Short answer: the Sonus Faber Lumina II for better sound quality, the JBL XPL-90 for the lower price. The Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #66 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $1600. The JBL XPL-90 ranks #71 at $1298, $302 cheaper.
On the Sonus Faber Lumina II side: Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet - genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. Set against that: 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.
What the JBL XPL-90 gets right: Nearly ruler-flat on-axis response up to 1kHz with even horizontal directivity until the tweeter beams above 10kHz. The catch: Crossover region peaking around 3kHz and treble peaking above 10kHz color the top end, and poor vertical directivity means the tweeter needs to be at ear level.
Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL XPL-90 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Lumina II | JBL XPL-90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1600 | $1,298 used, discontinued (vintage, late 1980s) |
| Ranked | #66 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #71 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | 6.5" bass/mid driver, 1" titanium dome tweeter |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) | 15.5"H x 9.5"W x 9.8"D (394 x 241 x 248 mm) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each | 20.1 lbs / 9.1 kg each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Power Handling | - | 100W nominal, 400W max |
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- SVS Prime Bookshelf vs Focal Aria 906
- Focal Aria 906 vs Polk Reserve R100
- Focal Aria 906 vs Polk R200
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Chesky LC1
- JBL XPL-90 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
The Two Speakers In Full
Sonus Faber Lumina II: $1600 Crutchfield
Pros: Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet - genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. Bass extension is competitive for the size, reaching about 50 Hz in-room with mild compression and good distortion figures, so higher output levels and greater listening distances aren’t a problem down to that point. About 20 dB of dynamic range at typical listening levels (73 dB at 4m), which comfortably covers most music without the tonal balance shifting as instruments and vocals peak. Off-axis behavior is consistent - toeing the speakers 20-30 degrees out doesn’t meaningfully change the in-room high-frequency character, so placement flexibility is good once you’ve dialed in the tonal balance.
Cons: 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. A slightly nasal quality traced to a resonance around 1 kHz that EQ can address. The reviewer needed to trim treble by about 4 dB on his preamp to get the tonal balance he wanted, meaning most listeners will want equalization available to fully enjoy this speaker. At roughly the same $1,000ish price point, alternatives like the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 V2 measure more linear (with a tradeoff in distortion and crossover-region directivity), and the Dynaudio Emit 20 offers deeper bass extension and lower compression at the cost of a more deliberately colored tonal signature.
Full Sonus Faber Lumina II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Focal Aria 906
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Monitor XT20
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Revel Performa M22
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk R200
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Reserve R100
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
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JBL XPL-90: $1,298 used, discontinued (vintage, late 1980s)
Pros: Nearly ruler-flat on-axis response up to 1kHz with even horizontal directivity until the tweeter beams above 10kHz. The reviewer found real strength with vocals and simpler instrumentation, calling it “the first speaker I have liked that has some clear response errors” and “an enjoyable speaker” despite the flaws. Titanium tweeter and internal Monster cable wiring reflect JBL’s higher-end late-1980s engineering.
Cons: Crossover region peaking around 3kHz and treble peaking above 10kHz color the top end, and poor vertical directivity means the tweeter needs to be at ear level. Distortion rises at 96dB SPL, especially around 3kHz. Long discontinued; only available on the used market.
Full JBL XPL-90 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 15.5"H x 9.5"W x 9.8"D (394 x 241 x 248 mm) |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 6.5" bass/mid driver, 1" titanium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 100W nominal, 400W max |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 20.1 lbs / 9.1 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons