Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks #48 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $549; the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #188, rated 3.0/5, and costs $2,000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is the better-sounding pick. A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size. Watch for: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
Why pick the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator: A luxurious Italian bookshelf speaker with a gorgeous cabinet, solid bass for its size and wide, consistent dispersion. 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.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size.
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
| Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 per pair | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #48 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 12.8” x 8.5” x 11.5” (325 x 216 x 292 mm) | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 6” woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported | Bass reflex, ported |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | 2600Hz |
| Power Handling | 125W continuous, 200W peak | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.65 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.93 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
| Country | - | Italy (Vicenza) |
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