A renewal of the Italian manufacturer’s most iconic speaker range, the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 perfects a multi-acclaimed model by inheriting the technologies introduced with the ultimate Sonus Faber Suprema speaker. This new model seems to represent the very best of the Italian brand, promising even more spectacular musical performance.
Presentation
Design
An update of the highly popular Sonus Faber Sonetto V introduced in 2018, the new Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 retain the same passion for wood and craftsmanship. Despite the absence of leather covering for the front panel, the cabinet is a true work of art, demonstrating meticulous assembly down to the smallest detail. The real wood finish is available in black, walnut or wenge, with an attractive grain.
The brand’s signature curved lute-like shape avoids parallel panels, allowing sound to flow more harmoniously inside the cabinet. This limits reflections and resonances, for a more precise, distortion-free reproduction. In addition, Sonus Faber has applied an internal cork lining to this second generation speaker, inherited from the prestigious Sonus Faber Suprema. This material ensures total damping to minimize reflections and feedback towards the driver cones.
Like the other models in the range, the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speaker cabinet is now placed on an innovative concrete base. Particularly dense and heavy, this material increases the weight of each speaker from 22kg to over 33kg. The aim is to ensure optimum anchorage and perfect decoupling from the floor, to limit the transmission of vibrations and mechanical interference. The Sonetto V G2 is supplied with a set of decoupling spikes and counter-spikes for installation on all floor surfaces.
Four wide steel feet secure the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 cabinet onto the concrete base. The space left by these feet allows the air expelled by the large port installed under the speaker to circulate properly. This design effectively enhances low-frequency response, while limiting the necessary spacing from the rear wall.
Acoustic design
To perfect the already accomplished Sonus Faber Sonetto V, the Italian manufacturer has turned to the technological innovations used on its masterpiece: the Sonus Faber Suprema. The most distinctive is embodied in the midrange driver, whose 6.5″ cone adopts a pattern inspired by the camellia flower. This distinctive shape also reduces interference and improves sound dispersion. The white tint of the cone reflects the use of paper fibers left untreated to preserve the purity and naturalness of the sound. At its center is an attractive aluminum phase plug to maximize diffusion while limiting distortion.
Mounted in a three-way architecture, the midrange driver is combined with two 6.5″ woofers. The latter also benefit from a cellulose fiber cone and soft surround to maximize excursion without increasing distortion. The surround extends over the cone with a unique floral pattern for optimal support. Its asymmetrical shape ensures greater linearity and limits interference. As a result, the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speaker delivers perfectly controlled bass down to 35Hz.
The Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speakers also inherit the legendary DAD tweeter. This 1.1″ silk dome tweeter has made the brand famous thanks to its excellent linearity, exquisite detail and smoothness. Here, it allows the speakers to reach 40kHz, maximizing the harmonic palette.
Located at the rear, the double pair of terminals allows bi-amping and bi-wiring. Sonus Faber has refined the crossover of this new-generation speaker to linearize impedance and make it easier to power. The Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 has an impedance of 4 ohms and a sensitivity of 89 dB. The brand recommends amplification from 50 to 320W, but our tests underlined the importance of choosing a model with a very good power supply, such as the Naim SuperNait 3, to get the very best results.
Installing the speakers
The Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speakers are delivered in pairs in two separate boxes. They come with pre-installed magnetic grilles and metal decoupling spikes. The latter are screwed manually under the concrete base to decouple the speakers. For fragile floors, the Italian manufacturer also supplies counter-spikes.
For this review, we paired the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speakers with the Naim SuperNait 3, Hegel H190v and Cayin Soul 170i amplifiers, as well as the Elipson P1 + A2700 duo. The source was the EverSolo DMP-A8 network player, used to play our Qobuz playlists, as well as DSD files stored on the local network.
Listening impressions
The Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speakers delivered beautifully uniform registers that blossomed in perfect harmony. No frequency was artificially emphasized or masked by the others, even when the volume was high and the bass opulent. On several Stan Getz albums, these beautiful Italians were warm and round, with great richness in the midrange and upper mids. Particularly smooth, this register was perfectly textured and reproduced with great finesse. The DAD tweeter conferred the same smoothness to the highs, which soared high with agility and ease, without ever struggling.
The Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speakers were soft and delicate, but also had authority when needed, with remarkable dynamic capabilities. On Empire of the Sun’s album Ask That God, the energy of the Australian duo’s electro tracks was palpable. The upper lows were swift, bringing impact and rhythm to the percussion instruments. The lower register was controlled with an iron fist, with powerful, deep and perfectly articulated bass. Very well-defined, they provided a solid foundation for the music and a real sense of depth.
The soundstage offered by the Sonetto V G2 was vast and well-defined. The stereo image was precise, with excellent separation of the instruments, which benefited from excellent amplitude to express themselves fully. The soundscape was expansive and airy, with pronounced texture. On London Grammar’s album If You Wait, the singer’s voice took center stage with softness and a pleasant smoothness. Rich and well articulated, it conferred a truly emotional quality to the listening experience.
Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 vs BW 702 S3
Priced at €6,490, the BW 702 S3 floorstanders offer an even wider soundstage, with greater verticality thanks to the prowess of the decoupled tweeter. Clearer and more transparent, they will appeal to lovers of bright, dynamic sound, whereas the Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 are warmer and rounder.
Who are Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speakers for?
The Sonetto V G2 are designed for audiophiles seeking sonic perfection. They will appeal to lovers of soft, warm and round sound, without limiting dynamic range and energy. Capable of delivering deep, powerful bass with a mastery that few models can match, these floorstanders make the addition of a subwoofer superfluous. These Italian beauties also shine through their distinctive design. They will embellish any room with their magnetic presence.
Conclusion
The Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 speakers embody the acoustic and aesthetic excellence we’ve come to expect from the Italian brand. This second-generation model refines one of the manufacturer’s most iconic speakers, with greater balance, a liberated midrange and even deeper bass. The adjustments made by Sonus Faber on this model give it an incredible ability to preserve every micro-detail, even when the volume is very high or the track has very pronounced bass. Finally, the use of high-quality materials, assembled with a precision that only craftsmen can achieve, make these speakers a total success, both visually and acoustically.
We liked:
- The quality of the materials used
- The premium design
- The tonal balance
- The depth and control of the bass
- The soft, natural timbres
We would have liked:
- The old leather finish on the front panel
- An even wider soundstage
