Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It ranks #24 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $798; the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 ranks #183, rated 3.1/5, and costs $3,500, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 is the deeper-bass choice. An Italian bookshelf speaker with a silk dome tweeter, a stylish concrete and metal base and evenly behaved dispersion. Its bass reaches about 62Hz before falling 3dB, against 77.6Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. The catch: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully.
The Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 is the more accurate pick. A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.33 against 4.25 for the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off early for the cabinet size, measuring 77.6Hz at -3dB, 64.5Hz at -6dB, and 48.3Hz at -12dB; the preference score without a subwoofer is only 5.33.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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An Italian bookshelf speaker with a silk dome tweeter, a stylish concrete and metal base and evenly behaved dispersion.
A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3500 per pair | $798 per pair |
| Ranked | #183 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 53Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 92dB at 2.83V/1m anechoic |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 27mm soft-dome tweeter |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) | 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) | 21 x 7.5 x 10.5 in each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 | 5.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 | 7.99 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 240W continuous; 400W short-term peak |
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