Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor. It ranks #134 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $2,200. The Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #158, rated 3.4/5, at $1,600, $600 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Philharmonic BMR Monitor is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.02 against 3.81 for the Sonus Faber Lumina II. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 3dB, against 60Hz for the Sonus Faber Lumina II. The catch: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks.
The case for the Sonus Faber Lumina II: 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 Philharmonic BMR Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $600 you would save on the Sonus Faber Lumina II does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage.
Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Philharmonic BMR Monitor | Sonus Faber Lumina II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2200 per pair | $1,600 per pair |
| Ranked | #134 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 20”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6” Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5” midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.02 (spinorama.org) | 3.81 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.67 (spinorama.org) | 6.10 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1800Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
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