Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, if you are buying new. The Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks higher than the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator (#40 vs #188 of 222 bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, is rated 3.6/5 at $2,200 and is still sold new.
The Philharmonic BMR (v1) is the better-sounding pick. A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange. Watch for: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification.
Why pick the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator: 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 Philharmonic BMR Monitor, the replacement for the discontinued Philharmonic BMR (v1); it is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange.
A luxurious Italian bookshelf speaker with a gorgeous cabinet, solid bass for its size and wide, consistent dispersion.
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
| Philharmonic BMR (v1) | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,395 per pair Discontinued | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #40 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner website) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5” BMR midrange; 7” Scan-Speak woofer | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Port Tuning | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | Bass reflex, ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.86 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.17 | - |
| Dimensions | 22H x 9W x 13.5D in | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Weight | 37.9 lbs (17.2 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
| Country | - | Italy (Vicenza) |
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