Sonus Faber Sonetto V’s Thoughts Requested

Indeed, looks alone are reason to go with Sonetto👍🏻. Grills off they’re even more classy and elegant looking. Something about that silver ring around those drivers😂! Honestly sometimes I’ll walk by and just stop, sit, and stare and admire them without them even playing. I really do. Still waiting on my C I and pair of I’s but at least the V’s are in business…

Give them at least a few days at low volume to break in. I always listen when first connected and then play them at low volume for 4-5 hrs a day  for a couple weeks before my critical listen and damn what a difference! I’m a true believer in break in time…

All the best DB, enjoy the piss out of em-you can’t not man👌🏻👍🏻😊!

I literally just shipped my III’s on Monday for a trade up to the V’s. They should be here next week. I bought the III’s unheard and can tell you @ghdprentice nailed it with his “natural house sound” comment. I completely agree! I also agree with @soix as their lack of heft surprised me. I have Revel Be’s in my main system and they’re beasts and solid as a rock. But I too had those same thoughts about Sonetto’s lack of weight. I can tell you I loved the III’s and can’t wait for my V’s. So whilst I can’t speak yet about the V’s with what I heard from the III’s I know I can’t not love the V’s. 
 

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with loving the looks of your gear. I started a thread about this very thing a while back here. I will sometimes just sit and stare at my system and just admire the looks (without anything playing even). And though I love my Revel’s and find them to best the SF’s sound wise , I give the nod in the looks department to Sonetto’s😂. For me looks are a huge factor. I even said in my thread that even if I loved the sound of a particular piece of gear (mostly applies to speakers), if they don’t pass the visual test I won’t buy them. That’s why Revel and SF fit perfectly for me😊!

Best of luck I’ll post my thoughts on the V’s when they arrive…

@hazeloop I too had Dynaudio. Back in the day the Audience line (82's) was to date the best I have ever heard/owned. Unfortunately, I had to sell them after my divorce. I still miss them...

@dbeckwith I went from Dynaudio Evoke to Revel Performa3 208's to F228Be's (took advantage of their crazy 30% off sale to go to Be line). However, I was perfectly content with my 208's. I would also recommend the Evoke 50's though Dynaudio's are notoriously very power hungry. The reason I went from the Danes to Revel's was my main system is 5.1 as the wife and I are huge movie buffs. So, my system has always done double duty and I found the Evoke center channel lacking whereas the Revel C426Be is as good as it gets for center channels, and it is a true beast! That said I was instantly hooked on Revel's ability to handle everything from Iron Maiden to Clannad and have the ability to rock out, or switch gears instantly and handle the softer stuff with such grace and poise. 

With that background I had always wondered and was drawn to Sonetto. Fortunately, I got a great opportunity on Ebay for a brand-new pair of III's for 2/3 retail, so I jumped. Figured all the positive press couldn't be wrong so I felt safe buying unheard. I had these in a second 2 channel only system being driven by a Bel Canto Ref501S. Magnificent! Not in the class of the Revel's but not at all a fair comparison as they are a bit less than 1/2 the cost. For sure the V's will come closer but still in a lower price bracket. That said I'll give you my thoughts on Sonetto, if you listen to jazz/classical, softer stuff I think you'll absolutely love Sonetto. But as an allrounder (hard rock, tv viewing/movies) I would go Revel. Both are very detailed, airy, but with an edge to Revel in the imaging dept. I would say Sonetto oozes out and draws you in, whereas Revel is just more alive and grabs you. Revel in my opinion (and dumbing it down is the only way I know how as I am not nearly as articulate when it comes to describing the details🤣) brings you into the arena. Not at all brighter by any means, just closer to the live "being there" experience. But quite simply if I had to use one word to describe Sonetto it would be warm. One word for Revel would be alive. Hope that helps but it's the only way I can describe. And at my age (54) and the hard miles on my ears, I cannot do brighter (Paradigm, B&W, Focal were not for me), and I have just found Revel to work in every way for me. In my second system aesthetics were even more critical and Sonetto not only didn't take away from our decor, but they actually added a very classy addition to our room - they are that beautiful. This according to the wife as well. The Revel's are stunning to look at as well (I have the gloss walnut in my theater room), but Sonetto gets the win in the aesthetics dept. ESPECIALLY with grills off. Revel's are much more intimidating looking, beautiful and classy but intimidating looking😂.

I hope this helps, but I'll post my thoughts on the V's (they shipped and are arriving Wednesday). But for me and what I use my system for, I'm sticking with Revel...

Best Regards,

Brian

Very welcome @dbeckwith. So much great posters and members here and this is always the first place I go to when I need advice/support. Speaks very well to your character that you reply to all comments. I always try to do the same…

By the way my Sonetto’s are Wenge and if you do go that route I’d highly recommend the Wenge finish👌🏻

Best of luck my friend, and remember to enjoy the journey! 

@dbeckwith so I have had my Sonetto V’s for 3 weeks now. At this point they are fully broken in. I have been driving them with an Audio Refinement Multi 5 amp. My first serious listening session was this afternoon. The same warm sound as the III’s but with a MUCH fuller sound. What really struck me while listening today was a sense of realism that was not at all present with the III’s. The V’s retained that warm sound but with more zest. I’ll use the “alive” term that I used to describe my Revel’s. I was pretty shocked at how much better the V’s were than the III’s. I wouldn’t hesitate in highly recommending them…But I still would give the edge in comparison to Revel F208’s-which is a much more fair comparison. If you at all like to rock out and crank em up, this is where Revel outguns Sonetto…
 

All of this said the V’s really impressed me and worth every penny over the III’s. Give a listen to Dynaudio Evoke 50’s as well if you can. They’re much more power hungry but if you feed them well they will really impress you…

Best of luck my friend…

To clarify I’d give the overall nod to Revel F208’s over the V’s. 

I have said the EXACT same thing. I don't care how amazing a particular speaker may sound, if it looks like an alien or a UFO, I'm not buying it. I find all the high-end speaker manufacturers after about their mid-level lines they start getting creepier and creepier looking. Not that I could even afford to go there, but I wouldn't because of looks alone😂! 

You will never regret going with the V's. You truly cannot go wrong in any direction mentioned above. But once again on just looks alone V's hit it out of the park. And in this case they have the sound to match👌!

Let us know what you think once you get em broken in DB

All the best...