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 ranks #158, rated 3.4/5, and costs $1,600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is the more accurate option. A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.65 against 3.81 for the Sonus Faber Lumina II. Watch for: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
What the Sonus Faber Lumina II does well: Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement. The tradeoff: 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size.
Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 per pair | $1,600 per pair |
| Ranked | #48 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (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, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Drivers | 1x 6” woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported | - |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | 1800Hz |
| Power Handling | 125W continuous, 200W peak | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.65 | 3.81 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.93 | 6.10 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
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