Sonus Faber Sonetto V’s Thoughts Requested

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...

@kingbr  The grills will definitely be off when I am home and listening. For many, looks may not matter, as it's all about the sound. For me, and it seems you too, looks matter as well. Of course, like pretty much everything in this endeavor, it is subjective. I personally don't care how good a speaker sounds if it has a high fugly factor. Sure seems to me that there are enough brands out there for someone to find a pleasurable sound and visual experience. Thanks for the break in tips and again for your posts.

@mapman Thanks for your 2 pennies and the info. Hearing from someone who has both brands is helpful. I feel fairly confident that the Sonetto V's will be both a pleasure to look at and to listen to.

Not familiar with those specific KEF and Sonus Faber models, but I do currently own other KEFs and SFs. Both are very fine product lines but no doubt they tend to have different "house sounds" . I think it will come down to personal preference more than any meaningful conclusion that one is better than the other. KEF focuses on outstanding performance and value. Sonus Faber focuses on "musicality" and craftmanship and is pretty universally acknowledged for that. YMMV. Good news is hard to go wrong with either line. Revel approach and resulting sound is more towards KEF than SF. Another very fine and distinct line of products!  Three of my popular favorites these days.

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👌🏻👍🏻😊!

@kingbr 

Thanks for your latest post! I was hoping you would post your experience with the V's, once you received them. Thanks for remembering to do so. You liked the III's enough to get the V's and to read that the V's were that much better, is great to read. 

I have little doubt, that at this price point, the F208's are likely a bit better, but I think I'm going to give the V's a go. I love the look and if for some reason I'm not pleased by the sound, I will likely give the F208's or the F206's, which are more size appropriate for my room, a try. I'm fairly confident that the V's will not only satisfy me visually but musically as well. As with most things, time will tell. Thanks again. Much appreciated!

DB

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

@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…

I listened to them in a couple of different environments and finally settled on Focal 936’s which were also offered by my dealer in a similar price range. These are actually much less now as they have been supplanted by the Evo X series. 

Yep , pair 948 on here for ~$2.5k

You need better amplification. 

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! 

@kingbr - Brian, thank you for your comments and the time you took to convey such a full accounting. I do understand your Revel intimidating comment, especially compared the Sonetto Vs. They are attractive, likely sound terrific, but a bit large and "intimidating". That's a good word for what I feel when looking at my buddy's Salon 2s. 🙂

@hazeloop - Thank you for taking considerable time in sharing your comparison experience. Interesting that you liked the Luminas better. Your trip recommendation is a good one. 

Again, thank you to all who contributed. While it may not have cleared things up for me, perhaps it even did the opposite to some degree, the comments were thoughtful, thought provoking, full of good info, and appreciated. 

I will now go back to my more comfortable lurking posture on this forum. 

Doug

@dbeckwith - the Sonettos just sounded flat to me with no depth. I listened to a lot of the music that I’m intimately familiar with and a ton of a-b testing and kept going back to the Focals. I even brought along a friend who had the same unsolicited opinion. I did listen to the Luminas and actually liked those better than the Sonettos. It’s weird I know and maybe there was something strange with the setup but I tried at two different dealer locations. I know you mentioned that you are rural and I’m not sure what your personal situation is, but I would strongly recommend traveling to a reputable dealer, getting a hotel for a couple of nights and doing some serious listening. How much fun would that be?!?!  At the end of the day with the money you’re going to spend it would be well worth it.

@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

@hazeloop Thank you for sharing your experience and comparison. I mentioned a bit further up, that I've not had the chance to listen to anything Focal, but I understand that those who like them really like them. Was there anything in particular between the 2 that made you go in the direction of France instead of Italy? I've read somewhere that Focals tend to be a bit on the bright side in general as opposed to what most consider a warmer SF sound. Did you find that to be the case and was that the reason for your decision?

@kingbr - Would you be so kind as to elaborate a little to let us know how you compare your Revels to the Sonettos, since you like them both. Dont be afraid to dumb it down for me. Do you expect the Vs, once you get them, to come closer to the Revels in SQ. Perhaps they are too different to compare, IDK. Thx in advance.

