Sonus faber Sonetto II G2 Bookshelf Speaker Review

The changes were more than just cosmetic. In this case, beauty is more than just skin deep.

I have always admired Sonus faber’s design philosophy of using natural wood, leather, metal, and in this case, concrete, to create a gorgeously lute-shaped speaker that exudes quality and attention to detail. When they released the G2 series, I knew there would be more than just a few frivolous changes to the speaker cabinet, and I was correct.

Sonus faber does not introduce new speakers every year or two. When they improve upon a current series, the improvements need to be worthwhile or why bother? Unlike many audio products that are mass-produced and the “next greatest thing” to be shown annually at CES, Sonus faber takes time and considerable R&D before they invest their energy into making something new. In this case, they put their time and effort into making something better.

From its outward appearance, the Sonetto II G2 sports a newly styled magnetic grille, and the drivers are no longer flush mounted, but they stick out of the front baffle a bit. The drivers are mounted in an elongated oval made of leather with a thin edge of golden metal on the outside edge. In the lower right section is their logo and the words “Made in Italy”. The design is so nice looking that I left the grilles off most of the time during my review. For what it is worth, these speakers rated near the very top of the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) scale! There are also some new internal changes that I will touch upon later. Overall, these compact speakers not only delivered the goods but also maintained their Sonus faber sound quality.

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The lute-shaped cabinetry is a hallmark of the Sonetto line, and it also functions to combat internal standing waves. Embossed on the top of each speaker is a metal “Sf”. The front of the speaker baffle has the 1.1-inch silk-dome DAD tweeter which has a centered arrow point plug that extends its range from 20 kHz to around 40 kHz. Human hearing at its best will not likely hear above the 20 kHz range, but extending the high-frequency range assures less distortion and smoother performance under 20 kHz. The 6.6-inch mid-woofer is made of paper and has a copper shorting ring and an aluminum demodulation ring. Surrounding the drivers is a leather facia and a golden-colored metal trim. It looks quite striking.

On the back are high-quality metal binding posts that accept bare wire, banana, or spade connectors. A round shield covers the binding posts and, I guess if you are using bare wire, you can leave the cover on. My banana-terminated Audio Quest cables required their removal.

The base is made from a weight-stabilizing smooth concrete that also functions as part of the front-firing bass port. You can see the cleverly designed CAD cutting in the base in the picture I provided.

Also, an internal Intono plug helps reduce port turbulence by directing bass over it, and then out of the cabinet port. The front port allows for more placement options near a front wall, though I would still be recommending their placement to be a foot and a half to two feet off the wall to not muddy the excellent-sounding mid-range quality that Sonus faber is known for. The speakers come in three finishes: Wenge (the color of my review samples), Walnut, or black piano. The wood has a nice textured grain feel to it which adds to the looks and quality feel of the speakers. I have always found Sonus faber speakers to be beautifully designed and the Sonetto II G2s are no exception.

Setting up the Sonetto II G2 was quick and easy. I even bought and painted some fancy stands for this review, and I think they complemented each other rather well. To reduce any vibration issues, I placed a layer of rubberized shelf paper between the speaker plinth and the plaster stands. Ultimately, I placed the speakers about two feet off the front wall and eight feet apart with the toe-in allowing the tweeters to project and cross about six inches behind my head. Imaging of these speakers was exceptional and often when listening in a dimly lit room, they simply disappeared.

In general terms, I would describe the Sonus faber sound as smooth treble, beautifully clear mid-range, and remarkably capable bass output. They will descend to 42Hz, which is adequate for most uses. When paired with a decent subwoofer, say for bass-heavy music or an action-packed movie soundtrack, I mated them with my SVS 3000 Micro and had a killer combo. If you don’t have room correction software built into your system, the SVS app allows for a myriad of adjustments until you get that perfect fit. After about a week of breaking in my ears, I was ready for some serious evaluation.

MUSIC AND MOVIES

When testing the mettle of a speaker, I try to single out treble, mids, and bass. After I have listened for sonic weaknesses, I move on to listening in a broader sense. Cheap speakers… I mean, inexpensive speakers can be shrill in the treble, honky in the midrange, and can have boomy bass. I am pleased to say that the Sonus faber Sonetto II G2 is nothing but exquisite in sound quality with wonderfully natural tones and textures that are pleasing with the human voice and equally at home with orchestral works or rock operas. After extended listening sessions, I found them to be non-fatiguing, yet open and dynamic. When paired with my subwoofer, they had almost the same sonic signature as my Sonetto IVs (G1?) which were towers. If I had to downsize my system, Sonetto II G2s would be an obvious replacement.

For fun, I tried to find some films that were dialog-heavy, yet challenging for any speaker to reproduce. Dune Part Two and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World certainly fit the bill here. Hans Zimmer’s score for Dune has very deep bass and an expansive soundstage that often carries scenes of battle with talking going on simultaneously. I had no trouble following the conversations while marveling at the larger-than-life soundtrack. Master, too, has very realistic cannon fusillades and dialog that takes place in the cramped quarters of a creaking, leaking ship. The voices were natural and full-bodied, and the action scenes had me gripping the arms of the couch. From the softest to the loudest passages, I could easily hear all the dialog amid the chaos. The Sonetto II G2s can easily handle a home theater as well as a music hall. Bravo!

The Sonus faber Sonetto II G2 is a refined successor to the excellent Sonetto series and is an excellent choice for music movie aficionados.

Sonus faber has managed to improve upon an already excellent speaker series while keeping their cost low enough for those on a more modest budget. I always tell people to invest in good speakers first before building a music system and I can heartily recommend the Sonetto II G2s as a great foundation to begin with. Their looks and style will enhance any room you place them in, and they should provide you with years of listening enjoyment. Recommended!