Short answer: the AsciLab F6B. It ranks #12 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $980; the Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #61 and costs $1299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the AsciLab F6B offers: Called by the reviewer the best sub-$1000 pair of speakers he’s come across to date. Watch for: A mild sibilance-inducing lift around 6-8kHz, most noticeable on female vocals, paired with a shallow dip in the upper midrange - correctable with a simple 3-band EQ the reviewer provided.
What the Sonus Faber Lumina II offers: Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet - genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. Watch for: 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 AsciLab F6B. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| AsciLab F6B | Sonus Faber Lumina II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $980 | $1,299 |
| Ranked | #12 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #61 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.7" x 8" x 10.4" (400 x 203 x 265 mm) | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum dome tweeter, 6" fiber cone woofer | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Weight | 16.5 lbs / 7.5 kg each | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator loaded | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 1000Hz | 1800Hz |
| Recommended Power | up to 125W | 30W - 150W |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
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- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs ELAC DBR62
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Polk R200
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Chesky LC1
- JBL Studio 630 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
The Two Speakers In Full
AsciLab F6B: $980 Ascilab
Pros: Called by the reviewer the best sub-$1000 pair of speakers he’s come across to date. Very good on-axis linearity and directivity for the price, with a large waveguide-loaded 1” aluminum dome tweeter that keeps a two-way design well-behaved through the crossover. Nice midbass punch from a slightly undersized enclosure alignment that gives kick drums extra impact. Solid, unfussy tonal balance overall.
Cons: A mild sibilance-inducing lift around 6-8kHz, most noticeable on female vocals, paired with a shallow dip in the upper midrange - correctable with a simple 3-band EQ the reviewer provided. In-room bass extension is only about 50-60Hz despite a 6” woofer, trading some low-end reach for that extra midbass punch. Compression and graininess creep in at higher volumes (upper 80s to low 90s dB at 10ft), and directivity (~50-60 degrees horizontal) is narrower than the reviewer’s other current favorite, the Audio First Cadentia 3.
Full AsciLab F6B review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1000Hz |
| Dimensions | 15.7" x 8" x 10.4" (400 x 203 x 265 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum dome tweeter, 6" fiber cone woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | up to 125W |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 16.5 lbs / 7.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator loaded |
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Sonus Faber Lumina II: $1,299 Audio Advice
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.
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 →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons