Short answer: the Mission LX-3 MKII. It ranks #138 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 3.6/5); the Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #158 (rated 3.4/5).
The Sonus Faber Lumina II is the deeper-bass pick. Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement. Its bass reaches about 60Hz before falling 3dB, against 67.4Hz for the Mission LX-3 MKII. The catch: 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.
Why pick the Mission LX-3 MKII: Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity. The catch: 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.
Buy the Mission LX-3 MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement.
Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity.
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 | Mission LX-3 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,600 per pair | £249 per pair |
| Ranked | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #138 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | 1” microfiber-dome tweeter, 6.5” composite-fiber woofer |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 13.6H x 8.9W x 12.1D in |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | 88dB |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67.4Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42.5Hz (derived from ASR on-axis curve, spinorama.org) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 | 4.17 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 | 6.42 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, bass-reflex |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (design) |
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