Short answer: the Mission LX-3 MKII. It ranks #80 of 130 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator ranks #106.
What the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator offers: 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. 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. 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.
What the Mission LX-3 MKII offers: A large affordable standmount with a 6.5-inch woofer, 88dB rated sensitivity and useful bass. ASR measured 48Hz estimated in-room extension, a controlled Q of 0.60, a 5.52 subwoofer-assisted preference score and reasonable +/-55-degree horizontal coverage. Watch for: On-axis smoothness of 0.217 and predicted in-room smoothness of 0.344 reveal clear response unevenness, with a -0.46dB-per-octave downward tilt. The 345mm-tall, 8.4kg cabinet is bulky and current US availability is limited.
Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the Mission LX-3 MKII if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Skip the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 130 bookshelf speakers.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator | Mission LX-3 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2000 per pair | £249 per pair |
| Ranked | #106 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #80 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | - |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 86.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) | 88dB |
| Drivers | 1.14" DAD (Damped Apex Dome) tweeter, 5.9" paper cone woofer | 1" microfiber-dome tweeter, 6.5" composite-fiber woofer |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 12" x 7.1" x 10.4" (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 13.6H x 8.9W x 12.1D in |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, ported | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Country | Italy (Vicenza) | United Kingdom (design) |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, bass-reflex |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.26 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.52 |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
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 |
| 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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Mission LX-3 MKII: £249 per pair Richer Sounds eBay
Pros: A large affordable standmount with a 6.5-inch woofer, 88dB rated sensitivity and useful bass. ASR measured 48Hz estimated in-room extension, a controlled Q of 0.60, a 5.52 subwoofer-assisted preference score and reasonable +/-55-degree horizontal coverage.
Cons: On-axis smoothness of 0.217 and predicted in-room smoothness of 0.344 reveal clear response unevenness, with a -0.46dB-per-octave downward tilt. The 345mm-tall, 8.4kg cabinet is bulky and current US availability is limited.
Full Mission LX-3 MKII review and specifications →
| Country | United Kingdom (design) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.6H x 8.9W x 12.1D in |
| Drivers | 1" microfiber-dome tweeter, 6.5" composite-fiber woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way, bass-reflex |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 88dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.26 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.52 |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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