Short answer: the Sonus Faber Lumina II if sound quality matters most, the Triangle Borea BR03 if price matters most. The Sonus Faber Lumina II ranks #158 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 3.4/5, at $1,600. The Triangle Borea BR03 ranks #198, rated 2.8/5, at $399, $1,201 cheaper.
What the Triangle Borea BR03 does well: A budget French bookshelf speaker with dual front ports, decent bass for the price and solid, well braced build quality. The catch: A noticeable mid-range suckout, most pronounced in the upper mid-range/lower treble, that the reviewer attributes to cabinet resonances and driver breakup rather than a deliberate voicing choice: it makes vocals and instruments sound recessed and thin rather than warm.
The Sonus Faber Lumina II is the better-sounding choice. 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.
Buy the Triangle Borea BR03 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Sonus Faber Lumina II when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
A budget French bookshelf speaker with dual front ports, decent bass for the price and solid, well braced build quality.
Handmade Italian bookshelf speakers with leather-wrapped cabinets, competitive bass for their size and flexible placement.
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
| Triangle Borea BR03 | Sonus Faber Lumina II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 per pair | $1,600 per pair |
| Ranked | #198 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #158 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 6.5” natural cellulose midwoofer, 1” (25mm) EFS silk dome tweeter | 29mm DAD dome tweeter, 150mm paper cone mid-woofer |
| Crossover Frequency | 3600Hz | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 14.96”H x 8.11”W x 12.36”D | 12” x 7.1” x 10.4” (304 x 180 x 263 mm) |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) each | 12.5 lbs (5.65 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 4.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; matches manufacturer spec) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 100W | 30W - 150W |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual front ports | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.03 | 3.81 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.38 | 6.10 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 24kHz (manufacturer specified) |
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