (about 4.2 ohms minimum impedance). Bass extension reaches a genuine 50Hz in-room, fuller than the Lumina 2. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully. A resonance around 700Hz gives vocals a slightly nasal, hollow quality. A dip in the upper midrange (roughly 1-2kHz) reduces perceived detail and attack, while the elevated treble can read as “analytical” or “detailed” to some listeners despite being a coloration rather than true resolution. Needs more clearance from the rear wall than some rivals (about 1.5-2 feet in an ideal room, more or less depending on your specific room modes) or the 80-120Hz region can become boomy. Vertical listening window is limited to about ±10-15° from the tweeter axis. Some unexplained directivity irregularities appear around 1.2kHz and 1.6kHz, possibly port-related, along with a longer decay in the 800Hz-1600Hz range in burst-decay measurements. Multitone distortion approaches the reviewer’s 3% threshold through the midrange, though likely not obviously audible without direct A/B comparison. A resonance in the cabinet appears around 400Hz in impedance measurements.
Full Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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