In this review, we will be comparing Classic 4/5 and Lumina II Amator, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Spendor and Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Spendor Classic 4/5 and Sonus faber Lumina II Amator first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Spendor Classic 4/5 | Sonus faber Lumina II Amator |
|---|
| Brand | Spendor
United Kingdom · founded 1969 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.87" | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.91" | 6" Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 55-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.99kg / 11lbs | 5.80kg / 12.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.1" x 7.4" x 6.5"
307.3 x 188.0 x 165.1mm | 11-15/16" x 7-1/16" x 10-3/8"
304.0 x 180.0 x 263.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Spendor Classic 4/5 and Sonus faber Lumina II Amator 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* |
Spendor Classic 4/5 |
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both Classic 4/5 and Lumina II Amator are 2-way speakers.
Spendor Classic 4/5Sonus faber Lumina II Amator
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Spendor Classic 4/5 |
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.87-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.91-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Classic 4/5 features a 0.87" Tweeter and 1 x 5.91" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 4.2 kHz. On the other hand, the Lumina II Amator features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600 Hz.
Frequency Response
Classic 4/5 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Lumina II Amator has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the 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
Classic 4/5 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Lumina II Amator which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 II Amator can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Classic 4/5 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Lumina II Amator's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sonus faber Lumina II Amator a more sensitive speaker compared to Spendor Classic 4/5, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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 II Amator
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Lumina II Amator features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Classic 4/5 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Spendor Classic 4/5's and Sonus faber Lumina II Amator's external dimensions. Spendor Classic 4/5 has external dimensions of 307.3 x 188.0 x 165.1mm (12.1 x 7.4 x 6.5inch) whereas 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).
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is 8mm narrower and 3.3mm shorter than Spendor Classic 4/5 but it is also 97.9mm deeper.
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.
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator needs about 53% more floor or shelf area. Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is 98mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Spendor Classic 4/5 is approximately 310.4cm2 / 48.1inch2 and base area of the Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is approximately 473.4cm2 / 73.4inch2. The Classic 4/5 requires 34% less surface area than the Lumina II 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 Spendor Classic 4/5 weighs 4.99kg / 11lbs and the Sonus faber Lumina II Amator weighs 5.80kg / 12.8lbs. This makes the Lumina II Amator 16% heavier than the Classic 4/5.
Here is a comparison of how Classic 4/5 and Lumina II Amator's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
310cm2
vs
473cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.91 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
304mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Spendor Classic 4/5 |
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator |
| Brand |
Spendor |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
55-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.91" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
0.87" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
4.2 kHz |
2600 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
307.3mm (12.1") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Width |
188.0mm (7.4") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
165.1mm (6.5") |
263.0mm (10.4") |
| Weight |
4.99kg (11lbs) |
5.80kg (12.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
These sit in different price classes - Spendor Classic 4/5 costs roughly 2x what Sonus faber Lumina II Amator does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (55Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is more sensitive (86dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Spendor Classic 4/5 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Size | depends | Spendor Classic 4/5 is easier to place; Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | Sonus faber Lumina II Amator: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is cheaper - $1,499 against $2,999, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Spendor Classic 4/5 B Sonus faber Lumina II 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?
Sonus faber Lumina II Amator has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Sonus faber Lumina II Amator has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Spendor Classic 4/5 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Sonus faber Lumina II Amator is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.