Short answer: the Polk Signature Elite ES20. It ranks #119 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $398.98; 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 Polk Signature Elite ES20 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Large, efficient bookshelf speakers with unusually deep bass for the price and wide horizontal coverage. Its bass reaches about 55.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 63Hz for the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator. Watch for: Predicted in-room smoothness of 0.238 and directivity-index consistency of 3.81 are average rather than class-leading.
The case for 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 tradeoff: 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 Polk Signature Elite ES20. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Large, efficient bookshelf speakers with unusually deep bass for the price and wide horizontal coverage.
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
| Polk Signature Elite ES20 | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $398.98 per pair | $2000 per pair |
| Ranked | #119 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way, Power Port bass-reflex | - |
| Drivers | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5” polypropylene woofer | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Dimensions | 14.8H x 8.5W x 13.8D in | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4/8-ohm compatible | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | United States (design) | Italy (Vicenza) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.49 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.44 | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.7Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | Bass reflex, ported |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
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