I was in a very similar situation deciding on a new set of speakers to replace legacy Dynaudio speakers. I was absolutely smitten with Sonus Faber and particularly the Sonetto V’s as that was in my price range. I listened to them in a couple of different environments and finally settled on Focal 936’s which were also offered by my dealer in a similar price range. These are actually much less now as they have been supplanted by the Evo X series. I really, really wanted those Sonetto’s as they were so beautifully crafted and visually and artistically appealing, but at the end of the day, my ears really won out (as it should). After an extended break-in period, I’m very happy with my Focals. Do I still want Sonus at some point - for sure, but only if my ears convince me. One more thing - I actually really liked the Lumina's - be sure to give them a listen. 

@soix - Thanks for your additional comments. I have zero doubt that they have great merit. I did look at your suggested Ushers and they do make good looking cabinets and I would think if they pass your muster, they would be a good choice.

My one audio buddy, who is a Revel fan and runs his stuff on Jeff Rowland power, thinks I should look at the F208s. They are on sale right now at 3850 a pair and their cabinets are attractive as well. Great, now even more to consider.

There's probably an engineering reason, but I don't understand why there aren't more options where the venere goes all the way across the front like the Sonettos or the F208s. The vast majority have the black fronts of different material, which I find less attractive, not that anybody asked. Thanks again.

My understanding is that the Venere’s were SF’s misstep into manufacturing their entry level speakers in China. I don’t know, but price point and the China issue may have had something to do with your poor experience. I believe they have taken everything back in house in Italy after that manufacturing experiment produced less than desirable results etc.

I wouldn’t say my experience with the Venere 2.5s was poor, it’s just that they were compromised in build quality and cabinet resonances.  While build quality may have improved, I’m still very skeptical that the Sonetto’s cabinets don’t resonate and affect the sound as they’re of a similar size/weight to the 2.5s I had in my system.  Back then the contention was that the unique lute shape counteracted the lack of inert mass.  Well, not in my experience and I’d bet it’s still an issue with the Sonettos because physics is physics.  SF makes some of the best speakers on the market, but they’ve clearly struggled trying to build good “entry-level” speakers and I personally wouldn’t gamble that they’ve fully figured it out this time either.  To me, the Usher Mini Twos I mentioned earlier are more established, are built much better, offer a tweeter the Sonettos can’t touch and can actually produce bass while looking beautiful doing it at about the same price.  No brainer to me, but if you’re smitten with the Sonettos then go for it.

@stereo5 - YW on the Brit Floyd suggestion. I would be surprised if you were disappointed should you catch a show. They do so many shows each year that they are extremely well practiced and proficient. Their laser show is well done too. Their founder and musical director was originally with the Aussie group, but left more than a decade ago believing he could do the tribute better and it seems he was right. If you get the chance go to YouTube and watch their version of dogs, a very hard song to do live.They tour the US every year, usually during the first 6 months or so. You can go to their site for dates and places.

@grislybutter - Thanks for your comment and for answering my question regarding your Lumina not so good experience.

@mijostyn - Bass is good to be sure, but too much of that good thing... not so much. Live music in a good venue is great to be sure and more visceral as you mentioned. Thanks for the sub info. I just may get to the dual sub level someday and will keep your tip in mind.

@jbuhl - Thank you for the clarification. I've never had the opportunity to listen to Focals. Like SF, they do have their following.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to this discussion. @ghdprentice , sorry about my original misread of your first post. When I read it the next day, it became clear as day. This discussion leaves food for thought in all directions. It seems like most topics audio, things are subjective with opposing views on many if not most topics. 

Doug

@skads_187- we are a manufacturer of tube audio components so we are using our Class A 40wpc mono blocks, we use our own 6SN7 preamp but currently have an older Trone preamp which is full of black gate capacitors.  We use many different model speakers, for example we have Vandersteen Sevens, 5As, Horning, Vivid, etc., and manufacturers send them to us to listen and demonstrate in our listening room in Northern New Jersey.  The current Sonus are the older model  Stradivari although we are considering the new versions.

