In this review, we will be comparing Lumina V and SE 8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus Faber and Paradigm. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina V and Paradigm SE 8000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sonus Lumina V and Paradigm SE 8000F 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 V and Paradigm SE 8000F 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 V and SE 8000F are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina V |
Paradigm SE 8000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
Lumina V features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260 and 2600 Hz. On the other hand, the SE 8000F features a 1" Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Lumina V has a frequency range of 38-24k Hz whereas SE 8000F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Lumina V can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SE 8000F's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 V is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the SE 8000F 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 V can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Lumina V sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the SE 8000F's is rated at 95 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Paradigm SE 8000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina V, 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 V can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SE 8000F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Lumina V.
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 V features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SE 8000F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE 8000F's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Lumina V has a bottom firing port whereas SE 8000F has a rear firing ports. Sonus Lumina V's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Paradigm SE 8000F with its rear-firing port.
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 V's and Paradigm SE 8000F's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina V has external dimensions of 1049.0 x 280.0 x 373.0mm ( 41.3 x 11 x 14.7inch) whereas Paradigm SE 8000F has external dimensions of 1169.0 x 299.0 x 451.0mm ( 46 x 11-3/4 x 17-3/4inch) .
Paradigm SE 8000F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 120mm taller and 78mm deeper than Sonus Lumina V.
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 V is approximately 1044.4cm2 / 161.9inch2 and base area of the Paradigm SE 8000F is approximately 1348.5cm2 / 209.0inch2. The Lumina V requires 23% less surface area than the SE 8000F 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 V weighs 22.50kg / 49.5lbs and the Paradigm SE 8000F weighs 31.36kg / 69lbs. This makes the SE 8000F 39% heavier than the Lumina V.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina V and SE 8000F'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 V?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina V:
Floorstanding loudspeaker1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards4 Spikes 4 Under spikes 4 Spikes locks
What's in the Box of Paradigm SE 8000F?
Here are the items that come with the SE 8000F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Unboxing Instructions
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1049mm
vs
1169mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1044cm2 (280x373mm)
vs
1348cm2 (299x451mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
90 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
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Price per pair* |
1700USD
vs
2799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus Faber Lumina V |
Paradigm Monitor SE 8000F |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
15-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
95 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-24k Hz |
45-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Mineral-filled polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
260 and 2600 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1049.0mm (41.3") |
1169.0mm (46") |
| Width |
280.0mm (11") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
373.0mm (14.7") |
451.0mm (17.8") |
| Weight |
22.50kg (49.5lbs) |
31.36kg (69lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF/Vinyl |
| 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 |