In this review, we will be comparing Lumina II and XT20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus Faber and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina II and Polk XT20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sonus Lumina II and Polk XT20 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Lumina II and Polk XT20 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
Both Lumina II and XT20 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Sonus Lumina II |
Polk XT20 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Lumina II features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. On the other hand, the XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
Lumina II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz whereas XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina II's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 II is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the XT20 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 II can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Lumina II sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the XT20's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk XT20 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina II, 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. 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 II can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Lumina II has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the XT20.
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
Lumina II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT20 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 II's and Polk XT20's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina II has external dimensions of 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm ( 12 x 7.1 x 10.3inch) whereas Polk XT20 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm ( 13-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 11-1/16inch) .
Polk XT20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13mm wider, 28mm taller and 18mm deeper than Sonus Lumina II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina II and Polk XT20 in scale.
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 II is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2 and base area of the Polk XT20 is approximately 542.3cm2 / 84.1inch2. The Lumina II requires 13% less surface area than the XT20 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:
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 II weighs 5.65kg / 12.4lbs and the Polk XT20 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs. This makes the Lumina II 4% heavier than the XT20.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina II and XT20'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 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina II:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards
What's in the Box of Polk XT20?
Here are the items that come with the XT20:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
304mm
vs
332mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
473cm2 (180x263mm)
vs
542cm2 (193x281mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 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
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Sonus Faber Lumina II |
Polk Audio Monitor XT20 |
Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-150 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
55-24k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Bi-laminate paper |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
304.0mm (12") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
Depth |
263.0mm (10.4") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Weight |
5.65kg (12.4lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF, Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Black |
Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |