Short answer: the Perlisten S4b if sound quality matters most, the Sonus Faber Lumina II if price matters most. The Perlisten S4b ranks #2 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.8/5, at $8,000. The Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #158, rated 3.4/5, at $1,600, $6,400 cheaper.
The Sonus Faber Lumina II is the deeper-bass choice. 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 78Hz for the Perlisten S4b. 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.
The Perlisten S4b is the more accurate pick. A compact sealed bookshelf speaker with reference grade accuracy, exceptionally smooth dispersion, and very low distortion at high volume. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.35 against 3.81 for the Sonus Faber Lumina II. The tradeoff: Erin measured only 84.5dB sensitivity and an impedance minimum just under 4 ohms, a difficult efficiency/load combination that deserves substantial clean amplification.
Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina II if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the Perlisten S4b if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement.
A compact sealed bookshelf speaker with reference grade accuracy, exceptionally smooth dispersion, and very low distortion at high volume.
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 | Perlisten S4b | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,600 per pair | $8,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #2 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | DPC array with 28mm beryllium tweeter and dual 28mm midrange domes; 7” woofer |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 16.5”H x 9.4”W x 7.3”D |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Just under 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | 84.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 78Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 | 5.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 | 8.01 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | sealed |
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