Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, if you are buying new. The Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks higher than the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 (#40 vs #183 of 222 bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, is rated 3.6/5 at $2,200 and is still sold new.
The case for 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 tradeoff: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully.
The Philharmonic BMR (v1) is the more accurate pick. A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.86 against 4.25 for the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. The catch: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification.
Buy the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, the replacement for the discontinued Philharmonic BMR (v1); it is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2.
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 large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange.
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 | Philharmonic BMR (v1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3500 per pair | $2,395 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #183 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #40 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner website) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5” BMR midrange; 7” Scan-Speak woofer |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) | 37.9 lbs (17.2 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) | 22H x 9W x 13.5D in |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 | 4.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 | 7.17 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Port Tuning | - | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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