Audio T Verdict
The Sonus faber Lumina II hits a particularly useful sweet spot in the Lumina range. It is still compact enough for a smaller living room, but the move from Lumina I's 120mm driver to a 150mm midwoofer brings noticeably more cabinet volume, bass extension and physical scale without turning the speaker into something difficult to accommodate.
It also manages to retain many of the details that make a Sonus faber feel like a Sonus faber. The 29mm D.A.D. soft-dome tweeter, natural-fibre paper midwoofer, multilayer wood front panel and hand-applied black leather give Lumina II far more character than its simple rectangular cabinet might initially suggest. The front reflex arrangement is a genuinely useful touch too, making the speaker relatively forgiving when a normal domestic room does not allow it to sit a metre into the floor.
The important thing is not to underestimate the amplifier simply because the cabinet is compact. With 86dB sensitivity and a nominal 4-ohm impedance, Lumina II rewards a good-quality amplifier with sensible current delivery. Get that part right, place them on decent stands and give them enough room to breathe, and Lumina II makes a very strong case for staying with a standmount rather than automatically moving to a floorstander.
Sonus faber Lumina II Standmount Speakers
The Sonus faber Lumina II is a compact two-way passive loudspeaker combining a 150mm paper-cone midwoofer with the company's 29mm high-definition D.A.D. soft-dome tweeter.
It is the larger of Sonus faber's two standard Lumina bookshelf models and offers greater cabinet volume and bass extension than Lumina I while retaining dimensions that suit smaller listening rooms, furniture-friendly installations and high-quality compact hi-fi systems.
Although Sonus faber officially categorises Lumina II as a bookshelf loudspeaker, Audio T would generally describe it as a standmount speaker for serious stereo use. Proper stands allow much better control over listening height, stereo spacing, toe-in and wall distance, while shelf placement remains an option where room layout requires it.
- Current Sonus faber Lumina Collection model
- Made in Italy
- Two-way passive standmount loudspeaker
- Official bookshelf classification
- Vented-box enclosure
- Front-positioned reflex system
- 29mm high-definition D.A.D. tweeter
- Damped Apex Dome technology
- Hand-coated soft silk diaphragm
- Ferrite tweeter motor
- Visco-elastically decoupled tweeter
- 150mm paper-cone midwoofer
- Cellulose-pulp and natural-fibre diaphragm
- Custom Sonus faber midwoofer basket
- 1800Hz crossover frequency
- Amplitude and phase-optimised crossover
- 55Hz–24kHz frequency response
- 86dB sensitivity
- 4-ohm nominal impedance
- 30–150W recommended amplifier power
- Four binding posts per speaker
- Single-wire, bi-wire and bi-amp capability
- Rubber decoupling pad
- Multilayer wood front baffle
- Hand-applied black leather cabinet covering
- Piano Black finish
- Walnut with maple inlays
- Wenge with maple inlays
- 304mm high
- 180mm wide
- 263mm deep
- 5.8kg per speaker
- Suitable for stereo systems
- Suitable for home cinema rear-channel use
A Larger Compact Speaker
Lumina II occupies an interesting position in the range because it provides a significant increase in acoustic capability over Lumina I without becoming a physically large loudspeaker.
At just over 30cm high and 18cm wide, it remains easy to accommodate in most living spaces, yet its 150mm midwoofer and larger internal volume allow Sonus faber to extend the published low-frequency response to 55Hz.
Why Choose a Larger Standmount?
Moving from a very compact speaker to something like Lumina II can provide several benefits:
- Greater bass extension
- More physical weight
- Higher useful output
- Improved scale in medium-sized rooms
- Less reliance on a subwoofer
- More flexibility with rock, orchestral and electronic music
At the same time, you retain the placement flexibility and relatively discreet visual footprint of a standmount loudspeaker.
Two-Way Loudspeaker Architecture
Each Lumina II uses two drive units:
- One 29mm D.A.D. soft-dome tweeter
- One 150mm paper-cone midwoofer
The midwoofer handles bass and the majority of the midrange before handing over to the tweeter at 1800Hz.
Why Two-Way?
A two-way loudspeaker has only one main crossover region to manage.
That gives the designer a relatively simple acoustic architecture and allows close attention to be paid to the relationship between the midwoofer and tweeter.
The challenge is that the midwoofer needs to cover a very broad range, from bass frequencies through most of the vocal region.
29mm D.A.D. Tweeter
Lumina II uses Sonus faber's familiar high-definition D.A.D. tweeter.
D.A.D. stands for Damped Apex Dome and refers to the way Sonus faber controls the centre of the soft-dome diaphragm at high frequencies.
Why Does the Dome Need Damping?
A soft dome does not behave as a perfectly rigid piston throughout its complete operating range.
At very high frequencies, the centre of the diaphragm can begin moving differently from the surrounding dome.
Sonus faber's D.A.D. system damps this apex region to control that behaviour while retaining the benefits of a lightweight textile diaphragm.
Hand-Coated Soft Silk Diaphragm
Sonus faber uses a 29mm Kurtmueller soft silk diaphragm that is hand coated as part of the high-frequency assembly.
Silk combines low moving mass with natural mechanical damping, making it well suited to smooth high-frequency reproduction.
Ferrite Tweeter Motor
The tweeter is driven by a ferrite magnetic motor system.
