In this review, we will be comparing Lumina I and Q350, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina I and KEF Q350 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Lumina I | KEF Q350 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.75" paper cone | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-24k Hz | 63-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 10-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11" x 5.8" x 8.4"
280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm | 14.0" x 8.2" x 12.0"
358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Lumina I and KEF Q350 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 |
KEF Q350 |
| 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Lumina I and Q350 are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Lumina IKEF Q350
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 |
KEF Q350 |
|
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 Q350 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas Q350 has a frequency range of 63-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 63Hz, the Q350 can go slightly deeper then 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
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 Q350 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.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Lumina I sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Q350's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KEF Q350 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina I, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
Q350 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 Q350.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Lumina I features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q350 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF Q350's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Lumina I has a front firing port whereas Q350 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 KEF Q350 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 KEF Q350'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 KEF Q350 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm (14.0 x 8.2 x 12.0inch).
KEF Q350 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 62mm wider, 78mm taller and 93mm deeper than Sonus Lumina I.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina I and KEF Q350 in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina I and KEF Q350 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 KEF Q350 is approximately 642.6cm2 / 99.6inch2. The Lumina I requires 51% less surface area than the Q350 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 KEF Q350 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 KEF Q350 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs. This makes the Q350 73% heavier than the Lumina I.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina I and Q350's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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 KEF Q350?
Here are the items that come with the Q350:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
280mm
vs
358mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
315cm2
vs
642cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 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 |
63 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
750USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus Faber Lumina I |
KEF Q350 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
10-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-24k Hz |
63-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.75" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
280.0mm (11") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
148.0mm (5.8") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
213.0mm (8.4") |
306.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Sonus Lumina I is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (65Hz vs 63Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
KEF Q350 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
KEF Q350 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; KEF Q350 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
A |
Sonus Lumina I: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
KEF Q350 is cheaper - $750 against $899, about 17% less. |
A Sonus Lumina I
B KEF Q350
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?
KEF Q350 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Sonus Lumina I the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Q350 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, KEF Q350 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Sonus Lumina I is the easier speaker to get right.
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.