Short answer: the Dynaudio Contour 20i on measured sound quality, the Sonus Faber Lumina II on price. The Dynaudio Contour 20i ranks #96 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 3.9/5, at $5,750. The Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #158, rated 3.4/5, at $1,600, $4,150 cheaper.
The case for the Sonus Faber Lumina II: Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement. Watch for: Not a neutral speaker: has a persistent high-frequency boost/lift that makes it sound forward and bright, present whether pointed directly at the listener or toed out.
The Dynaudio Contour 20i is the better-sounding choice. Beautifully built bookshelf speakers with wide, spacious sound, clean output at high volume, and bass that blends easily near a wall. Watch for: Notably room-dependent: sounds too bright in the lower treble in smaller rooms with close sidewalls, needing sidewall absorption to sound neutral, while performing better in larger or more open rooms without that treatment.
Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina II if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the Dynaudio Contour 20i if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement.
Beautifully built bookshelf speakers with wide, spacious sound, clean output at high volume, and bass that blends easily near a wall.
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
| Sonus Faber Lumina II | Dynaudio Contour 20i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,600 per pair | $5750 per pair |
| Ranked | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #96 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | 18 cm MSP woofer, 28mm Esotar 2i with Hexis tweeter |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 17.4”H x 8.5”W x 14.2”D (442 x 215.9 x 360.7 mm) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each | 30.9 lbs (14 kg) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | 82.5dB |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 56Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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