Happy Listening.

@jbuhl – Thank you for your input. I can’t help but wonder how the V’s might have been a better match to compare, but I believe the Focals mentioned are a bit cheaper, so hmmm.

The IIIs  & the 926s were the same price from my dealer was the reason.   That was my budget. 

You are not a true audiophile unless you are unhappy with your system or lets say, not entirely happy.

@mijostyn Ha!!! Well said and funny because it’s got a lotta truth to it.  God help us.  

@bigkidz Which preamp and amp are you using and for which model SF speaker? thanks

@dbeckwith 

Great. I was also at one concert that had more bass and volume than was necessary. 1983 or 4, Peter Gabriel at the Richmond Coliseum, a large outdoor amphitheater, the Summer home of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. Gabriel crammed a stadium sound system into one of the most efficient outdoor venues in existence. The bass drum kicked you in the stomach so that I could feel the abdominal wall shake. I had to stuff rolled up napkin in my ears. I did not get that abused at a Nine Inch Nails concert. 

There is a visceral component to live music. You do not just hear it, you feel it. This is one aspect that makes live music exceptional and it does not take as much volume as you would think to create that effect in a home system. It takes accurate bass flat down to 18 Hz at the listening position not one meter in front of the speaker, the rating the manufacturers give you. Big venues breath. You can tell you are in a big place with your eyes closed. This happens at very low frequencies. 

Most people expect a home HiFi system to sound like a home HiFi system and as long as they can listen to music played back cleanly they are happy. I expect my system to sound like the venue the music was recorded in, (With live recordings which I prefer) with all the visceral content intact. This means that I have been unhappy for decades and are always expecting the next improvement to get me closer to that goal. You are not a true audiophile unless you are unhappy with your system or lets say, not entirely happy. It is that visceral component that is hardest to get right. Maybe imaging is harder. I guess it depends on what day you talk to me.

You have one subwoofer. When you get a chance buy another of the exact same model and put both between your speakers. You can get a two way crossover from MiniDSP or dBx for not much money. IMHO the low pass filter found in most subwoofers is a half baked way of adding a subwoofer. Cutting the bass out of your main speaker is so beneficial it is hard to over state it. You will notice right away that your woofers seem to remain stationary and the sound is less .....stressed. You will also notice some of that visceral sensation even at modest volumes.

that's so cool of you to answer everyone.

My experience with the Lumina was: they were lifeless to my ears. Maybe lack of synergy with my then Marantz amp.

@dbeckwith,

Thanks for the Brit Floyd tip.  I have seen Australian Floyd and The Machine.  I wasn’t that impressed with either.  David Gilmour said that Brit Floyd were the best of the bunch and you confirmed it.  I will definitely check it out next time they come my way. 

OP, yes, I understood that you now have KEF Q750s and are considering Sonus Faber Sonnetto… and I was recommending them to be a good choice.

@soix – Thanks for your additional posts. My understanding is that the Venere’s were SF’s misstep into manufacturing their entry level speakers in China. I don’t know, but price point and the China issue may have had something to do with your poor experience. I believe they have taken everything back in house in Italy after that manufacturing experiment produced less than desirable results etc.

Thank you for your Usher suggestions. I will look into them later this evening.

I appreciate and understand you contradicting my I’m not an audiophile comment and maybe I am to a small degree, but much of @mijostyn comments to me were a bit over the head for this neophyte. 😊 So much to learn if I want to progress any in this hobby.  

@jbuhl – Thank you for your input. I can’t help but wonder how the V’s might have been a better match to compare, but I believe the Focals mentioned are a bit cheaper, so hmmm.

@kingbr – Well, you must have really liked the III’s to order the V’s. It will be interesting to read about how you might find them better/different than the III’s. It will also be interesting if you feel the Revels still beat the bigger V’s once you get them. I’ve only heard the Salon 2’s, but understand that Revels are hard to beat at each price point. Thanks for your comments on appearance. I agree that I too have to like the sound and the looks to spend what are not insignificant dollars for me.

@mijostyn – Thank you for confirming that my Arcam will be sufficient to drive the Sonetto V’s, should I go that route, and thanks for your other comments as well. I do care about bass but I’m not looking for a floorstander to be all that in the bass department. I do have a Revel B110 sub, so I should be able to make up any potential low-end deficiency that I might perceive.

To answer your question: I used to regularly frequent concerts when I lived in the big city, but now I’m lucky if I get to go every year or two. Just FYI, for those that like Pink Floyd, I highly recommend seeing a Brit Floyd show should they come to your town. I’ve seen them 4 times and would go back again, given the opportunity. Although, lol, there was a touch too much low end the last couple of times. 😊

@12many – Thank you and agree completely, but hard to do when I’m so far from so called civilization and only have 1 true audiophile friend. One thing I’ve learned while lurking these last couple of years is that there are so many factors that affect sound. A set of speakers may sound great at the dealer but less than desirable when set up in one’s room with their amp, which I bet would be quite frustrating, unless one can return them.

@rick_n – All good points, thank you. I will look at what’s out there in the Novas, but I’m already looking to spend more than I’m comfortable with, but than again, I am fairly frugal, so maybe I just need to get over it for this potential purchase. I’ve bought speakers 4 times, a pair of Q750’s new on sale, a used KEF R2C, and a used Revel B110. Of the 4 originally received packages, 2 were damaged. The new Q that came in damaged (hole in one of the drivers) was replaced by Crutchfield, but buying pricey used speakers... I’m not sure I would do so, unless I could pick them up personally.

@grislybutter – What was your bad experience with the 1 step down Lumina’s? I did like your speaker list. Looks like a large labor of love.

@carmed63 – Thank you for giving me your personal experience with them.

@gg107 – Thank you for your info on the Olympica III’s. I will take a look a bit later this evening.

Thanks to all of you for replying to this newbie. It is much appreciated. 

Doug

The thing about the Sonus is that most people have an opinion of how they are so sweet sounding.  They make everything sound good.  BUT once you find a preamp and amp that match them, then they become another level of sound reproduction.  My partner has gone through so many amps and preamps to find what really brings out the magic in them.

Enjoy them, they are special.

I have no experience with the SF Sonettos, but I did purchase a pre-owned pair of SF Olympica IIIs about three years ago, and my spouse and I are very pleased with  these speakers.  About 20% of our listening is hard rock/classic rock similar to the OP's taste, and the SF's take a bit of the edge off bad or mediocre rock recordings (as compared to, say, Focals or Wilsons), making longer listening sessions a pleasure.

One suggestion for the OP to consider:  Look for a pre-owned pair of the Olympica III or Olympica II (not the newer Nova versions).  I listened to both the Olympicas and the Olympica Novas before purchasing, and did not feel that the Novas were more than marginally superior to their predecessors.  On the used market, you may be able to find a pair of the Olympicas in fine condition for not much more than a new pair of Sonetto Vs.  

I've been very pleased with my Sonetto V's (piano black) for over 2 years and drive them with a 70wpc integrated tube amp. I listen to a variety of music via streaming and on vinyl and I find they are a great match with tubes. I feel at times that the mids could use a little improvement, but at this price point they are solid. You'll have to decide for yourself depending on your room and overall setup, but adding a good quality sub has been beneficial to me. I now have the itch to move up to SF line to possibly the Olympia Nova V, but I plan to keep the Sonetto's in another system. 

I saw no reason to add anything since I had zero at home experience with expensive speakers. However, I had the Lumina for a weekend and it was not good. This is a very educational thread about Sonus Faber. When I built my list I found that SF is good value and not overpriced as I previously thought

I hate to pivot the thread like this but I think it will get you where you really want to land.  When making a move to upgrade, make a significant move up, not just an incremental one.  The incremental moves often lead to disappointment.  I would continue to save and then go to the second hand market hunting for SF Olympica Novas.  They have a very similar sound to the Amati's that you like but are much less expensive and are usually available used.  I'm just not sure that the Sonetta's will get you where you want to be.  Good luck and cheers. 

