Short answer: the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator, if you are buying new. The Pylon Jasper Monitor 18 measures as well as it (#186 vs #188 of 222 bookshelf speakers, 3.0/5 vs 3.0/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator is still sold new at $2,000.
The Pylon Jasper Monitor 18 is the deeper-bass choice. A premium Polish monitor with ScanSpeak drivers, lively midbass punch, wide dispersion and an attractive finish. Its bass reaches about 48Hz before falling 3dB, against 63Hz for the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator. Watch for: Sounds notably bright, thumpy, and fatiguing pointed directly on-axis; needs about 30° of toe-out to bring the high-frequency lift into better balance.
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. Watch for: 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 Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator, since the Pylon Jasper Monitor 18 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Pylon Jasper Monitor 18 reaches 32 Hz (10 dB down) against 43 Hz for the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Efficiency: the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator is rated at 86.9 dB sensitivity against 83 dB for the Pylon Jasper Monitor 18, so it plays as loud with roughly half the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Pylon Jasper Monitor 18 | Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,499 per pair Discontinued | $2,000.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #186 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #188 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 6.5” woofer | 1.14” DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9” paper cone woofer |
| Weight | 34.2 lbs (15.5 kg) | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 16.9”H x 7.9”W x 16.3”D (430.0 x 200.0 x 413.0 mm) | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Bass reflex, ported |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.72 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.34 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Recommended Power | - | 30W - 150W |
| Country | - | Italy (Vicenza) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Pylon Jasper Monitor 18: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator: reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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