Short answer: the Polk Reserve R100 for value, the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator for deeper bass. The Amator reaches F3 63Hz and F10 43Hz with about 50Hz in-room response, but its treble runs 3-6dB above the midrange depending on measurement angle. The R100 costs $1,301 less and still has unusually useful bass for its size, though about 85dB sensitivity and a 3.6-ohm impedance dip ask more of the amplifier.
Buy the Polk Reserve R100. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Reserve R100 | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 per pair | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #96 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #110 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 3.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” Pinnacle ring-radiator tweeter; 5.25” Turbine Cone midwoofer | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Dimensions | 12.8”H x 6.5”W x 10.2”D | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear X-Port | Bass reflex, ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.46 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.93 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
| Country | - | Italy (Vicenza) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Polk Reserve R100 compares with other leading options:
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- KEF R3 Meta vs Polk Reserve R100
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Polk Reserve R100
- KEF R3 vs Polk Reserve R100
- MoFi SourcePoint 8 vs Polk Reserve R100
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Polk Reserve R100: $699.00 per pair Amazon Polk Audio eBay
Pros: Compact cabinet, unusually useful bass for its size and well-controlled woofer breakup. Erin measured F3/F10 points of 68Hz/49Hz, and the X-Port vent avoids much of the chuffing and pipe resonance common to budget rear ports. The 5.25-inch Turbine Cone woofer and 1-inch Pinnacle ring-radiator tweeter produce good detail at moderate levels, while listening roughly 20° off-axis reduces part of the elevated top octave. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Erin measured only about 85dB sensitivity and the impedance reaches 3.6 ohms, so it is neither efficient nor an entirely benign AVR load. The treble runs roughly 3dB above the midrange and becomes aggressive above about 85dB SPL. A directivity discontinuity through the woofer/tweeter crossover means EQ cannot fully repair the power response, and a 400Hz impedance feature plus 500Hz-1kHz response irregularity suggests a cabinet or system resonance. Substantial low-frequency compression at higher playback levels limits clean dynamics.
Full Polk Reserve R100 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8”H x 6.5”W x 10.2”D |
| Drivers | 1” Pinnacle ring-radiator tweeter; 5.25” Turbine Cone midwoofer |
| Impedance | 3.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.46 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.93 |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear X-Port |
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Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator: $2000 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Solid bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 63Hz, F10 43Hz), reaching about 50Hz in-room. Decent sensitivity and wide, consistent horizontal dispersion (~60-70 degrees): better directivity than expected for a two-way design. Gorgeous, luxury-grade cabinet design. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.9dB.
Cons: 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. Causes audible sibilance and a forward, grainy character. Notably the brightest of three Sonus Faber models Erin’s Audio Corner has tested, even brighter than the brand’s own Sonetto II G2. A mechanical resonance/ringing artifact shows up around 1kHz in measurements. Needs a subwoofer for anything below about 50Hz.
Full Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | Italy (Vicenza) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, ported |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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