Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, if you are buying new. The Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks higher than the Sonus Faber Lumina II (#40 vs #158 of 222 bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, is rated 3.6/5 at $2,200 and is still sold new.
The case for the Sonus Faber Lumina II: Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement. The tradeoff: 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 Philharmonic BMR (v1) is the more accurate choice. A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.86 against 3.81 for the Sonus Faber Lumina II. The catch: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification.
Buy the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, the replacement for the discontinued Philharmonic BMR (v1); it is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Lumina II.
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.
A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange.
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 | Philharmonic BMR (v1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,600 per pair | $2,395 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #40 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5” BMR midrange; 7” Scan-Speak woofer |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 22H x 9W x 13.5D in |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each | 37.9 lbs (17.2 kg) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner website) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 | 4.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 | 7.17 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Port Tuning | - | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
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