Yes, I can confirm that the Sonetto III G2 sounds more natural, especially the bass. I own a Sonetto III myself. But I won't change because I'm worried about the rear port of the Sonetto III G2. The Sonetto III has a bottom port, which is a better arrangement. I had a subwoofer with a rear port. The port caused rumble throughout the room. I solved it with bass traps and damping panels, but not with much success. Finally I replaced it with a BW DB4S with a closed box. The rumble is gone and I don't need any panels. So if you don't have an acoustically modified room, you might have a problem. Personally, I'll never use a rear port again.
I love my walnut Sonetto 3’s hooked up to my McIntosh MA352. I’d love to have the new 8’s. They practically look like Amati’s but with the flagship mid range driver.
“Everything must change” was first released on Quincy Jones’ Body Heat album. However, George Benson performed the absolute definitive version on his “in flight” album in 1976.
Hi Adrian, Lewis and Mike. Dying for the Sonetto G2 vs SourcePoint 888 showdown, although I would rather see the Sonetto V G2 used in the comparison as opposed to the Sonetto III G2, although price wise the III is closer to the MoFi. Personally for me it's a choice between the V and 888. Thanks again for these great reviews.
I like the look of the older speaker also, but first and foremost the sound must take precedence over the appearance of the speaker cabinet, unless it was so hideous that I couldn’t handle it.
Yea the sonetto III looks stunning ( a owner myself haha they are my first hi fi speakers ) so still new! did get them like some months before G2 did lunch haah, but yea I love them SO MUCH but later in the future I will step up in the SF line :P.
Great video! I have been waiting for a review on the Sonetto G2. I recently sold my Sonetto VIII's. Moved into a 1 bed apartment. Loved those speakers. I am definitely getting the G2's. The Sonetto II G2!! Cant wait!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE,give us a review of the Sonetto 2 G2 ASAP...I need stand mounted speakers & these are so much cheaper than the Harbeth or ProAc's on my short list...
Thank you for your great reviews - period! I still own a pair of walnut Sonnetto III's which I am currently trying to sell. I now have a pair of Sourcepoint 888's in white (only color available) and they sound fabulous. Everything is improved over the Sonnetto's, soundstage, clarity, and most notably the bass. You definitely get what you pay for with the 888's! However, I have the 888's on a 60-day trial, and I miss the Italian artistry from Sonus faber. Let's be honest, if you're sitting in the sweet spot listening to music through a great set of speakers, it can be a heightened experience if you're looking at something that looks like a highly crafted piece of furniture, rather than a box! That's not to say that the 888's are a box. They have some subtle angles and certainly command your attention when moving them, at 97lbs each! Having the best of both worlds for the roughly the same amount of money sounds like music to MY ears. Please get the comparison between the 888's and the G2 on TH-cam soon. I can't wait for your opinions!
Since the 888 sounds fabulous, I would recommend focusing energy on enjoying the music rather than worrying about whether there might be something better. Good music is more important than audio equipment, and personally I prefer to listen in a darkened or dimly lit room so I can focus on the music.
I agree. The speakers Artistic flare just adds to what is already wonderful and making it a visual pleasure just adds to it. Can't wait to get mine in light walnut. Gorgeous.
With the SF Sonetto G2's I get a bit of deja vu as I own Sonetto VIII's to which I added marble speaker plinths to get more coherence from the down firing bass port. Works a charm BTW. I also prefer the G1 design. Would love to hear the new SG G2 VIII's but love my G1's.
Thanks for the great review and the wonderful explanation, still I have 2 questions 1. How is it going to be for a home theater system , and do you recommend g2 for that? 2. What are the closest alternatives to the sonetto 3 g2 Thanks again
Thank you for these reviews. Most of us have no way of listening to the speakers ourselves without traveling for hours. You give a good review of the +s and -s. I wonder what happened to the Stradivari reivew. You started the review but didn't finish.
