What a great review. Loved how you articulated soundstage, air, tone and frequency response, both from a more objective perspective as we as subjectively. Having a comparison also completed the review. One of the best video reviews I have ever heard Tom!
I really like this type of review. It is eloquent, sound and informative wrapped up in a story like a very interesting screenplay or a novel. All good things are rare so as this type of review that combines knowledge and simplicity in transferring into 10-15 minutes of elaboration. I really really enjoy each time!
Great review! I have owned the Sonetto VIII's. I really liked them, sadly, had to let them go. In my new space I have a pair of Sonetto 2 G2's on the way! Can't wait to fire them up!! Cheers!
Nice review and this price range is right for most… Sonus has a signature sound up and down there line to me and sound is pleasant… bass does roll off …
Very helpful review. I'm in a bit of a pickle as my music tastes run from extreme metal to solo piano to large and small group jazz and classical, electronica, hip hop, acoustic music and lots of rock and uncategorizable things. Needle in a haystack speakers are what I need.
You should qualify the title as "best home theatre speakers..." as I would think that a well-informed, middle-class audiophile would spend around $5-10k on a six-inch stand-mount as you can only do so much with a large floor-stander at this budget. I mean, take cables, for example: the longer the cable, the better it needs to be. It's the same with speakers. The larger the room, the larger the speaker, the better the amp, source and cables & accessories need to be. Furthermore, the more materials, manpower, transportation cost, etc. all add to the cost of a large speaker, relegating quality to a lesser concern. Use a smaller room and think quality over quantity. I wouldn't get into a floor-stander until $10k-20k and even then it would be a 7-inch, two-way floor-stander.
I don't get the floor stand mounted "book shelf" speaker attraction. Maybe at the lower end. But to put at least a couple $K into the speakers or even $10's of K, and then another couple $hundred to another $k for stands? Most as with any speaker do best with some distance from the front wall. So no matter the height of the speaker cabinet, they will occupy a given floor space around the same as a floor standing one of similar or even larger drivers. Here's a perfect example. These would occupy the same room/ floor space as many book shelf/ stand mount models for similar dollars. Yet none of them would get close to the low end range of a floor stander. With far less chance of someone accidently knocking them over because of being so top heavy. And no cat liter needed.
@@hifiman4562 Many people use subs no matter how big their main speakers. And easy of swapping is not in my criteria for good sound. Also, different height stands are needed for different speakers to get the tweeter in the right height. So even that excuse does not work.
Never mind, I'm listening in a small 13 x 11.5 ft (4 x 3.5 m) living room. The reason why I chose to go with stand mounts helped out with a stereo pair of musical subwoofers was to limit the room gain. Stick the floor standers up your ring piece. Only joking, mate 😂
Well...unless you have cats. My cats would eat a flloorstander for lunch. They do not know how to navigate my stands, which are sufficiently heavy and stable, and rigged with angry nuns and dinosaurs. Otherwise, you are right in all your points
The speakers look nice, but that room has me a bit confused. There are all of those big acoustic panels on the walls but then all of those large areas of glass windows are exposed. The room looks rectangular, do you ever orient the setup 90° from this?
I'll do a ~full report on the room acoustics in a bit. But to address your questions briefly: the windows are positioned outside the primary reflection points (note that glass and drywall have similar reflection coefficients so this is equivalent to having some exposed wall area); most of the panels are bass traps; the room is designed for this lateral arrangement based on hundreds of simulations of both configurations -- the advantage of this setup is placing the symmetrical seating null at a lower (below 30 hz) frequency but it does mean that SBIR is at a higher frequency. There are tradeoffs with each arrangement.
We tend not to use ‘sound field’ as a term, so I can’t say for sure what people mean. Sound stage is an easy mental image for the sound you hear from the performers. Left to right, front to back, bottom to top of a virtual stage as in a concert. Sound space is the sense of the overall concert venue size and shape. You can try this out just with someone speaking in a gymnasium and in a bedroom. In both cases you will be able to locate the speaker (on ‘stage’) but the sense of the ‘venue’ will be quite different.
