Short answer: the Buchardt Audio E50 if sound quality matters most, the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator if price matters most. The Buchardt Audio E50 ranks #16 of 130 bookshelf speakers at $4600. The Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #106 at $2000, $2600 cheaper.
What the Buchardt Audio E50 offers: Exceptional bass extension for a bookshelf - F3 at 40Hz, F10 at 34Hz - with genuinely low-end weight the reviewer kept noticing track after track, not just a single room-boosted note. Mid and lower-midrange are very neutral with no coloration and well-executed baffle-step compensation, so it doesn’t need to sit close to a wall like many bookshelf designs. Low distortion throughout the midrange, controlled ~60-degree horizontal directivity, and a striking driver/waveguide integration that looks genuinely upscale. Watch for: A roughly 3dB dip in the upper midrange/lower treble softens attack and dialogue clarity - the reviewer’s main complaint, and it’s baked into the crossover rather than a directivity artifact, so it’s audible both on and off axis. Sounds too bright pointed directly at the listener; needs about 10-20 degrees of toe-out to tame the treble and slightly smooth (not eliminate) that dip. Below-average sensitivity (measured 83.1dB vs 85dB spec) calls for a beefier amp, and the speaker’s tonal balance is unusually sensitive to amplifier output impedance - a poor tube amp can shift the midrange by up to 2dB.
What the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator offers: Solid bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 63Hz, F10 43Hz), reaching about 50Hz in-room. Decent sensitivity and wide, consistent horizontal dispersion (~60-70 degrees) - better directivity than expected for a two-way design. Gorgeous, luxury-grade cabinet design. 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. Causes audible sibilance and a forward, grainy character. Notably the brightest of three Sonus Faber models Erin’s Audio Corner has tested, even brighter than the brand’s own Sonetto II G2. A mechanical resonance/ringing artifact shows up around 1kHz in measurements. Needs a subwoofer for anything below about 50Hz.
Buy the Buchardt Audio E50 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator if the price is the priority over sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator. It ranks near the bottom of the 130 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt Audio E50 | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4600 per pair | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #16 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #106 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.6" x 7.5" x 11.2" (395 x 190 x 284 mm) | 12" x 7.1" x 10.4" (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.1dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1" Scanspeak dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5" Purifi extended-stroke woofer, dual 6.5" passive radiators | 1.14" DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9" paper cone woofer |
| Weight | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator loaded | Bass reflex, ported |
| Crossover Frequency | 2000Hz | 2600Hz |
| Frequency Response | 36Hz - 30kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 60W - 200W | 30W - 150W |
| Country | Denmark | Italy (Vicenza) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.03 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.80 | - |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
Buchardt Audio E50: $4600 per pair Buchardt Audio eBay
Pros: Exceptional bass extension for a bookshelf - F3 at 40Hz, F10 at 34Hz - with genuinely low-end weight the reviewer kept noticing track after track, not just a single room-boosted note. Mid and lower-midrange are very neutral with no coloration and well-executed baffle-step compensation, so it doesn’t need to sit close to a wall like many bookshelf designs. Low distortion throughout the midrange, controlled ~60-degree horizontal directivity, and a striking driver/waveguide integration that looks genuinely upscale. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.1dB.
Cons: A roughly 3dB dip in the upper midrange/lower treble softens attack and dialogue clarity - the reviewer’s main complaint, and it’s baked into the crossover rather than a directivity artifact, so it’s audible both on and off axis. Sounds too bright pointed directly at the listener; needs about 10-20 degrees of toe-out to tame the treble and slightly smooth (not eliminate) that dip. Below-average sensitivity (measured 83.1dB vs 85dB spec) calls for a beefier amp, and the speaker’s tonal balance is unusually sensitive to amplifier output impedance - a poor tube amp can shift the midrange by up to 2dB.
Full Buchardt Audio E50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country | Denmark |
| Crossover Frequency | 2000Hz |
| Dimensions | 15.6" x 7.5" x 11.2" (395 x 190 x 284 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" Scanspeak dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5" Purifi extended-stroke woofer, dual 6.5" passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 36Hz - 30kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Recommended Power | 60W - 200W |
| Sensitivity | 83.1dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.80 |
| Weight | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator loaded |
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Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator: $2000 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Solid bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 63Hz, F10 43Hz), reaching about 50Hz in-room. Decent sensitivity and wide, consistent horizontal dispersion (~60-70 degrees) - better directivity than expected for a two-way design. Gorgeous, luxury-grade cabinet design. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.9dB.
Cons: 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. Causes audible sibilance and a forward, grainy character. Notably the brightest of three Sonus Faber models Erin’s Audio Corner has tested, even brighter than the brand’s own Sonetto II G2. A mechanical resonance/ringing artifact shows up around 1kHz in measurements. Needs a subwoofer for anything below about 50Hz.
Full Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country | Italy (Vicenza) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz |
| Dimensions | 12" x 7.1" x 10.4" (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.14" DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9" paper cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, ported |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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