Is the tweeter the Same as the Limina 2 tweeter? or upgraded? I ask because a have the Lumina 2 (not Amator) and I plan to buy these Sonetto III G2's tomorrow. I don't want the exact same sound with a little more bass. Ay $4500 vs $1300 I want a WAY better sound top to bottom.
I went to Tidal to listen to the Four Seasons album mentioned by Lewis and found out to my surprise that Lewis was actually correct, and although the album is based on Vivaldi's work, the composer of this work is actually credited to Max Richter (who also is the album producer and mixer). Here is some info on that: Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons is a composition by contemporary classical composer Max Richter. The piece is a complete recomposition and reinterpretation of Vivaldi's violin concertos The Four Seasons. Although Richter said that he had discarded 75 percent of Vivaldi's original material, the parts he does use are phased and looped, emphasizing his grounding in postmodern and minimalist music. The recording was done in 2012 and the principal violinist was Daniel Hope. Another great album selection from Lewis. A couple of years ago I attended a live performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons performed in an 850 seat concert hall (I was lucky to be seated in row 2) and Anne-Sophie Mutter, one of the greatest violinists of all time, was the principal violinist. I consider live musical experiences like that to be important in evaluating audiophile equipment.
Very nice this one, but very curious about the white speaker on the V (and VIII). Does it bring something extra, more than on the III? Please let us know! Thanks all.
2 thumbs up Adrian! I would like to see a comparison between the Olimpica Nova 5 and the Sonetto G2 8's. Thank you for your time, efforts and expertise. 🏁👍🫡 By the way, all my aunts and uncle's live in Hamilton. 👋
Did SF fixed the extremely exaggerated brightness of the G1? I owned the Sonetto V and just couldn't tolerate the 10Db uplift on the treble zone. That was sad because electric guitars sounded fantastic on that mid range paper cone driver and the bass bass rich, articulated and fast on that model.
Love Oleta Adam's especially her duet with Tears for Fears in Woman in Chains. However, for Everything Must Change my favourite renditions are the ones from George Benson and Randy Crawford.
Adrian, not trying to nitpick but something looked off when you posted the specs for G1 and G2. I went to the Sonus Faber website and they list frequency response at 38-40000hz. There is no +/- DB notation to that range listed. Just wanted to let you know! Keep up with the great reviews! Cheers!
Thank you for this video. I was already searching what the difference would be in sound. What kind of amplifier did you used? Tomorrow i am gonne going to a demoday of the SF Sonetto G2 serie. The amplifier ls will be McIntosch and Ayon. Sonetton II, III and V G2 and stravidar. 🎉 cant wait. I am thinking about buying the Sonetto V G2. Again, thank for this video Adrain, Lewis and mike.
@@adrianlow2114 I believe that Mike posted a comment elsewhere in this video that the Diablo was one of the amps used. Maybe different listeners used different amps?
@@mark9118 @MikeFromAudioExcellence 1 day ago Mike from Audio Excellence here: Gryphon Audio Diablo 333 was the main amp, but we also had a McIntosh MA8950, and an Accupahse E-280 hooked up from time to time. Lumin P1 was used as the source.
Ok, you really got me here Adrian. Try as I may, I have no clue what watch that is. Never got enough of a decent look and the dial is hard to make out. This looks like a chronograph with flat pushers, not round. I cannot even see the subdials, because against the reflection it is just too hard. For a brief second I was going to go with vintage Omega seamaster chronograph, but I don’t ever remember they make a flat pusher chrono. So, against all of my better judgement, I am going to go out on a limb, and guess that this is a vintage Patek Philippe chronograph, I only derived that because I know they do make chronographs with flat pushers. That will be my final answer. Not very confident. But sticking to it. Wouldn’t it be funny if you come out and say this is not a chrono at all? 😂
lol it is a Concord Impressario chono with the Zenith El Primero movement. I kept it for decades, and since I took it out, I've been really enjoying the build details. May be the heaviest of my collection. Beautiful workmanship
@@adrianlow2114 yeah I would not have gotten that Concord right. But it now makes sense why I was pretty familiar with those flat chrono pushers. Looks like your chrono is a triple date chrono, right? Well, as an owner of also a Zenith El Primero Flyback Chrono, also with triple date, plus a moon phase, I must say you have great taste in watches 😂 🍻
@@woody168 Still amazes me that you can tell such details from the video! Yes it is a triple date. Congrats on your Zenith! One day I'll probably get the Winsor
sorry jeffery osborn another level ! with all ltd great group songs which he mostly wrote , on the wings of love, only human awesom!!! and many more and still performing live at a high level today!!
A technical comparison between the two may be a bit complicated, since the old version was a 3-way design with crossovers at 235 Hz and 3,000 Hz, and two bass drivers. The new G2 is described as a 2.5 way design with a specified crossover at 2700 Hz, so to some degree both the mid and single bass driver are providing response down to a fairly low frequency, which probably accounts for the fact that there is one less driver needed. Also, the G2 tweeter is operating down to a lower frequency response, possibly accounting for the improvement in perceived clarity and transparency.
Human rights are there to protect the individual, at least in principle, from unjustified interference by the state in his fundamental rights. This mainly applied to minorities and marginal social groups and phenomena, while ethnic and other majorities remained outside of it and experience the violation of precisely these rights in the name of minority protection. So this law is, so to speak, in audiophile terms "in phase" and excludes two factors, two frequencies. In other words, it is almost a crime to be a traditional Christian or a Darwinist. The disabled have their own Olympic Games. And men cannot play, compete alongside women and vice versa in sports, except for show or entertainment.
I absolutely think the same: I have the Sonetto III G1 and think of asking my dealer to trade them in for the Sonetto III G2. As I'm about to upgrade my speakers it could be a real bargain trading up to the G2 for, let's say half the price. I really have to compare them in my living room to find out.
I prefer the G1 Sonetto hands down. The weight comparison is not exactly apples to apples considering the G2 has a solid concrete base. Of coarse you are going to talk highly of the new model if you want to sell them.
Maybe you prefer the G1 because you own them? I think Adrian and Lewis preferred the clarity and transparency of the G2. Not everyone likes clarity and transparency in their speakers for maybe the same reason why some people don’t like it in their electronics either, especially if they tend to listen to music not particularly well recorded. Seems like many of the new SF speakers are now emphasizing clarity and transparency compared to the traditional SF sound signature.
Sorry but they don't generally wait 5-6 years to redesign something only to make it worse than the one before it. Very flawed logic. It is ok to still love your speaker, but to say it sounds better than the revision is just nonsense.
Yes, I can confirm that the Sonetto III G2 sounds more natural, especially the bass. I own a Sonetto III myself. But I won't change because I'm worried about the rear port of the Sonetto III G2. The Sonetto III has a bottom port, which is a better arrangement. I had a subwoofer with a rear port. The port caused rumble throughout the room. I solved it with bass traps and damping panels, but not with much success. Finally I replaced it with a BW DB4S with a closed box. The rumble is gone and I don't need any panels. So if you don't have an acoustically modified room, you might have a problem. Personally, I'll never use a rear port again.
I love my walnut Sonetto 3’s hooked up to my McIntosh MA352. I’d love to have the new 8’s. They practically look like Amati’s but with the flagship mid range driver.
I love the honesty and the family dynamics therein and how it all boils down to emotional appeal.
“Everything must change” was first released on Quincy Jones’ Body Heat album. However, George Benson performed the absolute definitive version on his “in flight” album in 1976.
Hi Adrian, Lewis and Mike. Dying for the Sonetto G2 vs SourcePoint 888 showdown, although I would rather see the Sonetto V G2 used in the comparison as opposed to the Sonetto III G2, although price wise the III is closer to the MoFi. Personally for me it's a choice between the V and 888. Thanks again for these great reviews.
