Short answer: the Sonus Faber Lumina II for better sound quality, the Sonus Faber Lumina I for the lower price. The Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #115 of 157 bookshelf speakers, rated 3.4/5, at $1,600. The Sonus Faber Lumina I ranks #69, rated 3.3/5, at $900, $700 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.
Why pick the Sonus Faber Lumina I: Handcrafted Italian cabinet with multilayer real-wood front baffle and leather-wrapped enclosure. Watch for: Low sensitivity of 84dB demands substantial amplifier power to reach moderate volumes.
Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sonus Faber Lumina I if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonus Faber Lumina II | Sonus Faber Lumina I | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,600 per pair | $900.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #115 of 157 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #69 of 122 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer | 29mm (1.1”) DAD silk dome tweeter, 120mm (4.7”) cellulose pulp mid-woofer |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz | 2000Hz |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) | 11”H x 5.8”W x 8.4”D (280 x 148 x 213 mm) |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) | 84dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 65Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.81 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, stealth reflex in plinth |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sonus Faber Lumina I compares with other leading options:
- KEF Q3 Meta vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- AsciLab F6B vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Chesky LC1
- Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- Dynaudio Emit 20 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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
Smaller model: the Sonus Faber Lumina I (estimated 3.3/5).
Larger models: the Sonus Faber Lumina III (estimated 3.5/5) and the Sonus Faber Lumina V (estimated 3.6/5).
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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Monitor XT20
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- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs KEF Q3 Meta
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Polk Reserve R100
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Focal Aria 906
- Sonus Faber Lumina II vs Revel Performa M22
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Sonus Faber Lumina I: $900.00 per pair Estimated Crutchfield eBay
Larger models: the Sonus Faber Lumina II (rated 3.4/5), the Sonus Faber Lumina III (estimated 3.5/5) and the Sonus Faber Lumina V (estimated 3.6/5).
Pros: Handcrafted Italian cabinet with multilayer real-wood front baffle and leather-wrapped enclosure. Front stealth reflex port built into the plinth allows placement close to back walls or on bookshelves without port obstruction.
Cons: Low sensitivity of 84dB demands substantial amplifier power to reach moderate volumes. Limited low-end extension (65Hz) and modest dynamic headroom restrict use to smaller rooms.
Full Sonus Faber Lumina I review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65Hz (manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Crossover Frequency | 2000Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11”H x 5.8”W x 8.4”D (280 x 148 x 213 mm) |
| Drivers | 29mm (1.1”) DAD silk dome tweeter, 120mm (4.7”) cellulose pulp mid-woofer |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, stealth reflex in plinth |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons