In this review, we will be comparing Lumina III and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Sonus faber
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina III and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Lumina III Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6" paper cone Woofer
- 40-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-250watts
- Weight:15.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 38.9" x 9" x 10.9" ( 989.0 x 228.0 x 278.0mm )
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.0" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Cellulose Pulp Woofer
- 6.0" Midrange
- 38-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:22.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 41-5/16" x 11" x 14-3/4" ( 1050.0 x 280.0 x 375.0mm )
Lumina III and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator are members of Sonus faber's Lumina series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Lumina Series
History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Lumina III and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator 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 III and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina III |
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6.0-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 6.0" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Cellulose Pulp Woofer .
Frequency Response
Lumina III has a frequency range of 40-24k Hz whereas Sonus faber Lumina V Amator has a frequency range of 38-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator can go slightly deeper then 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
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
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 and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Lumina III sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina III, 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 III and the Lumina III can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator.
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 III and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator'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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 280.0 x 375.0mm ( 41-5/16inch x 11inch x 14-3/4inch ) .
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 52mm wider, 61mm taller and 97mm 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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator is approximately 1050.0cm2 / 162.8inch2. The Lumina III requires 40% less surface area than the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator 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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator weighs 22.55kg / 49.6lbs. This makes the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator 42% heavier than the Lumina III.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina III and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina III:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Under spikes
- 4 Spikes locks
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Lumina V Amator?
Here are the items that come with the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Spikes
- 8 Protective discs
- 8 Nuts
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration/Warranty Card
- Environmental Information
 Height |
989mm
vs
1050mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
633cm2
vs
1050cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Sonus Faber Lumina III |
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-250 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-24k Hz |
38-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Cellulose Pulp |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6.0" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350 and 3500 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
989.0mm (38.9") |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
228.0mm (9") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Weight |
15.90kg (35lbs) |
22.55kg (49.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
Multi-layer wood/veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |