Short answer: the Infinity IL10. It ranks #59 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $160; the Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #66 and costs $1600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Infinity IL10 side: Impressively flat for a budget bookshelf. Set against that: Resonances at 600 and 5khz, which show up as distinct distortion spikes at 96dB SPL/1m in the same frequency regions.
The case for the Sonus Faber Lumina II: Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet - genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. 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 Infinity IL10. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Infinity IL10 | Sonus Faber Lumina II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $160 used, Discontinued | $1600 |
| Ranked | #59 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #66 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Drivers | 6.5" (165mm) woofer | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 15.6"H x 8.5"W x 11.5"D (397.0 x 216.0 x 292.0 mm) | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1800Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- ELAC DB63 vs GR-Research X-LS Encore
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs GR-Research X-LS Encore
- Polk Monitor XT20 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
The Two Speakers In Full
Infinity IL10: $160 used, Discontinued
Pros: Impressively flat for a budget bookshelf. Predicted in-room response is good aside from a bit of excess energy here and there. Distortion at 96dB SPL/1m stays low and controlled outside two narrow resonance-driven peaks.
Cons: Resonances at 600 and 5khz, which show up as distinct distortion spikes at 96dB SPL/1m in the same frequency regions. Discontinued.
Full Infinity IL10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 15.6"H x 8.5"W x 11.5"D (397.0 x 216.0 x 292.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" (165mm) woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Infinity IL10 vs Behringer B2030P
- Infinity IL10 vs Dynaudio Special Forty
- Infinity IL10 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- Infinity IL10 vs JBL Studio 630
- Infinity IL10 vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- Infinity IL10 vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Infinity IL10 vs Dynaudio Emit 20
- Infinity IL10 vs Polk Monitor XT20
- See all 13 comparisons
Sonus Faber Lumina II: $1600 Crutchfield
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.
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 →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Focal Aria 906
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Monitor XT20
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Revel Performa M22
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk R200
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Reserve R100
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- See all 15 comparisons