Short answer: the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. It ranks #168 of 203 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $3,500. The Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2 ranks #107, rated 3.0/5, at $2,500, $1,000 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2: Two-way design with a 1.125” damped Apex Dome silk tweeter and 6.5” cone woofer, using a base of concrete, aluminum, and steel with under-cabinet venting. The catch: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully.
What the Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2 does well: The smallest standmount in the Sonetto G2 range, with the same 1.1” DAD Arrow Point tweeter as the measured Sonetto II G2 above a 5” natural fiber midwoofer, crossed over at 2.1kHz. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Sonetto II G2, which showed an uneven listening window (a 4.25 Spinorama preference score).
Buy the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,000 you would save on the Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2 does not close the gap.
Worth knowing: the Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.6 to 3.4, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3500 per pair | $2,500.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #168 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #107 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter | 1.1” (28mm) DAD Arrow Point tweeter, 5” midwoofer |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) | 14.8”H x 7.9”W x 12”D (377 x 200 x 304 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 52Hz - 40kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.1kHz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- KEF R3 Meta vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
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Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2: $3500 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Older model: the Sonus Faber Sonetto II (ranked lower, rated 3/5).
Same family: the Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3/5), the Sonus Faber Sonetto III G2 (smaller floorstanding, estimated 3.2/5), the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 (larger floorstanding, estimated 3.3/5) and the Sonus Faber Sonetto Center G2 (center, estimated 3/5).
Pros: Two-way design with a 1.125” damped Apex Dome silk tweeter and 6.5” cone woofer, using a base of concrete, aluminum, and steel with under-cabinet venting. Notably more neutral than Sonus Faber’s own Lumina 2, which runs 2-5dB hotter in the treble. Horizontal directivity narrows at a fairly constant, well-behaved rate rather than narrowing-then-widening-then-narrowing like some rivals (including the Lumina 2), meaning sidewall reflections match the direct sound well enough that the reviewer doesn’t recommend sidewall absorption for this speaker. The tweeter-to-woofer crossover handoff around 3kHz looks clean, suggesting a higher-order crossover than typical for the size/price class. Good dynamic range: the low end loses only about 2dB from 76dB to 96dB, otherwise holding up well. Not a difficult amplifier load (about 4.2 ohms minimum impedance). Bass extension reaches a genuine 50Hz in-room, fuller than the Lumina 2. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully. A resonance around 700Hz gives vocals a slightly nasal, hollow quality. A dip in the upper midrange (roughly 1-2kHz) reduces perceived detail and attack, while the elevated treble can read as “analytical” or “detailed” to some listeners despite being a coloration rather than true resolution. Needs more clearance from the rear wall than some rivals (about 1.5-2 feet in an ideal room, more or less depending on your specific room modes) or the 80-120Hz region can become boomy. Vertical listening window is limited to about ±10-15° from the tweeter axis. Some unexplained directivity irregularities appear around 1.2kHz and 1.6kHz, possibly port-related, along with a longer decay in the 800Hz-1600Hz range in burst-decay measurements. Multitone distortion approaches the reviewer’s 3% threshold through the midrange, though likely not obviously audible without direct A/B comparison. A resonance in the cabinet appears around 400Hz in impedance measurements.
Full Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Audio Craftsmen Victoria
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Pylon Jasper Monitor 18
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs JBL XPL-90
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs KEF Q350
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Polk R200
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II
- See all 64 comparisons
Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2: $2,500.00 per pair Estimated Audio Advice eBay
Same family: the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 (larger bookshelf, rated 3.1/5), the Sonus Faber Sonetto III G2 (smaller floorstanding, estimated 3.2/5), the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 (larger floorstanding, estimated 3.3/5) and the Sonus Faber Sonetto Center G2 (center, estimated 3/5).
Pros: The smallest standmount in the Sonetto G2 range, with the same 1.1” DAD Arrow Point tweeter as the measured Sonetto II G2 above a 5” natural fiber midwoofer, crossed over at 2.1kHz. The front-facing port lets it sit nearer a wall, and the lute-shaped wood cabinet with leather top and concrete base is finished to a high standard.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Sonetto II G2, which showed an uneven listening window (a 4.25 Spinorama preference score). Sensitivity is 86dB into a 4 ohm load and bass is rated only to 52Hz, so pair it with a subwoofer and a solid amplifier.
Full Sonus Faber Sonetto I G2 review and specifications →
| Crossover Frequency | 2.1kHz |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 7.9”W x 12”D (377 x 200 x 304 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.1” (28mm) DAD Arrow Point tweeter, 5” midwoofer |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons