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 ranks #158, rated 3.4/5, and costs $1,600, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 is the more accurate pick. On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.30 against 3.81 for the Sonus Faber Lumina II. Watch for: 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 is the deeper-bass choice. Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet: genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. Its bass reaches about 60Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. The tradeoff: Not a neutral speaker: has a persistent high-frequency boost/lift that makes it sound forward and bright, present whether pointed directly at the listener or toed out.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 | Sonus Faber Lumina II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $468 per pair | $1,600 per pair |
| Ranked | #114 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Drivers | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-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 | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 200W continuous, 400W peak | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.30 | 3.81 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.66 | 6.10 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1800Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 (measured by the manufacturer) and Sonus Faber Lumina II (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 compares with other leading options:
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Perlisten S4b
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- AsciLab C6B vs Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Audio First Cadentia 3
Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2: $468 per pair Ascend Acoustics $468 eBay
Older model: the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE (ranked lower, rated 2.1/5). See every Ascend CBM, HTM and CMT generation.
Same family: the Ascend Acoustics HTM-200SE2 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.3/5) and the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 (larger bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5).
Pros: On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that. The directivity index rises smoothly and predictably through the crossover region, and the estimated in-room response shows a smooth, consistent downward tilt from 100Hz to 10kHz with no major discontinuities: close to the ideal in-room target shape. Measured sensitivity of 86.8dB nearly matches Ascend’s 87dB spec. The manufacturer’s own preference-score modeling comes out to 6.30 unequalized (rising to 8.66 with an ideal subwoofer, or 6.79/8.86 with EQ applied): a strong result for a compact 2-way, and a clear step up from the original Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE this replaces. Measured sensitivity of 86.8dB.
Cons: 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. High-frequency directivity narrows substantially above 10kHz, typical for a small dome tweeter, so the top octave will sound more reserved off-axis than on-axis. Bass rolls off as expected for a compact 2-way monitor: -3dB around 70Hz and -10dB around 50Hz, so a subwoofer is needed for full-range use. This data comes from the manufacturer’s own Klippel measurements rather than an independent third-party review, so there’s no outside verification of channel matching, distortion, or unit-to-unit consistency.
Full Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2026 (3 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12H x 9W x 9.5D in |
| Drivers | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 200W continuous, 400W peak |
| Sensitivity | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.66 |
| Weight | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Polk Signature Elite ES20
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Klipsch RP-600M II
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Dynaudio Emit 20
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Philharmonic BMR Monitor
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs Mission LX-3 MKII
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs GR-Research X-LS Encore
- Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 vs ELAC DBR62
- See all 48 comparisons
Sonus Faber Lumina II: $1,600 per pair Crutchfield $1,600 eBay
Same family: the Sonus Faber Lumina I (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.3/5), the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3/5), the Sonus Faber Lumina III (smallest floorstanding, estimated 3.5/5), the Sonus Faber Lumina V (floorstanding, estimated 3.6/5), the Sonus Faber Lumina V Amator (largest floorstanding, estimated 3.5/5) and the Sonus Faber Lumina Center I (center, estimated 3.5/5).
Pros: Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet: genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. Bass extension is competitive for the size, reaching about 50 Hz in-room with mild compression and good distortion figures, so higher output levels and greater listening distances aren’t a problem down to that point. About 20 dB of dynamic range at typical listening levels (73 dB at 4m), which comfortably covers most music without the tonal balance shifting as instruments and vocals peak. Off-axis behavior is consistent: toeing the speakers 20-30 degrees out doesn’t meaningfully change the in-room high-frequency character, so placement flexibility is good once you’ve dialed in the tonal balance. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: Not a neutral speaker: has a persistent high-frequency boost/lift that makes it sound forward and bright, present whether pointed directly at the listener or toed out. A slightly nasal quality traced to a resonance around 1 kHz that EQ can address. The reviewer needed to trim treble by about 4 dB on his preamp to get the tonal balance he wanted, meaning most listeners will want equalization available to fully enjoy this speaker. At roughly the same $1,000ish price point, alternatives like the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 v2 measure more linear (with a tradeoff in distortion and crossover-region directivity), and the Dynaudio Emit 20 offers deeper bass extension and lower compression at the cost of a more deliberately colored tonal signature.
Full Sonus Faber Lumina II review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Monitor XT20
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs XTZ Spirit 4
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Reserve R100
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Focal Aria 906
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Revel Performa M22
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- See all 60 comparisons