Short answer: the AsciLab F6Bs. It ranks #20 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.5/5); the Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #158 (rated 3.4/5).
The AsciLab F6Bs is the more accurate choice. A slimmer, sealed, VESA 100 wall mountable variant of the AsciLab F6B, trading the AsciLab F6B’s passive radiator for a shallower 15.4cm deep cabinet that can go straight on a wall bracket. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.24 against 3.81 for the Sonus Faber Lumina II. The tradeoff: AsciLab’s own site shows the F6Bs sold out, though it remains in stock through resellers like Audiophonics and Tested Audio.
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 82Hz for the AsciLab F6Bs. 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 F6Bs. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| AsciLab F6Bs | Sonus Faber Lumina II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €799 per pair | $1,600 per pair |
| Ranked | #20 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | sealed | - |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter with waveguide and phase plug, 6” fiber cone woofer | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Dimensions | 14.5”H x 8”W x 6.1”D (368 x 203 x 154 mm) | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 85.2dB @ 2.83V/1m (measured, Audio Science Review) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1kHz | 1800Hz |
| Mounting | VESA 100 wall mount compatible | - |
| Warranty | 2 years | - |
| Country | South Korea | - |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB full bandwidth, 102dB above 100Hz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.24 | 3.81 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.90 | 6.10 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| 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: AsciLab F6Bs (measured by Audio Science Review) and Sonus Faber Lumina II (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
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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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
AsciLab F6Bs: €799 per pair Audiophonics eBay
Same family: the AsciLab F6B (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5).
Pros: A slimmer, sealed, VESA 100 wall mountable variant of the AsciLab F6B, trading the AsciLab F6B’s passive radiator for a shallower 15.4cm deep cabinet that can go straight on a wall bracket. Off axis sound tracks the on axis response unusually consistently for a sealed 2-way this size, and on axis deviation measures a clean 0.25dB average. Measured bass extension of 82.0Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.2dB.
Cons: AsciLab’s own site shows the F6Bs sold out, though it remains in stock through resellers like Audiophonics and Tested Audio. Bass extension is measured at 82.0Hz at -3dB, noticeably less than the passive radiator equipped AsciLab F6B, and listening window smoothness measures only a moderate 0.39. The 4 ohm nominal impedance calls for a reasonably capable amplifier.
Full AsciLab F6Bs review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Country | South Korea |
| Crossover Frequency | 1kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.5”H x 8”W x 6.1”D (368 x 203 x 154 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter with waveguide and phase plug, 6” fiber cone woofer |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB full bandwidth, 102dB above 100Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Mounting | VESA 100 wall mount compatible |
| Sensitivity | 85.2dB @ 2.83V/1m (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.24 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.90 |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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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
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