In this review, we will be comparing Lumina III and BP-9040, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus Faber and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina III and Definitive BP-9040 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sonus Lumina III and Definitive BP-9040 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 III and Definitive BP-9040 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 III and BP-9040 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Sonus Lumina III |
Definitive BP-9040 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
3 x 4.5-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Lumina III features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 and 3500 Hz. On the other hand, the BP-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Lumina III has a frequency range of 40-24k Hz whereas BP-9040 has a frequency range of 22-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the BP-9040 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina III's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 III is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the BP-9040 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 III can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Lumina III sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the BP-9040's is rated at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9040 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina III, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 III can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Lumina III has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the BP-9040.
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 III features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9040 has a 5-Way post, RCA 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 III's and Definitive BP-9040's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina III has external dimensions of 989.0 x 228.0 x 278.0mm ( 38.9 x 9 x 10.9inch) whereas Definitive BP-9040 has external dimensions of 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 39-1/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) .
Definitive BP-9040 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 53mm wider, 4mm taller and 73mm deeper than Sonus Lumina III.
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 III is approximately 633.8cm2 / 98.2inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9040 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2. The Lumina III requires 36% less surface area than the BP-9040 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 III weighs 15.90kg / 35lbs and the Definitive BP-9040 weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs. This makes the BP-9040 3% heavier than the Lumina III.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina III and BP-9040's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina III:
Floorstanding loudspeaker1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards4 Spikes 4 Under spikes 4 Spikes locks
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9040?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9040:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-plate (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like card
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
989mm
vs
993mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
633cm2 (228x278mm)
vs
986cm2 (281x351mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Price per pair* |
1998USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Sonus Faber Lumina III |
Definitive Technology BP-9040 |
Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Definitive Technology |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
50-250 watts |
50-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
40-24k Hz |
22-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Polypropelene |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
4.5" |
Crossover Frequency |
350 and 3500 Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
989.0mm (38.9") |
993.0mm (39.1") |
Width |
228.0mm (9") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
Weight |
15.90kg (35lbs) |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |