Short answer: the KEF Q3 Meta. It ranks #156 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $764.97; the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #188, rated 3.0/5, and costs $2,000, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The KEF Q3 Meta is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Coaxial bookshelf speakers with very wide dispersion, punchy kick drums and bass tuning that works close to a wall. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 63Hz for the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator. Watch for: Not well suited to high-output use: compression and strain in the 1-2kHz region emerge above about 90dB at 10 feet, so a high-output home theater setup isn’t the best application.
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 catch: 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 KEF Q3 Meta. 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.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Coaxial bookshelf speakers with very wide dispersion, punchy kick drums and bass tuning that works close to a wall.
A luxurious Italian bookshelf speaker with a gorgeous cabinet, solid bass for its size and wide, consistent dispersion.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q3 Meta | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $764.97 per pair | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #156 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Bass reflex, ported |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (357.0 x 210.0 x 305.0 mm) | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.50 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
| Country | - | Italy (Vicenza) |
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