Short answer: the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It ranks #23 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $6,000. The Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 ranks #183, rated 3.1/5, at $3,500, $2,500 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2: An Italian bookshelf speaker with a silk dome tweeter, a stylish concrete and metal base and evenly behaved dispersion. The catch: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully.
The Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. A big three way monitor with dual 8 inch woofers, bass deep enough to skip a subwoofer, and extremely low distortion at high volume. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.59 against 4.25 for the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. Its bass reaches about 41Hz before falling 3dB, against 62Hz for the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. Watch for: A dip in the midbase around 100Hz noticeably reduces the “chestiness” of male vocals compared to the reviewer’s reference speaker.
Buy the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $2,500 saving on the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
An Italian bookshelf speaker with a silk dome tweeter, a stylish concrete and metal base and evenly behaved dispersion.
A big three way monitor with dual 8 inch woofers, bass deep enough to skip a subwoofer, and extremely low distortion at high volume.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | Arendal 1528 Monitor 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3500 per pair | $6000 per pair |
| Ranked | #183 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter | Dual 8” woofers, 5” midrange, 28mm tweeter |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) | 103.6 lbs (47 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) | 31.8”H x 11.4”W x 17.6”D (807.7 x 289.6 x 447 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 | 5.59 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 | 7.04 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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