Short answer: the JBL Studio 630. It ranks #52 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $699; the Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #61 and costs $1299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Studio 630 offers: Excellent directivity linearity: harmonics of the same instrument stay collocated in the soundstage instead of drifting between positions, giving precise, stable imaging that holds up well into higher frequencies where many… Watch for: Noticeable mid-range dip/scoop relative to the higher frequencies - not dramatic, but audibly “missing” something by the second or third track.
What the Sonus Faber Lumina II offers: Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet - genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. Watch for: 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 JBL Studio 630. 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
| JBL Studio 630 | Sonus Faber Lumina II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $1,299 |
| Ranked | #52 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #61 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 6.5" PolyPlas cone woofer, 1" compression driver (2414H-1) with waveguide | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Dimensions | 14-13/16"H x 9"W x 11-5/16"D | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) |
| Weight | 19.9 lbs each | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 40,000Hz (manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | up to 150W | - |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1800Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs Zu Audio Method
- ELAC DB63 vs GR-Research X-LS Encore
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod
- AsciLab F6B vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Chesky LC1
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Studio 630: $699 Amazon
Pros: Excellent directivity linearity: harmonics of the same instrument stay collocated in the soundstage instead of drifting between positions, giving precise, stable imaging that holds up well into higher frequencies where many speakers start to beam and narrow. Good compression behavior - mid-bass stays taut and controlled from low to high volume without the sound falling apart or distorting as you turn it up. A pleasant, controlled mid-bass bump in the 60-100 Hz range adds punch to kick drums without bleeding into an uncontrolled boom on bass guitar. Horizontal radiation holds steady off-axis (about ±60°), so toe-in isn’t fussy. Compared directly to its predecessor, the JBL Studio 530, the reviewer would pick the 630 - smoother trend line through the upper mids and treble, and likely more dynamic headroom - as long as you’re willing to EQ.
Cons: Noticeable mid-range dip/scoop relative to the higher frequencies - not dramatic, but audibly “missing” something by the second or third track. Some tracks read as forward or aggressive around 2 kHz, like the upper frequencies are jumping out at you rather than sitting in stage depth. Needs EQ to bring the mid-range back up to be fully recommendable; without EQ available, the reviewer says he’d look at a different speaker entirely. Measured sensitivity (about 83.2dB) runs noticeably below the 85dB manufacturer spec, likely a byproduct of the mid-range dip skewing the average downward.
Full JBL Studio 630 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 14-13/16"H x 9"W x 11-5/16"D |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 6.5" PolyPlas cone woofer, 1" compression driver (2414H-1) with waveguide |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 40,000Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | up to 150W |
| Sensitivity | 83.2dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 19.9 lbs 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: $1,299 Audio Advice
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