@ghdprentice - I reread your post earlier this morning with fresher eyes. It is I who misread part of your post. Sorry for the confusion on my part.

More later.

DB

Thanks for all of the overnight responses. When I get some time later today I will respond in more detail. Thx again. More are welcome, as well.

DB

@dbeckwith It is great to ask others for their impressions, however, it would be best if you can listen to the Sonetto’s as well as many other speakers as you can. Music often appeals to people on an emotional level such that when you hear the ’right’ speaker you will know it is the one for you. I have owned SF bookshelf’s and often listen to the Olympics floor standers at a friends. I have not listened to the Sonettos. Wonderful sound yet I think it depends on they type of music you listen to and your personal preference. These may or may not be the best match and it is hard to know until you listen to them with the type of music you like and compare that listening to other speakers with the type of music you like.  Also consider buying used.  There are some great deals out there that will would put in an entirely different class of speaker.  

I owned the Sonetto IIs for six-months and loved them. I found them to be impeccable on all levels - including the veneer. I did sell them as my wife redesigned our living room, and the speakers were no longer deemed wife-approved. If it were not for this, I would still have them. I say go for it. I do recommend you buy them lightly used not to take the depreciation hit. Enjoy. 

@soix 

While they do weight only 50 lb. each, Sonus is very clever about their construction. They use the smallest horizontal dimensions possible and break up the wide sides by curving them. While they are not the heavy weights their upper lines are they still perform very well except in the low bass. 

@dbeckwith 

Your amp will drive the Sonetto Vs fine.  However, Speakers like these demand the use of subwoofers. I know you said you do not care about bass, but bass itself is not the problem. It is what it does to the midrange. The crossover point between the woofers and midrange is 235 Hz. The slope is not specified. 256 Hz is middle C and the woofers are still quite audible at least up to 500 Hz which is one octave. Low bass requires small woofers to move long distances, a centimeter is not unusual at modest volumes. This causes Doppler distortion of everything else the woofer carries like the human voice. You are familiar with Doppler Effect. That is when a car passes you honking it's horn the horn changes tone right as it passes you, one tone moving towards you, another moving away. This is exactly what the woofer is doing, moving towards you, then moving away. Bigger woofers do not have to move as far. The form factor is not as modern, but the Klipsch Cornwall is a better speaker in this price range if you do not want to use subwoofers, even if you do not care about bass. 

If you tend to listen at low volumes the Sonetto Vs alone will do fine. If you like to turn it up subwoofers and a two way crossover will reduce distortion and make your amp seem twice as powerful. I do think the Sonettos are an improvement over the Kefs, but I cannot say by how much. 

Question. Do you ever frequent live concerts?

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…

I didn’t mention it in my prior post, but as @jbuhl found with the Sonettos I found the build quality of the Veneres to also be cheap and subpar.  Sounds like that’s still an issue.

I demoed the Sonetto III vs Focal 926 in my room at the same time.  Although the SF we better at vocal and strings the Focals won out overall. The thing I could not get over with the SF was the cheesy plastic base and how they mounted to the cabinet with wood screws.  The Focal base although not elegant was really solid/substantial for comparison. 

I'm not really looking for other options in my 4 to 5k max budget, so much as I was looking for info regarding if the Sonettos in particular, which I seemed to be fixated on, is a real step up in SQ vs. My current Q750s.

Well, I may just disappoint you here.  I had a not great experience with SF’s earlier entry-level Venere 2.5s so maybe I’m a little jaded and no doubt the Sonettos are a significant improvement, but 3-way speakers that weigh only 50 lbs. sends red flags my way that echo issues I had with the Venere speakers.  Despite the lute shape those cabinets resonated and were uncontrollable with their upper bass resonance in my room, and I’d be concerned about similar cabinet issues with the similarly lightweight Sonettos.

So, what would I recommend?  Hands down and given what you’re looking for I’d go with these Usher Dancer Mini Two speakers for several reasons.  

- For about the same price you’re getting custom drivers manufactured by Usher that include the same diamond tweeter as in their $40k flagship speakers — what???

