Short answer: the Dynaudio Special Forty. It ranks #148 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $3,600. The Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #188, rated 3.0/5, at $2,000, $1,600 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Dynaudio Special Forty is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 3dB, against 63Hz for the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator. Watch for: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
What the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator does well: A luxurious Italian bookshelf speaker with a gorgeous cabinet, solid bass for its size and wide, consistent dispersion. The tradeoff: 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 Dynaudio Special Forty. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,600 saving on the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet.
A luxurious Italian bookshelf speaker with a gorgeous cabinet, solid bass for its size and wide, consistent dispersion.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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
| Dynaudio Special Forty | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3600 per pair | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | Bass reflex, ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.73 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.74 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
| Country | - | Italy (Vicenza) |
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