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Sonus Lumina II vs Sonus Lumina I Comparison

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Sonus Lumina II

Passive Bookshelf | 55-24k Hz

Sonus Faber Lumina II
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Sonus Lumina I

Passive Bookshelf | 65-24k Hz

Sonus Faber Lumina I
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Sonus Lumina II Sonus Lumina II
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Sonus Lumina I Sonus Lumina I
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Sonus Lumina II
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Sonus Lumina I
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Sonus Lumina II vs Sonus Lumina I Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Lumina II and Lumina I, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Sonus Faber

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

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 )

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 )

Lumina II and Lumina I are members of Sonus Faber's Lumina series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Sonus Faber Lumina Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Sonus Lumina V
  
Floor-standing 38-24k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
Sonus Lumina II
Bookshelf 55-24k Hz 86 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Sonus Lumina III
  
Floor-standing 40-24k Hz 89 dB4Ω 2 x 6"
Sonus Lumina I
Bookshelf 65-24k Hz 88 dB4Ω 1 x 4.75"
Sonus Lumina Center I
  
Center Channel 65-24k Hz 87 dB4Ω 2 x 4.75"

What size room are the Sonus Lumina II and Sonus Lumina I 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 II Sonus Lumina I
Near-field Poor Average
Small Room Average Good
Mid-size Room Good Average
Large Room Average Poor
Very Large Room Poor Bad

(* 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 II and Sonus Lumina I 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 II and Lumina I are 2-way speakers.

Driver Sonus Lumina II Sonus Lumina I
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1.15-inch 1.15-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6-inch 1 x 4.75-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 Lumina I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.

Frequency Response

Lumina II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz whereas Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k 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

Lumina II
Lumina I
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Sonus Lumina II
Sonus Lumina I
Min
Average
Max

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 and Lumina I have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Lumina II sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Lumina I's is at 88 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 II and the Lumina II can provide this impedance level.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Lumina II
Lumina I
Min
Average
Max

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 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 II and Lumina I features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

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

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

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Lumina II and Lumina I 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 II's and Sonus Lumina I'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 Sonus Lumina I has external dimensions of 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm ( 11 x 5.8 x 8.4inch) .

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 II and Sonus Lumina I in scale.

Sonus Lumina II vs Sonus Lumina I Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina II and Sonus Lumina I 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 II is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2 and base area of the Sonus Lumina I is approximately 315.2cm2 / 48.9inch2. The Lumina II requires 50% more surface area than the Lumina I which gives it a small disadvantage 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:

Sonus Lumina II vs Sonus Lumina I Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Sonus Lumina II and Sonus Lumina I 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 II weighs 5.65kg / 12.4lbs and the Sonus Lumina I weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the Lumina II 28% heavier than the Lumina I.

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

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Sonus Lumina II
Sonus Lumina I
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina II?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina II:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 1 Manual
  • 2 Jumpers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Fabric dust guards
  • What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina I?

    Here are the items that come with the Lumina I:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 1 Manual
  • 2 Jumpers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Fabric dust guards

  • Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Lumina II over Sonus Faber Lumina I
    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

    Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Lumina I over Sonus Faber Lumina II

    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)
    Sonus Lumina II vs Sonus Lumina I Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Sonus Faber Lumina II Sonus Faber Lumina I
    Brand Sonus Faber Sonus Faber
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 30-150 watts 30-100 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 55-24k Hz 65-24k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6" 4.75"
    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 1800Hz 2000Hz
    Firing Direction front front
    Physical Specs
    Height 304.0mm (12") 280.0mm (11")
    Width 180.0mm (7.1") 148.0mm (5.8")
    Depth 263.0mm (10.4") 213.0mm (8.4")
    Weight 5.65kg (12.4lbs) 4.40kg (9.7lbs)
    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

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