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Sonus Faber Lumina I Review
Sonus Faber Lumina I

Main Features

  • 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
  • 4.75" paper cone Woofer
  • 65-24k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range: 30-100watts
  • Weight:9.70 lbs / 4.40 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 11"x5.8"x8.4" / 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm
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Sonus Lumina I Review
Sonus Lumina I Sonus Lumina I
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Sonus Faber Lumina I is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Sonus Faber. 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-fieldAverage
Small RoomGood
Mid-size RoomAverage
Large RoomPoor
Very Large RoomBad

(* 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 Lumina I Lifestyle

Sonus Faber's Lumina Series of Loudspeakers

Lumina I is a member of Sonus Faber's Lumina series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

Sonus Faber Lumina Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Sonus Lumina V
Compare
38-24k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
Sonus Lumina II
Compare
55-24k Hz 86 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Sonus Lumina III
Compare
40-24k Hz 89 dB4Ω 2 x 6"
Sonus Lumina I
65-24k Hz 88 dB4Ω 1 x 4.75"
Sonus Lumina Center I
Compare
65-24k Hz 87 dB4Ω 2 x 4.75"
Sonus Faber Lumina Series Speakers
Sonus Faber Lumina Series Speakers


**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.

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.

To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Sonus Lumina I, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $1000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how Lumina I's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sonus Lumina I
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sonus Lumina I
Min
Average
Max

Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1000$ (Pair), these are the 4 Passive Bookshelf speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Sonus Lumina I's 65Hz:

  • B&W 607 S2 with Low Frequency of 52 Hz (Compare w/ Lumina I)
  • B&W 606 S2 with Low Frequency of 52 Hz (Compare w/ Lumina I)
  • B&W 607 S3 with Low Frequency of 52 Hz (Compare w/ Lumina I)
  • Wharfedale EVO4.1 with Low Frequency of 64 Hz (Compare w/ Lumina I)

Sonus Lumina I Tweeter
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
Sonus Lumina I
Min
Average
Max

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.

Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the Sonus Lumina I:

  • Integrated Amps under 750 USD
  • Integrated Amps under 1000 USD
  • Integrated Amps under 1500 USD
  • All Integrated Amplifiers

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.

Sonus Lumina I Back View
Sonus Lumina I Back View

Sonus Lumina I Terminals
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 Real Life Body Size Comparison
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 placed next to an amplifier and turntable
Sonus Lumina I Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable

Weight

The 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
Sonus Lumina I
Min
Average
Max
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1000
Sonus Lumina I
Min
Average
Max

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:

Sonus Lumina I vs Sonus Lumina II Size Comparison - Front View
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
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
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
      • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
      • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
      • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
    • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators 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

    Sonus Faber Lumina I Alternatives in Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
    Sonus Lumina II
    Compare
    2-way 86 dB 4 ohms 55-24k Hz
    B&W 606 S2
    Compare
    2-way 88 dB 8 ohms 52-28k Hz
    Sonus Lumina III
    Compare
    3-way 89 dB 4 ohms 40-24k Hz
    B&W 607 S2
    Compare
    2-way 84 dB 8 ohms 52-28k Hz
    Monitor Audio Bronze 1
    Compare
    2-way 88 dB 8 ohms 55-30k Hz
    Sonus Lumina V
    Compare
    3-way 90 dB 4 ohms 38-24k Hz
    KEF Q350
    Compare
    2-way 87 dB 8 ohms 63-28k Hz
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Compare
    2-way 87 dB 8 ohms 64-22k Hz
    Frequently Asked Questions about Sonus Faber Lumina I
    What is the External Dimensions of Sonus Faber Lumina I
    What is the Speaker Sensitivity of Sonus Faber Lumina I
    is the Sonus Faber Lumina I an easy to drive speaker?

    Sonus Lumina I Detailed Specifications

    General
    BrandSonus Faber
    Full Model NameSonus Faber Lumina I
    Speaker Type2-way Bookshelf
    Power Range30-100 watts
    Sensitivity88 dB
    Impedance4 ohms
    Frequency Response65-24k Hz
    DRIVERS
    Woofer Size4.75-inch
    Woofer Compositionpaper cone
    Tweeter Size1.15-inch
    Tweeter Typehigh definition DAD
    Crossover freq2000Hz
    Port Positionfront

    CONNECTIONS
    Connector TypeBinding post
    Biamp InputsYes
    Port Positionfront
    PHYSICAL SPECS
    Height280.0mm ( 11-inch)
    Width148.0mm ( 5.8-inch)
    Depth213.0mm ( 8.4-inch)
    Height280.0mm ( 11-inch)
    Weight4.40kg ( 9.70 lbs)
    EnclosureBass Reflex
    Finishreal multilayer wood
    Available ColorsBlack, Wenge, Walnut
    GrilleYes
    Moisture ResistanceNo
    OTHER
    Handheld RemoteNo
    Parts Warranty
    Labor Warranty
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