@MikeFromAudioExcellence
I prefer the older style... tbh. I admire and love the new technologies... but I appreciate the older style. 🤷♂️
I like the look of the older speaker also, but first and foremost the sound must take precedence over the appearance of the speaker cabinet, unless it was so hideous that I couldn’t handle it.
The harder angles and beautiful feet of the g1 look way classier and more sophisticated than the rudimentary looking g2....
Yea the sonetto III looks stunning ( a owner myself haha they are my first hi fi speakers ) so still new! did get them like some months before G2 did lunch haah, but yea I love them SO MUCH but later in the future I will step up in the SF line :P.
Great video! I have been waiting for a review on the Sonetto G2. I recently sold my Sonetto VIII's. Moved into a 1 bed apartment. Loved those speakers. I am definitely getting the G2's. The Sonetto II G2!! Cant wait!
Thanks
Did you get them yet? How are the II G2's?
@@mbvx7 Sadly no , as of Dec 26. maybe by the end of January. Ordered them beginning of June. Nuts
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE,give us a review of the Sonetto 2 G2 ASAP...I need stand mounted speakers & these are so much cheaper than the Harbeth or ProAc's on my short list...
How closely would your evaluation of the Sonetto iii's extrapolate to a comparison of the V vs V G2?
Thank you for your great reviews - period! I still own a pair of walnut Sonnetto III's which I am currently trying to sell. I now have a pair of Sourcepoint 888's in white (only color available) and they sound fabulous. Everything is improved over the Sonnetto's, soundstage, clarity, and most notably the bass. You definitely get what you pay for with the 888's! However, I have the 888's on a 60-day trial, and I miss the Italian artistry from Sonus faber. Let's be honest, if you're sitting in the sweet spot listening to music through a great set of speakers, it can be a heightened experience if you're looking at something that looks like a highly crafted piece of furniture, rather than a box! That's not to say that the 888's are a box. They have some subtle angles and certainly command your attention when moving them, at 97lbs each! Having the best of both worlds for the roughly the same amount of money sounds like music to MY ears. Please get the comparison between the 888's and the G2 on TH-cam soon. I can't wait for your opinions!
Thanks, will try to get to it shortly
Since the 888 sounds fabulous, I would recommend focusing energy on enjoying the music rather than worrying about whether there might be something better. Good music is more important than audio equipment, and personally I prefer to listen in a darkened or dimly lit room so I can focus on the music.
I agree. The speakers Artistic flare just adds to what is already wonderful and making it a visual pleasure just adds to it. Can't wait to get mine in light walnut. Gorgeous.
With the SF Sonetto G2's I get a bit of deja vu as I own Sonetto VIII's to which I added marble speaker plinths to get more coherence from the down firing bass port. Works a charm BTW. I also prefer the G1 design. Would love to hear the new SG G2 VIII's but love my G1's.
Thanks for the review. When are you thinking about reviewing the Sonetto VIII?
Thanks for the review guys! Which center speaker would you suggest that best compliments the Sonetta 3 G2?
Can this new SF line compete against Olympica Nova series? Perhaps enlighten us on the differences. thank you
Good idea, will look into this
Thanks for the great review and the wonderful explanation, still I have 2 questions
1. How is it going to be for a home theater system , and do you recommend g2 for that?
2. What are the closest alternatives to the sonetto 3 g2
Thanks again
Thank you for these reviews. Most of us have no way of listening to the speakers ourselves without traveling for hours. You give a good review of the +s and -s. I wonder what happened to the Stradivari reivew. You started the review but didn't finish.
Just got crazy busy. Will try to get to it soon
Is the tweeter the Same as the Limina 2 tweeter? or upgraded? I ask because a have the Lumina 2 (not Amator) and I plan to buy these Sonetto III G2's tomorrow. I don't want the exact same sound with a little more bass. Ay $4500 vs $1300 I want a WAY better sound top to bottom.
