In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Sonus faber. Sonus Faber Lumina Center I is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina Center I and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Lumina Center I Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
- 2 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer
- 65-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:7.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 6.6" x 20.6" x 8.4" ( 169.0 x 524.0 x 213.0mm )
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.0" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Cellulose Pulp Woofer
- 6.0" Midrange
- 38-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:22.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 41-5/16" x 11" x 14-3/4" ( 1050.0 x 280.0 x 375.0mm )
Lumina CI and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator are members of Sonus faber's Lumina series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Lumina Series
History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Lumina Center I and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Lumina CI is a 2-way design whereas the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina Center I |
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.0-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.75-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Lumina CI features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 2 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000 Hz. On the other hand, the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 6.0" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Cellulose Pulp Woofer .
Frequency Response
Lumina CI has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas Sonus faber Lumina V Amator has a frequency range of 38-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina CI's min frequency of 65Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Lumina CI and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Lumina CI sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina Center I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina CI and the Lumina CI can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Lumina CI can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Lumina CI has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 200 watts less than the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Lumina CI and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Lumina Center I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Sonus Lumina Center I's and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina Center I has external dimensions of 169.0 x 524.0 x 213.0mm ( 6.6 x 20.6 x 8.4inch) whereas Sonus faber Lumina V Amator has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 280.0 x 375.0mm ( 41-5/16inch x 11inch x 14-3/4inch ) .
Sonus Lumina Center I is 881mm shorter and 162mm less deeper than Sonus faber Lumina V Amator but it is also 244mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Sonus Lumina Center I is approximately 1116.1cm2 / 173.0inch2 and base area of the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator is approximately 1050.0cm2 / 162.8inch2. The Lumina CI requires 6% more surface area than the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina Center I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina CI:
- 1 Center Channel Speaker
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Grilles
- 1 Fabric dust guards
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Lumina V Amator?
Here are the items that come with the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Spikes
- 8 Protective discs
- 8 Nuts
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration/Warranty Card
- Environmental Information