In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto III and Lumina V, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Sonus Faber Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto III and Sonus Lumina V first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto III and Sonus Lumina V 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 Sonetto III and Sonus Lumina V 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 Sonetto III and Lumina V are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonus Sonetto III |
Sonus Lumina V |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonetto III features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 220 and 3.250 Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Sonetto III has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas Lumina V has a frequency range of 38-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Lumina V can go slightly deeper then the Sonetto III's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
Sonetto III and Lumina V have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sonetto III sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Lumina V's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sonus Lumina V a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto 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 Sonetto III and the Sonetto III 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. 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.
Sonetto III can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Sonetto III has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 50 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
Both Sonetto III and Lumina V features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto III and Lumina V have bottom firing ports.
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 Sonetto III's and Sonus Lumina V's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto III has external dimensions of 1018.0 x 219.0 x 305.0mm ( 40 x 9 x 12inch) whereas Sonus Lumina V has external dimensions of 1049.0 x 280.0 x 373.0mm ( 41.3 x 11 x 14.7inch) .
Sonus Lumina V is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 61mm wider, 31mm taller and 68mm deeper than Sonus Sonetto 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 Sonetto III is approximately 668.0cm2 / 103.5inch2 and base area of the Sonus Lumina V is approximately 1044.4cm2 / 161.9inch2. The Sonetto III requires 36% less surface area than the Lumina V 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 Sonetto III weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs and the Sonus Lumina V weighs 22.50kg / 49.5lbs. This makes the Lumina V 41% heavier than the Sonetto III.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto III and Lumina V'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 Sonetto III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto III:
8 Spikes8 Under Spikes8 Spike locks2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Basis16 Locking screws2 Jumpers1 Allen Wrench1 Manual
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina V?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina V:
Floorstanding loudspeaker1 Manual 2 Jumpers2 Grilles 2 Fabric dust guards4 Spikes 4 Under spikes 4 Spikes locks
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1018mm
vs
1049mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
668cm2 (219x305mm)
vs
1044cm2 (280x373mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 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
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto III |
Sonus Faber Lumina V |
| 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 |
42-25k Hz |
38-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
paper cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
high definition DAD |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
220 and 3.250 Hz |
260 and 2600 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1018.0mm (40.1") |
1049.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
219.0mm (8.6") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
373.0mm (14.7") |
| Weight |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
22.50kg (49.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
real multilayer wood |
| Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|