I went to Tidal to listen to the Four Seasons album mentioned by Lewis and found out to my surprise that Lewis was actually correct, and although the album is based on Vivaldi's work, the composer of this work is actually credited to Max Richter (who also is the album producer and mixer). Here is some info on that: Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons is a composition by contemporary classical composer Max Richter. The piece is a complete recomposition and reinterpretation of Vivaldi's violin concertos The Four Seasons. Although Richter said that he had discarded 75 percent of Vivaldi's original material, the parts he does use are phased and looped, emphasizing his grounding in postmodern and minimalist music. The recording was done in 2012 and the principal violinist was Daniel Hope. Another great album selection from Lewis. A couple of years ago I attended a live performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons performed in an 850 seat concert hall (I was lucky to be seated in row 2) and Anne-Sophie Mutter, one of the greatest violinists of all time, was the principal violinist. I consider live musical experiences like that to be important in evaluating audiophile equipment.
if its better than the g1 ,is it wworth spending more for the olympica nova 2??
Very nice this one, but very curious about the white speaker on the V (and VIII). Does it bring something extra, more than on the III? Please let us know! Thanks all.
2 thumbs up Adrian! I would like to see a comparison between the Olimpica Nova 5 and the Sonetto G2 8's. Thank you for your time, efforts and expertise. 🏁👍🫡 By the way, all my aunts and uncle's live in Hamilton. 👋
Did SF fixed the extremely exaggerated brightness of the G1? I owned the Sonetto V and just couldn't tolerate the 10Db uplift on the treble zone. That was sad because electric guitars sounded fantastic on that mid range paper cone driver and the bass bass rich, articulated and fast on that model.
Love Oleta Adam's especially her duet with Tears for Fears in Woman in Chains.
However, for Everything Must Change my favourite renditions are the ones from George Benson and Randy Crawford.
Adrian, not trying to nitpick but something looked off when you posted the specs for G1 and G2.
I went to the Sonus Faber website and they list frequency response at 38-40000hz. There is no +/- DB notation to that range listed. Just wanted to let you know! Keep up with the great reviews! Cheers!
Monitor Audio Gold 6G review needed, it's these or MA
Great video, guys, though I have to say, without that Paul guy they just aren't the same! 🤣😉
Would love to know how the g2 compares to the Nova …
Nice! Would be nice to see some reviews about Synthesis amps like 37dc+ hybrid or A100 Titan 🙂
Thank you for this video. I was already searching what the difference would be in sound. What kind of amplifier did you used?
Tomorrow i am gonne going to a demoday of the SF Sonetto G2 serie. The amplifier ls will be McIntosch and Ayon. Sonetton II, III and V G2 and stravidar. 🎉 cant wait. I am thinking about buying the Sonetto V G2.
Again, thank for this video Adrain, Lewis and mike.
You're welcome. We used Hegel Hegel H190V and Accuphase E280
Was the difference between the G1 and G2 the speaker, or the addition of the Gryphon Audio Diablo 333?
We used the Hegel H190V and Accuphase E280 integrated amps. Did not use the Diablo
@@adrianlow2114Need to review the new H400.
@@adrianlow2114 I believe that Mike posted a comment elsewhere in this video that the Diablo was one of the amps used. Maybe different listeners used different amps?
@@mark9118
@MikeFromAudioExcellence
1 day ago
Mike from Audio Excellence here: Gryphon Audio Diablo 333 was the main amp, but we also had a McIntosh MA8950, and an Accupahse E-280 hooked up from time to time. Lumin P1 was used as the source.
@@mark9118 Yes you are right
teardrop shape ?
Ok, you really got me here Adrian. Try as I may, I have no clue what watch that is. Never got enough of a decent look and the dial is hard to make out. This looks like a chronograph with flat pushers, not round. I cannot even see the subdials, because against the reflection it is just too hard.
For a brief second I was going to go with vintage Omega seamaster chronograph, but I don’t ever remember they make a flat pusher chrono. So, against all of my better judgement, I am going to go out on a limb, and guess that this is a vintage Patek Philippe chronograph, I only derived that because I know they do make chronographs with flat pushers. That will be my final answer. Not very confident. But sticking to it.
