In this review, we will be comparing Lumina I and Lumina II, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Sonus Faber
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina I and Sonus Lumina II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Lumina I Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
- 4.75" paper cone Woofer
- 65-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:4.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 5.8" x 8.4"( 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm )
Sonus Lumina II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
- 6" paper cone Woofer
- 55-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:5.65kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 304.0" x 7.1" x 10.3"( 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm )
Lumina I and Lumina II are members of Sonus Faber's Lumina series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus Faber Lumina Series
History
What size room are the Sonus Lumina I and Sonus Lumina II 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 |
Sonus Lumina II |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Lumina I and Sonus Lumina II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Lumina I and Lumina II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina I |
Sonus Lumina II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
1 x 6-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 Lumina II features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas Lumina II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Lumina II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina I'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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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 I and Lumina II have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Lumina I sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Lumina II's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus Lumina II a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina 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 I and the Lumina I can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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 I can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Lumina I has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Lumina II.
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 I and Lumina II 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
Sonus Lumina II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Lumina I and Lumina II have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 I's and Sonus Lumina II'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 Sonus Lumina II has external dimensions of 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm ( 12 x 7.1 x 10.3inch) .
Sonus Lumina II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 32mm wider, 24mm taller and 50mm deeper than Sonus Lumina I.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina I and Sonus Lumina II in scale.
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina I and Sonus Lumina II 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 Sonus Lumina II is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2. The Lumina I requires 33% less surface area than the Lumina II which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 Sonus Lumina II 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 Sonus Lumina II weighs 5.65kg / 12.4lbs. This makes the Lumina II 28% heavier than the Lumina I.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina I and Lumina II'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 loudspeakers1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina II?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina II:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards
 Height |
280mm
vs
304mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
315cm2
vs
473cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Sonus Faber Lumina I |
Sonus Faber Lumina II |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Sonus Faber |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-24k Hz |
55-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.75" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
paper cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
high definition DAD |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
280.0mm (11") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Width |
148.0mm (5.8") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
213.0mm (8.4") |
263.0mm (10.4") |
| Weight |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
5.65kg (12.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
real multilayer wood |
| Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|