In this review, we will be comparing Lumina V and Lumina V Amator, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina V and Sonus faber Lumina V Amator first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Lumina V | Sonus faber Lumina V Amator |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | 6.0" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" paper cone | 2 x 6.5" Cellulose Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-24k Hz | 38-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.50kg / 49.5lbs | 22.55kg / 49.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41.3" x 11" x 14.7"
1049.0 x 280.0 x 373.0mm | 41-5/16" x 11" x 14-3/4"
1050.0 x 280.0 x 375.0mm |
|---|
Lumina V and 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
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Lumina V and Lumina V Amator are 3-way speakers.
Sonus Lumina VSonus faber Lumina V Amator
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina V |
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 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 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 V and Lumina V Amator has exactly the same frequency range of 38-24k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Lumina V and Lumina V Amator have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
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 V and the Lumina V can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Lumina V and Lumina V Amator have the same power range of 50-300 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Lumina V and Lumina V Amator features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator'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 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).
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints.
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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator is approximately 1050.0cm2 / 162.8inch2. The Lumina V requires 1% less surface area than the 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 V weighs 22.50kg / 49.5lbs and the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator weighs 22.55kg / 49.6lbs. This makes the Lumina V Amator 0% heavier than the Lumina V.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina V and 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 V?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina V:
- 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 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 |
1049mm
vs
1050mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1044cm2
vs
1050cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2799USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Lumina V |
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-24k Hz |
38-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
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 |
260 and 2600 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1049.0mm (41.3") |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
280.0mm (11") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Depth |
373.0mm (14.7") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Weight |
22.50kg (49.5lbs) |
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) |
Siblings in Sonus faber's Lumina series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (38Hz vs 38Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus Lumina V: bi-amping; Sonus faber Lumina V Amator: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Sonus Lumina V is cheaper - $2,799 against $4,500, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus Lumina V B Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,701 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.