Wouldn’t it be funny if you come out and say this is not a chrono at all? 😂
lol it is a Concord Impressario chono with the Zenith El Primero movement. I kept it for decades, and since I took it out, I've been really enjoying the build details. May be the heaviest of my collection. Beautiful workmanship
@@adrianlow2114 yeah I would not have gotten that Concord right. But it now makes sense why I was pretty familiar with those flat chrono pushers. Looks like your chrono is a triple date chrono, right?
Well, as an owner of also a Zenith El Primero Flyback Chrono, also with triple date, plus a moon phase, I must say you have great taste in watches 😂 🍻
@@woody168 Still amazes me that you can tell such details from the video! Yes it is a triple date. Congrats on your Zenith! One day I'll probably get the Winsor
sorry jeffery osborn another level ! with all ltd great group songs which he mostly wrote , on the wings of love, only human awesom!!! and many more and still performing live at a high level today!!
I like the asthetics of Gen 1 better though.
What amp?
@MikeFromAudioExcellenceAdrian apparently used the Hegel H190V and Accuphase according to a comment he posted.
Thank you for a very good review. Wish there was a sound sample of the speaker when you do speaker review.
Great channel and review. BTW she is NOT transgender, confirmed and put to rest.
so the new one has one less woofer than the old one and is dearer for less
That's one way to look at it ...
A technical comparison between the two may be a bit complicated, since the old version was a 3-way design with crossovers at 235 Hz and 3,000 Hz, and two bass drivers. The new G2 is described as a 2.5 way design with a specified crossover at 2700 Hz, so to some degree both the mid and single bass driver are providing response down to a fairly low frequency, which probably accounts for the fact that there is one less driver needed. Also, the G2 tweeter is operating down to a lower frequency response, possibly accounting for the improvement in perceived clarity and transparency.
midrange?? its a 2.5way ...
Human rights are there to protect the individual, at least in principle, from unjustified interference by the state in his fundamental rights.
This mainly applied to minorities and marginal social groups and phenomena, while ethnic and other majorities remained outside of it and experience the violation of precisely these rights in the name of minority protection.
So this law is, so to speak, in audiophile terms "in phase" and excludes two factors, two frequencies.
In other words, it is almost a crime to be a traditional Christian or a Darwinist.
The disabled have their own Olympic Games. And men cannot play, compete alongside women and vice versa in sports, except for show or entertainment.
So… now better than the Nova? So good? 🤔
Good question. Awaiting for hhe answer.
@MikeFromAudioExcellence in what ways?
Hi Adrian, I am using the Sonetto III G1. After watching this review, you are now giving me the itch to move to the G2. Shoud I….?
I absolutely think the same: I have the Sonetto III G1 and think of asking my dealer to trade them in for the Sonetto III G2. As I'm about to upgrade my speakers it could be a real bargain trading up to the G2 for, let's say half the price. I really have to compare them in my living room to find out.
They ruined the feet, also the cabinet not as nice
I was interested for a sec
I prefer the G1 Sonetto hands down. The weight comparison is not exactly apples to apples considering the G2 has a solid concrete base. Of coarse you are going to talk highly of the new model if you want to sell them.
Happy you prefer the G1, we love G1 also, but the truth is the G2 is superior, nothing to do with selling them. Have a listen and see what you think
Maybe you prefer the G1 because you own them? I think Adrian and Lewis preferred the clarity and transparency of the G2. Not everyone likes clarity and transparency in their speakers for maybe the same reason why some people don’t like it in their electronics either, especially if they tend to listen to music not particularly well recorded. Seems like many of the new SF speakers are now emphasizing clarity and transparency compared to the traditional SF sound signature.
Sorry but they don't generally wait 5-6 years to redesign something only to make it worse than the one before it. Very flawed logic. It is ok to still love your speaker, but to say it sounds better than the revision is just nonsense.