Sonus Lumina I vs B&W 606 S2 Comparison

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Sonus Lumina I

Passive Bookshelf | 65-24k Hz

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B&W 606 S2

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

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Sonus Lumina I

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B&W 606 S2

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Sonus Lumina I

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B&W 606 S2

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Sonus Lumina I vs B&W 606 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Lumina I and 606 S2 AE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sonus Lumina I and B&W 606 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Sonus Lumina I	B&W 606 S2
Design	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1.15" high definition DAD	1" Decoupled Double Dome
Woofer	4.75" paper cone	6.5" Continuum
Frequency response	65-24k Hz	52-28k Hz
Sensitivity	88 dB	88 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Power range	30-100 watts	30-120 watts
Weight	4.40kg / 9.7lbs	6.90kg / 15.2lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	11" x 5.8" x 8.4" 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm	13-5/8" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16" 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm

What size room are the Sonus Lumina I and B&W 606 S2 speakers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:

Listening Environment*	Sonus Lumina I	B&W 606 S2
Near-field	Average	Poor
Small Room	Good	Average
Mid-size Room	Average	Good
Large Room	Poor	Average
Very Large Room	Bad	Poor

(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m², Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m², Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m², Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m². Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

Both Lumina I and 606 S2 AE are 2-way speakers.

Sonus Lumina I

B&W 606 S2

TweeterWoofer

Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.

Driver	Sonus Lumina I	B&W 606 S2
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1.15-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 4.75-inch	1 x 6.5-inch

Lumina I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the 606 S2 AE features a 1" Aluminum Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.

Frequency Response

Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas 606 S2 AE has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 606 S2 AE can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina I's min frequency of 65Hz.

The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Lumina I

606 S2 AE

Min

Average

Median

Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

Lumina I is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 606 S2 AE which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina I can provide this impedance level.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Lumina I

606 S2 AE

Min

Average

Median

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.

606 S2 AE can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Lumina I has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the 606 S2 AE.

Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays on a real amplifier.

Which plays louder on your amplifier?

Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are considering, and watch both numbers move.

Amplifier — change this

Distance

Playing as

Sonus Lumina I

B&W 606 S2

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Both Lumina I and 606 S2 AE features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

B&W 606 S2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Lumina I has a front firing port whereas 606 S2 AE has a rear firing ports. Sonus Lumina I's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 606 S2 with its rear-firing port.

Physical Specs

The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 I's and B&W 606 S2's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina I has external dimensions of 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm (11 x 5.8 x 8.4inch) whereas B&W 606 S2 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 191.0 x 326.0mm (13-5/8 x 7-1/2 x 12-13/16inch).

B&W 606 S2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 43mm wider, 67mm taller and 113mm deeper than Sonus Lumina I.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina I and B&W 606 S2 in scale.

Comparison image of Sonus Lumina I and B&W 606 S2 Size and External Dimensions

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 I is approximately 315.2cm² / 48.9inch² and base area of the B&W 606 S2 is approximately 622.7cm² / 96.5inch². The Lumina I requires 49% less surface area than the 606 S2 AE which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Size Comparison image of Sonus Lumina I and B&W 606 S2 on a Media Console

Weight Comparison

The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Sonus Lumina I weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs and the B&W 606 S2 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the 606 S2 AE 57% heavier than the Lumina I.

Here is a comparison of how Lumina I and 606 S2 AE's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

Sonus Lumina I

B&W 606 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina I?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina I:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
1 Manual
2 Jumpers
2 Grilles
2 Fabric dust guards

What's in the Box of B&W 606 S2?

Here are the items that come with the 606 S2 AE:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
2 Grilles
2 Two-piece foam port plugs
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
Manual
Bowers & Wilkins brochure
Warranty Information

Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Lumina I over Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition

Port Position	Front vs Rear	Gives more flexibility placing close to walls
Height	280mm vs 347mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	315cm² vs 622cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	899USD vs 999USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition over Sonus Faber Lumina I

Max Input Power	120 watts vs 100 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	88 dB vs 84 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Nominal Impedance	8 ohms vs 4 ohms	Less selective with amplifiers
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 4.75 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	52 Hz vs 65 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	28k Hz vs 24k Hz	Generates higher frequency

Sonus Lumina I vs B&W 606 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sonus Faber Lumina I	Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
Brand	Sonus faber	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	30-100 watts	30-120 watts
Sensitivity	88 dB	88 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	n/a	3.7 ohms
Frequency Response	65-24k Hz	52-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	4.75"	6.5"
Woofer Composition	paper cone	Continuum
Woofer Surround Material	n/a	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1.15"	1"
Tweeter Type	high definition DAD	Decoupled Double Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	2000Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	front	rear
Physical Specs
Height	280.0mm (11")	347.0mm (13.7")
Width	148.0mm (5.8")	191.0mm (7.5")
Depth	213.0mm (8.4")	326.0mm (12.8")
Weight	4.40kg (9.7lbs)	6.90kg (15.2lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	real multilayer wood	MDF/Vinyl
Available Colors	Black, Wenge, Walnut	Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry
Mounting Bracket		No
Recommended Stand Height	n/a	24-26"
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	Yes
Other
Parts Warranty		5 Years
Labor Warranty		5 Years

Verdict

No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.

Area	Better	Why
Bass	B	B&W 606 S2 digs deeper - 52Hz against 65Hz.
Amplifier needs	B	B&W 606 S2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
Amplifier match	B	B&W 606 S2 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it.
Headroom	evenly matched	Similar power handling (100W vs 120W).
Size	depends	Sonus Lumina I is easier to place; B&W 606 S2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Expandability	depends	Sonus Lumina I: bi-amping; B&W 606 S2: bi-amping.
Price	A	Sonus Lumina I is cheaper - $899 against $999, about 10% less.

A Sonus Lumina I B B&W 606 S2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

B&W 606 S2 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Sonus Lumina I is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sonus Lumina I much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus Lumina I the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and B&W 606 S2 for a mid-size room and a large room.

And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.