- They go down to 28Hz vs  38Hz for the Sonettos

- They weigh a substantial 92 lbs. versus the Sonetto’s 50 lbs. indicating a much more substantial and inert cabinet

- They have gorgeous cabinetry that’s at least on par with the Sonettos

- Usher speakers fly way under the radar and are in my top 5 of best speakers I’ve heard, and they offer value that’s off the charts for the quality you get relative to most others — read the reviews.

- This seller offers a 30-day return period if I’m wrong

https://soundapproach.com/usher-dancer-mini-two-tower-speaker-pair.html

Sorry to go off the reservation here but couldn’t help it cause given what you’re looking for this is what I’d do so had no choice.  Best of luck in whatever you choose.

@overthemoon - Thanks for your input. I was hoping to hear from someone who actually owned or spent some time with the Sonettos.

@ghdprentice - Thank you sir for your time and comments. I did know that you have and love your Amatis. I think i may m

not have been clear on my original post. I actually own KEF Q750 at the moment and was looking for input on if spending the money to move up to the Sonettos would be just that, a move up in SQ. It sounds like you think going to the SF house sound and their musicality would be a move in the right direction from my entry level KEFs, despite your bias. 🙂

@soix - Thanks for your time and input as well. Somehow I thought you might want more info than i might be able to coherently give. I do struggle with some audiophile vernacular. I was thinking of you when I put down the warmth etc. comment in my OP. Ha. I did like the SF sound that I heard with the Amatis, but they are quite a few steps above the sonettos. @ghdprentice mentioned the word musicality, so I think that works. I dont want speakers that are so accurate that mediocre recordings are somewhat difficult to listen to. As you know, most recordings are not considered great. 

I'm not really looking for other options in my 4 to 5k max budget, so much as I was looking for info regarding if the Sonettos in particular, which I seemed to be fixated on, is a real step up in SQ vs. My current Q750s. If it's not much of an upgrade I might stay put, despite loving the sonetto's great cabinets.

@grislybutter - Thanks for your reasonable question. These will be going in my main room which is fairly large, is open to the kitchen, and has 12' ceilings. While bookshelfs can be fine indeed, I never quite understood standmounted bookshelfs in a bigger room when they essentially take up the same footprint of a floor stander. As I mentioned, I find them quite attractive and while bigger is not always better, a beautiful cabinet  and a bigger sound seems to be my preference.

Thanks again, guys.

If bass is not that important to you, why not a bookshelf SF model?

I definitely do not consider myself an audiophile

Yeah you are, or you wouldn’t be here asking the good questions you ask. Thanks for the nice words BTW. I’ve already put some thought into this but could use a little more info — what’s your budget and are you looking new or used, and can you be any more specific about what improvements/sound characteristics you’re looking for other than just some more warmth? Just wanna make worthwhile/appropriate recommendations. Thanks for any further info.  I’m just gonna let the kenjit comment pass BTW.

Doug. Thanks for your kind words. As you are aware I am a Sonus Faber fan for their sound characteristics. The same ones that you identified as your own. So from that perspective they are a great match sonically. Given the tier they are in, they should provide a great boost in sound quality across the board once they are broken in… at least 125 hours. Remember this if you buy them… it is so easy to get really excited and start drawing conclusions too soon. Also, I would definitely not feel bad about liking them because they look good. The nice thing about Sonus is they sound fantastic and look as good. You get much less grief from your partner as well. 
 

I am firmly in the camp of starting an upgrade cycle with speakers. Even if it is years before you can upgrade your amplification you can enjoy much better sound now, and another big jump later. 
 

The Arcam has enough power. Sonus are not power hungry, although when powered by solid state amps they can benefit from more power. I power my Amatis with 70 wpc (although it is tube) and I can turn them up far louder than I can stand without loss of dynamics. Sonus has a house sound, natural and musical… it is distinct as you pointed out. 
 

Anyway, sounds like a great choice.

I've owned Sonetto Vs and I think they are excellent speakers and a great value for the money considering their sound and appearance.

Some folks propose source first when you build a system and start speaker first in upgrades.  

Good luck in your journey!