Short answer: the Sonus Faber Lumina II for better sound quality, the Revel Performa M22 for the lower price. The Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #66 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $1600. The Revel Performa M22 ranks #68 at $600, $1000 cheaper.
The case for the Sonus Faber Lumina II: Handmade in Italy with a gloss-finished front baffle and black leather-wrapped cabinet - genuinely nice-looking speaker with real brand cachet. 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.
What the Revel Performa M22 gets right: Very flat frequency response from 200hz to 10khz. The catch: 3dB bass boost around 100hz.
Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Revel Performa M22 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Lumina II | Revel Performa M22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1600 | About $600 used |
| Ranked | #66 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | 25mm tweeter + 200mm woofer |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | - |
| Dimensions | 12"H x 7.1"W x 10.3"D (304 x 180 x 263mm) | 14.5"H x 8.6"W x 11.9"D (368.3 x 219.1 x 301.6 mm) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (12.5 lbs / 5.65 kg) each | 41.7 lbs / 18.9 kg |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | 85dB |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 58Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Polk R200
- Polk R200 vs JBL XPL-90
- Infinity IL10 vs Focal Aria 906
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Reserve R100
- JBL Studio 630 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- 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 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
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs JBL XPL-90
- See all 15 comparisons
Revel Performa M22: About $600 used
Pros: Very flat frequency response from 200hz to 10khz. Distortion is well controlled through most of the range, with only a modest crossover-region bump around 2-4kHz.
Cons: 3dB bass boost around 100hz. On-axis response also droops below 150Hz and peaks above 4kHz, which the reviewer thought may sound a bit bright/light. Distortion rises substantially below 100Hz when driven hard.
Full Revel Performa M22 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.5"H x 8.6"W x 11.9"D (368.3 x 219.1 x 301.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 200mm woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB |
| Weight | 41.7 lbs / 18.9 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel Performa M22 vs Polk R200
- Revel Performa M22 vs Focal Aria 906
- Revel Performa M22 vs Polk Reserve R100
- Revel Performa M22 vs Polk Monitor XT20
- Revel Performa M22 vs JBL XPL-90
- Revel Performa M22 vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Revel Performa M22 vs Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
- Revel Performa M22 vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- See all 15 comparisons