Short answer: the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #71 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $1499; the Aperion Audio Verus V8B ranks #76 at $1499. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
What the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator offers: Solid bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 63Hz, F10 43Hz), reaching about 50Hz in-room. 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.
What the Aperion Audio Verus V8B offers: Low-distortion bass that reaches a reasonable level for an 8-inch mid-woofer - the reviewer had no complaints about bass cleanliness, just extension. Watch for: A large mid-range scoop from about 100Hz-500Hz strips out the “meat” of male and female vocals, giving the speaker an overall dull, subdued character the reviewer specifically didn’t care for.
Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Aperion Audio Verus V8B at the same price, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 84 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | Aperion Audio Verus V8B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1499 | $1,499 |
| Ranked | #71 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #76 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 5.7 ohms nominal / ~3 ohms EPDR minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1.14" DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9" paper cone woofer | 8" Woven Kevlar long-throw woofer, 1.1" Custom Aperion ASR dome tweeter with ferrofluid |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs / 5.8 kg | 28 lbs each |
| Dimensions | 12" x 7.1" x 10.4" (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 17"H x 10.6"W x 13"D |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 30Hz - 35kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, ported | ported, rear |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | 20-150W |
| Country of Origin | Italy (Vicenza) | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KEF Q350 vs HSU Research CCB-8
- KEF Q350 vs Fosi Audio SP601
- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Klipsch RP-600M
- Ascend Acoustics Sierra-LX vs Aperion Audio Verus V8B
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Aperion Audio Verus V8B
The Two Speakers In Full
Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator: $1499 Audio Advice
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.
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 of Origin | Italy (Vicenza) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz |
| 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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Aperion Audio Verus V8B: $1,499 Aperion Audio
Pros: Low-distortion bass that reaches a reasonable level for an 8-inch mid-woofer - the reviewer had no complaints about bass cleanliness, just extension. Wide-enough horizontal radiation to give some room involvement without being uncomfortably narrow. HDF (high-density fiberboard) cabinet construction instead of the more typical MDF. Nice aesthetic in the gloss cherry finish (also available in black); solidly built at nearly 28 lbs each.
Cons: A large mid-range scoop from about 100Hz-500Hz strips out the “meat” of male and female vocals, giving the speaker an overall dull, subdued character the reviewer specifically didn’t care for. Two back-to-back resonant peaks (around 4kHz and 10kHz) cause sibilance and an overbearing hi-hat crispness on some tracks; toeing the speakers 30 degrees off-axis helps a little but doesn’t remove the underlying resonances. At $1,499/pair, the reviewer felt EQ shouldn’t be necessary to get a satisfying result out of the box. Minimum impedance (EPDR) dips to around 3 ohms despite a 5.7-ohm nominal rating, so a Class AB amplifier needs to be 4-ohm capable. Bass extension is modest for an 8” driver - measured F3 55Hz/F10 39Hz, getting into the mid-40s Hz in-room rather than truly deep bass.
Full Aperion Audio Verus V8B review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 17"H x 10.6"W x 13"D |
| Drivers | 8" Woven Kevlar long-throw woofer, 1.1" Custom Aperion ASR dome tweeter with ferrofluid |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 35kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 5.7 ohms nominal / ~3 ohms EPDR minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 20-150W |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner; 88dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 28 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons