In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto I and Lumina II, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Lumina II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Sonetto I | Sonus Lumina II |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome | 1.15" high definition DAD |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers | 6" paper cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25k Hz | 55-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs | 5.65kg / 12.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 9" x 12"
359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm | 12" x 7.1" x 10.3"
304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto I and Sonus Lumina II 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 Sonetto I |
Sonus Lumina II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Sonetto I and Lumina II are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Sonetto ISonus Lumina II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto I |
Sonus Lumina II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Sonetto I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" cellulose pulp and other natural fibers Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the Lumina II features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonetto I has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas Lumina II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Sonetto I can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina II's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Sonetto I and Lumina II have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sonetto I sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Lumina II's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonus Sonetto I a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina II, 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 Sonetto I and the Sonetto I can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Sonetto I and Lumina II have the same power range of 30-150 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Sonetto I and Lumina II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Lumina II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto I and Lumina II 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
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 Sonetto I's and Sonus Lumina II's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto I has external dimensions of 359.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm (14 x 9 x 12inch) whereas Sonus Lumina II has external dimensions of 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm (12 x 7.1 x 10.3inch).
Sonus Sonetto I is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 39mm wider, 55mm taller and 42mm deeper than Sonus Lumina II.
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 Sonetto I is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2 and base area of the Sonus Lumina II is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2. The Sonetto I requires 41% more surface area than the Lumina II which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Sonetto I weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs and the Sonus Lumina II weighs 5.65kg / 12.4lbs. This makes the Lumina II 3% heavier than the Sonetto I.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto I and Lumina II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto I:
- 2 Masks
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina II?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina II:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
304mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
473cm2
vs
668cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto I |
Sonus Faber Lumina II |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
55-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
cellulose pulp and other natural fibers |
paper cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
high definition DAD |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 Hz |
1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Width |
219.0mm (8.6") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
263.0mm (10.4") |
| Weight |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
5.65kg (12.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
real multilayer wood |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
Both are Sonus faber, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Sonus Sonetto I digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size |
depends |
Sonus Lumina II is easier to place; Sonus Sonetto I is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Sonus Sonetto I: bi-amping; Sonus Lumina II: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto I sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
A Sonus Sonetto I
B Sonus Lumina II
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Sonus Sonetto I has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Sonus Sonetto I has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Sonus Lumina II is the easier speaker to get right.
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.