Short answer: the KEF Q Concerto Meta. It ranks #11 of 203 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $1,399.99; the Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #144, rated 3.4/5, and costs $1,600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Q Concerto Meta is the more neutral three-way. A coaxial tweeter and midrange above a 6.5-inch woofer give very good in-room neutrality, consistent directivity into the upper treble and a preference score of 6.01, with bass reaching 53Hz before falling 3dB. Its top end is shelved down, so aim it near the listener rather than toeing it out.
The Lumina II is the stylish Italian two-way. Its leather-wrapped cabinet looks premium, and its bass reaches about 50Hz in-room with good distortion. Its treble is lifted enough to sound forward and bright at any angle, and a resonance near 1kHz adds a nasal edge, so expect to use EQ.
Buy the KEF Q Concerto Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Lumina II | KEF Q Concerto Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,600 per pair | $1,399.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #144 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #11 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofer, 100 mm (4 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 19 mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 16.3”H x 8.3”W x 12.4”D (414 x 210.8 x 315 mm) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | 84.2dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 | 6.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 | 7.71 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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How KEF Q Concerto Meta compares with other leading options:
- TAD Compact Reference One (CR1TX) vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Perlisten S4b
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Sonus Faber Lumina II: $1,600 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the Sonus Faber Lumina I (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.3/5), the Sonus Faber Lumina III (smaller floorstanding, estimated 3.5/5), the Sonus Faber Lumina V (larger floorstanding, estimated 3.6/5) and the Sonus Faber Lumina Center I (center, estimated 3.5/5).
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. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
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 |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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KEF Q Concerto Meta: $1,399.99 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the KEF Q1 Meta (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.6/5), the KEF Q4 Meta (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.4/5), the KEF Q3 Meta (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.4/5), the KEF Q7 Meta (smaller floorstanding, estimated 3.5/5), the KEF Q11 Meta (larger floorstanding, rated 4/5) and the KEF Q6 Meta (center, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Really good in-room neutrality with consistent horizontal directivity from seat to seat. Directivity holds remarkably steady from lower treble into upper treble, where many similarly-priced speakers narrow sharply as frequency rises: one of the reviewer’s top 10 picks under $1,500. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.2dB.
Cons: Radiation pattern measures about ±50°, narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ±60° for a stronger sense of envelopment. Needs to be pointed closer to on-axis rather than heavily toed out: combined with its rolled-off, shelved-down top end, too much toe-out makes it sound noticeably dark.
Full KEF Q Concerto Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.3”W x 12.4”D (414 x 210.8 x 315 mm) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofer, 100 mm (4 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 19 mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.2dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.71 |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: HiFi Perfection? KEF CONCERTO META Delivers! More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF Q Concerto Meta
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: HiFi Perfection? KEF CONCERTO META Delivers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Absolute Favorite Products of 2024 Revealed
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
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