This is exactly the reason I don’t engage in this community. I came here excited to learn about the Sonus Fabers. What’s the top comment? Another gatekeeping audiophile jerk. What is even the point of this comment? Why would you even feel compelled to turn someone off from taking part in a love of music? I just don’t get this attitude and why it’s so pervasive with audiophiles. Constantly a bunch of asshats…
@@Squarewave39 true but, designing speakers nowadays is more than just taking an average ordinary speaker and sticking it in a box, much more engineering goes into today’s speakers. While they won’t match a good sub, there is real bass there. To imply otherwise would be incorrect.
![Ice On My Teeth - ATEEZ エイティーズ 에이티즈 [Music Bank] | KBS WORLD TV 241115](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/c-n92OgbbwA/mqdefault.jpg)
What a great review. Loved how you articulated soundstage, air, tone and frequency response, both from a more objective perspective as we as subjectively. Having a comparison also completed the review. One of the best video reviews I have ever heard Tom!
I really like this type of review. It is eloquent, sound and informative wrapped up in a story like a very interesting screenplay or a novel. All good things are rare so as this type of review that combines knowledge and simplicity in transferring into 10-15 minutes of elaboration. I really really enjoy each time!
You are too kind. But thanks.
Excellent review, way better than most hifi channels
What a pleasurable review! Your gift for language and delivery was delightful!
Thank you kindly!
Great review! I have owned the Sonetto VIII's. I really liked them, sadly, had to let them go. In my new space I have a pair of Sonetto 2 G2's on the way! Can't wait to fire them up!! Cheers!
really appreciate your reviews and unique perspective and delivery!
I spent a lot of time in this room at Audio Advice. Like a couple hours. They are like an enigma with me, in a good way.
I do enjoy your reviews.
Love Sonus Faber. Have a pair of Aida 2's in Wenge finish.
Good review, thanks.
As crazy as it sounds to say I think these seem like a good deal. Having the cork internals at a normal cost is interesting.
There are so many good ones in that price range, atc, revel, wharfedale elysians, the philharmonic floor model etc. It's personal taste.
Nice review Tom.
Good review, nice background
Nice review and this price range is right for most… Sonus has a signature sound up and down there line to me and sound is pleasant… bass does roll off …
I think this is what you call a sweet spot speaker. I much prefer dynamics that play through a darker tonal presentation.
Great Review Tom - What would you say to a combo of the Sonetto 2 & and great sub vs. these Sonetto V’s (with or without a Sub)?
Very helpful review. I'm in a bit of a pickle as my music tastes run from extreme metal to solo piano to large and small group jazz and classical, electronica, hip hop, acoustic music and lots of rock and uncategorizable things. Needle in a haystack speakers are what I need.
We'll keep looking in case it helps. We admit we are fans of uncategorizable.
@@TheTASmagazine Thanks! These speakers are on my short list for sure.
Beautiful.
Hi , very interesting , as usual , how do they compare to the acoustic energy corineum ...
thanks
I have the Coriniums here and they will be up next (in this series).
You should qualify the title as "best home theatre speakers..." as I would think that a well-informed, middle-class audiophile would spend around $5-10k on a six-inch stand-mount as you can only do so much with a large floor-stander at this budget. I mean, take cables, for example: the longer the cable, the better it needs to be. It's the same with speakers. The larger the room, the larger the speaker, the better the amp, source and cables & accessories need to be. Furthermore, the more materials, manpower, transportation cost, etc. all add to the cost of a large speaker, relegating quality to a lesser concern. Use a smaller room and think quality over quantity. I wouldn't get into a floor-stander until $10k-20k and even then it would be a 7-inch, two-way floor-stander.
check out Focal Aria 948
Need a comparison with the new monitor audio gold 6G towers, similar price
I don't get the floor stand mounted "book shelf" speaker attraction. Maybe at the lower end. But to put at least a couple $K into the speakers or even $10's of K, and then another couple $hundred to another $k for stands? Most as with any speaker do best with some distance from the front wall. So no matter the height of the speaker cabinet, they will occupy a given floor space around the same as a floor standing one of similar or even larger drivers.
Here's a perfect example. These would occupy the same room/ floor space as many book shelf/ stand mount models for similar dollars. Yet none of them would get close to the low end range of a floor stander. With far less chance of someone accidently knocking them over because of being so top heavy. And no cat liter needed.
We like to play with different sets of bookshelves. It's easier to swap around bookshelves. And, there's an advantage to separate subs.
@@hifiman4562 Many people use subs no matter how big their main speakers. And easy of swapping is not in my criteria for good sound. Also, different height stands are needed for different speakers to get the tweeter in the right height. So even that excuse does not work.
Never mind, I'm listening in a small 13 x 11.5 ft (4 x 3.5 m) living room. The reason why I chose to go with stand mounts helped out with a stereo pair of musical subwoofers was to limit the room gain.
Stick the floor standers up your ring piece.
Only joking, mate 😂
Personally I prefer the sound of stand mounts and a pair of subs.
Well...unless you have cats. My cats would eat a flloorstander for lunch. They do not know how to navigate my stands, which are sufficiently heavy and stable, and rigged with angry nuns and dinosaurs. Otherwise, you are right in all your points
I have the Sonetto V’s. Would you upgrade to the G2 or another Sonus Faber ?
It will depend to some degree on what the G1 lacks that you really want. Thoughts on that?
@@TheTASmagazine - looking for more transparency & detail. Does it make more sense to look at the Olympia collection?
Where are they made ?
Italy
The speakers look nice, but that room has me a bit confused. There are all of those big acoustic panels on the walls but then all of those large areas of glass windows are exposed. The room looks rectangular, do you ever orient the setup 90° from this?
I'll do a ~full report on the room acoustics in a bit. But to address your questions briefly: the windows are positioned outside the primary reflection points (note that glass and drywall have similar reflection coefficients so this is equivalent to having some exposed wall area); most of the panels are bass traps; the room is designed for this lateral arrangement based on hundreds of simulations of both configurations -- the advantage of this setup is placing the symmetrical seating null at a lower (below 30 hz) frequency but it does mean that SBIR is at a higher frequency. There are tradeoffs with each arrangement.
@@TheTASmagazine
Thanks Tom, looking forward to the report.
Are the big beige sound panels homemade?
No. Rediacoustics. I’ll do a report on the room treatment in a month or so.
@@thomasmartin2219 cool. Thanks
Is soundstage the same as Soundfield?
We tend not to use ‘sound field’ as a term, so I can’t say for sure what people mean. Sound stage is an easy mental image for the sound you hear from the performers. Left to right, front to back, bottom to top of a virtual stage as in a concert. Sound space is the sense of the overall concert venue size and shape. You can try this out just with someone speaking in a gymnasium and in a bedroom. In both cases you will be able to locate the speaker (on ‘stage’) but the sense of the ‘venue’ will be quite different.
Nice review, but not my favorite speaker….
HP defined dynamics
pppp to fffff
If it looks like a box 📦
Lol. I understand exactly what you are saying 😊
Idk man, maybe they sound good...
If you listen to modern pop you only deserve Spotify quality.
oh come on, don't be a snob. That attitude is not going to entice new blood into audiophilia.
This is exactly the reason I don’t engage in this community. I came here excited to learn about the Sonus Fabers. What’s the top comment? Another gatekeeping audiophile jerk. What is even the point of this comment? Why would you even feel compelled to turn someone off from taking part in a love of music? I just don’t get this attitude and why it’s so pervasive with audiophiles. Constantly a bunch of asshats…
One cannot get bass from 6 inch drivers
Purifi PTT6.5X04 says otherwise.
Audio Group Denmark (Borresen) would disagree with that also.
Not true.
Physics Are facts your perception is a different thing altogether
@@Squarewave39 true but, designing speakers nowadays is more than just taking an average ordinary speaker and sticking it in a box, much more engineering goes into today’s speakers. While they won’t match a good sub, there is real bass there. To imply otherwise would be incorrect.
Infomercials are so annoying
This man is providing too much detail for an “infomercial.”
How would you rate these against the KEF R11 Meta? They're about the same price 🤔
A small lottery win 🫡