Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. It ranks #114 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $468; the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #188, rated 3.0/5, and costs $2,000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 is the better-sounding option. On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that. The tradeoff: A narrow dip in the on-axis and listening-window response appears in the 3-5kHz range (down to about -2.7dB), mirrored by a matching dip in the directivity index at the same frequencies: likely a brief widening of dispersion right at the tweeter/woofer crossover.
The Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator is the deeper-bass pick. Solid bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 63Hz, F10 43Hz), reaching about 50Hz in-room. Its bass reaches about 63Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. Watch for: Very bright treble, running 3-6dB above the midrange depending on measurement angle: independently corroborated by other owners online, not just one reviewer’s opinion.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that.
Ascend Acoustics $468 eBay
Solid bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 63Hz, F10 43Hz), reaching about 50Hz in-room.
Crutchfield $2000 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $468 per pair | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #114 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Dimensions | 12H x 9W x 9.5D in | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Weight | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 200W continuous, 400W peak | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Bass reflex, ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.30 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.66 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
| Country | - | Italy (Vicenza) |
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