In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Sonus faber. Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Lumina V is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Lumina II Amator and Sonus Lumina V first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6" Paper Woofer
- 55-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:5.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 11-15/16" x 7-1/16" x 10-3/8" ( 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm )
Sonus Lumina V Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" paper cone Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 38-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:22.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 41.3" x 11" x 14.7" ( 1049.0 x 280.0 x 373.0mm )
Lumina II Amator and Lumina V are members of Sonus faber's Lumina series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Sonus faber Lumina Series
History
What size room are the Sonus faber Lumina II Amator 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator |
Sonus Lumina V |
| Near-field |
Good |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Lumina II Amator 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.
**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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Lumina II Amator is a 2-way design whereas the Lumina V is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator |
Sonus Lumina V |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Lumina II Amator features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600 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
Lumina II Amator has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz whereas Lumina V has a frequency range of 38-24k 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 Lumina II Amator's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina II 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 II Amator and Lumina V have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Lumina II Amator sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Lumina V's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Sonus Lumina V a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus faber Lumina II Amator, 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 II Amator and the Lumina II Amator 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. 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 II Amator can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Lumina II Amator 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. Lumina II Amator has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 faber Lumina II Amator's and Sonus Lumina V's external dimensions. Sonus faber Lumina II Amator has external dimensions of 304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm ( 11-15/16 x 7-1/16 x 10-3/8inch) 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 100mm wider, 745mm taller and 110mm deeper than Sonus faber Lumina II Amator.
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 faber Lumina II Amator is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2 and base area of the Sonus Lumina V is approximately 1044.4cm2 / 161.9inch2. The Lumina II Amator requires 55% less surface area than the Lumina V which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina V?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina V:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Under spikes
- 4 Spikes locks