Short answer: the Perlisten S4b. It ranks #2 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.8/5, at $8,000. The Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 ranks #183, rated 3.1/5, at $3,500, $4,500 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 is the deeper-bass pick. 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 78Hz for the Perlisten S4b. Watch for: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully.
The Perlisten S4b is the more accurate option. A compact sealed bookshelf speaker with reference grade accuracy, exceptionally smooth dispersion, and very low distortion at high volume. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.35 against 4.25 for the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. The tradeoff: Erin measured only 84.5dB sensitivity and an impedance minimum just under 4 ohms, a difficult efficiency/load combination that deserves substantial clean amplification.
Buy the Perlisten S4b. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $4,500 with the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
An Italian bookshelf speaker with a silk dome tweeter, a stylish concrete and metal base and evenly behaved dispersion.
A compact sealed bookshelf speaker with reference grade accuracy, exceptionally smooth dispersion, and very low distortion at high volume.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | Perlisten S4b | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3500 per pair | $8,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #183 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #2 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 78Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | Just under 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter | DPC array with 28mm beryllium tweeter and dual 28mm midrange domes; 7” woofer |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) | 16.5”H x 9.4”W x 7.3”D |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | sealed |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 | 5.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 | 8.01 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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