Short answer: the Buchardt Audio E50. It ranks #16 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $4,600. The Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 ranks #183, rated 3.1/5, at $3,500, $1,100 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 does well: 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 Buchardt Audio E50 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.84 against 4.25 for the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. Its bass reaches about 40Hz before falling 3dB, against 62Hz for the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. The tradeoff: A roughly 3dB dip in the upper midrange/lower treble softens attack and dialogue clarity: the reviewer’s main complaint, and it’s baked into the crossover rather than a directivity artifact, so it’s audible both on and off axis.
Buy the Buchardt Audio E50. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,100 saving on the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
An Italian bookshelf speaker with a silk dome tweeter, a stylish concrete and metal base and evenly behaved dispersion.
A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | Buchardt Audio E50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3500 per pair | $4600 per pair |
| Ranked | #183 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #16 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.1dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter | 1” Scanspeak dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” Purifi extended-stroke woofer, dual 6.5” passive radiators |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) | 15.6” x 7.5” x 11.2” (395 x 190 x 284 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | Passive radiator loaded |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 | 5.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 | 7.61 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2000Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 36Hz - 30kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 60W - 200W |
| Country | - | Denmark |
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