Sonus Faber Lumina I is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Sonus faber. It was released in 2020. It features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. Sonus Lumina I has an MSRP of 899$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Sonus Lumina I is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | Bad |
(* 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.)
Sonus Lumina I Lifestyle
Sonus faber's Lumina Series of Loudspeakers
Lumina I is a member of Sonus faber's Lumina series of Passive speakers. Lumina is Sonus Faber's most affordable range, bringing the Italian brand's craftsmanship and sound to an accessible price. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 7 Sonus faber Lumina models compared »
Sonus faber Lumina Series Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina Series Speakers
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequency Response of the Sonus Lumina I Speaker
Sonus Lumina I has a Frequency response range of 65-24k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 65 Hz, it is hard to expect a strong bass response from Lumina I so depending on your use case, using a subwoofer will significantly help to widen the response range.
Here we have a comparison of how Lumina I's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Sonus Lumina I?
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Bookshelf speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Sonus Lumina I's 65Hz:
Sonus Lumina I's high definition DAD Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the Sonus Lumina I?
The crossover frequency of the Lumina I is set to 2000Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Sonus Lumina I's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms and has a sensitivity of
88 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the Sonus Faber Lumina I is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the Sonus Faber Lumina I with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 84 dB, Sonus Faber Lumina I is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the Sonus Lumina I plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
What amplifier does the Sonus Lumina I need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
60–100 W
per channel into 4 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,000, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Lumina I has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Sonus Lumina I Back View
Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Sonus Lumina I External Dimensions and Weight
Sonus Lumina I has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 11 x 5.8 x 8.4inch (280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Sonus Lumina I is approximately 315.2cm2 / 48.9inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Sonus Lumina I, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Sonus Lumina I Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Sonus Lumina I virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Sonus Lumina I Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Sonus Lumina I weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Lumina I's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1000
How does the Sonus Lumina I compare to the Sonus Faber Lumina II?
One of the natural alternative to the Sonus Lumina I is the Lumina II which is located one step higher in Sonus faber's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina I and Sonus Lumina II Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Sonus Lumina I vs Lumina II for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Sonus Lumina I has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a real multilayer wood finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Port Position
Sonus Lumina I is a front-firing port speaker, which gives you more flexibility compared to rear firing speakers when you need to place it close against a wall or other surfaces.
Available colors
Sonus Lumina I is available in Black, Wenge and Walnut.
Sonus Lumina I Colors
Wall Mounting
Lumina I doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Sonus Lumina I come with a Grille?
Lumina I comes with magnetic grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the Lumina I is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
Sonus Lumina I with Grille
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina I:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Sonus Faber Lumina I.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Sonus Faber Lumina I, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Sonus Lumina I
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Sonus Faber Lumina I speaker:
Official Brochure for Sonus Lumina I
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Sonus Faber Lumina I speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Sonus Lumina I
Related Videos