The magnet, voice coil, diaphragm and crossover all work together to control high-frequency output rather than the tweeter simply being treated as an isolated component.
Visco-Elastic Tweeter Decoupling
The tweeter is mechanically isolated from the front baffle using a visco-elastic interface.
This reduces the amount of structural vibration generated by the larger midwoofer reaching the delicate high-frequency assembly.
Why Is Tweeter Isolation Useful?
The 150mm midwoofer moves considerably more air and creates greater mechanical force within the cabinet than the tweeter.
Reducing vibration transmitted through the baffle gives the high-frequency driver a more controlled mechanical environment.
150mm Paper-Cone Midwoofer
The heart of Lumina II is its 150mm midwoofer.
Sonus faber developed the driver specifically for the Lumina Collection, fitting it with a custom-made basket and a diaphragm based on cellulose pulp blended with other natural fibres.
Why Paper?
Paper remains a highly useful loudspeaker-cone material despite its long history.
A well-designed paper diaphragm can combine:
- Low moving mass
- Useful stiffness
- Natural internal damping
- Controlled resonance behaviour
Those qualities are particularly relevant in a two-way design where one driver needs to reproduce both bass and most of the midrange.
Natural Fibres
Sonus faber blends the cellulose pulp with additional natural fibres rather than relying on a completely synthetic diaphragm.
This continues the company's long-standing preference for natural materials in both the acoustic and structural parts of its loudspeakers.
Custom Midwoofer Basket
The driver basket forms the structural frame supporting the cone, suspension and motor assembly.
A well-designed basket must remain mechanically rigid while allowing the rear of the cone to breathe freely.
Why 150mm Instead of 120mm?
Compared with Lumina I's 120mm driver, a 150mm midwoofer provides considerably more radiating area.
This contributes to:
- Greater bass output
- Deeper extension
- More physical impact
- Greater dynamic headroom
- More effortless reproduction at normal listening distances
55Hz–24kHz Frequency Response
Sonus faber specifies Lumina II from 55Hz to 24,000Hz.
That gives it ten hertz more published low-frequency extension than the smaller Lumina I.
What Does 55Hz Mean for Music?
A 55Hz lower response gives Lumina II useful access to the fundamental and harmonic content of:
- Bass guitar
- Kick drum
- Double bass
- Piano
- Rock and pop recordings
- Jazz
- Many orchestral instruments
It does not make Lumina II a true full-range loudspeaker, but it provides considerably more low-frequency substance than many very small standmounts.
Does Lumina II Need a Subwoofer?
Not necessarily.
For normal two-channel listening in a small or medium-sized room, many customers will find Lumina II sufficiently full-bodied without one.
A subwoofer becomes particularly useful if:
- You want deeper electronic bass
- You listen to pipe organ
- You want greater physical impact
- You use the system for films
- Your room is larger
- You want to reduce low-frequency workload on the main speakers
Set the Speakers Up Before Adding a Subwoofer
Room boundaries can have a major effect on a speaker that already reaches to 55Hz. Optimise Lumina II's wall distance and listening position first, then decide whether the system genuinely needs deeper bass.
Subwoofer Integration
If you do add a subwoofer, aim for extension rather than obvious extra bass.
The most useful controls to optimise are:
- Subwoofer level
- Crossover frequency
- Phase
- Position
A well-integrated subwoofer should make the Lumina II pair appear to reproduce deeper bass themselves rather than sounding like a separate bass source elsewhere in the room.
1800Hz Crossover
The midwoofer hands over to the tweeter at 1800Hz.
This places the transition through a musically important area, making the relationship between the two drivers central to the speaker's overall character.
Amplitude and Phase Optimisation
Sonus faber describes Lumina II's crossover as being optimised in both amplitude and phase for space/time performance.
The crossover therefore manages more than simply which frequencies reach each driver.
It also affects:
- Driver level
- Acoustic phase
- Stereo imaging
- Dispersion
- The coherence of voices and instruments
Why Phase Matters
Both drivers contribute around the crossover region.
If their acoustic output does not combine properly at the listening position, the speaker can lose focus or develop uneven response through that transition.
Good crossover design helps the listener perceive one coherent loudspeaker rather than two separate drivers.
86dB Sensitivity
Sonus faber specifies Lumina II at 86dB sensitivity for 2.83V measured at one metre.
This is moderately sensitive for a compact standmount, but it is not an ultra-efficient loudspeaker.
4-Ohm Nominal Impedance
The nominal impedance is 4 ohms.
This means the amplifier should be comfortable providing current into a lower-impedance load.
What Does 4 Ohms Mean?
Compared with a nominal 8-ohm loudspeaker, a 4-ohm design can ask the amplifier to supply more current for a given output voltage.
That is why amplifier quality and power-supply design matter as much as the headline wattage figure.
30–150W Recommended Amplification
Sonus faber's official recommendation runs from 30 to 150 watts per channel with an undistorted signal.
Can a 30W Amplifier Drive Lumina II?
Yes.
Thirty watts falls within the manufacturer's recommendation and can work well at sensible listening levels in a smaller room, provided the amplifier is genuinely comfortable with a 4-ohm load.
Is 40–60W Enough?
For many domestic systems, yes.
A high-quality integrated amplifier in this region can make an excellent partner.
What About 80–100W?
Additional power gives useful headroom for:
- Greater listening distances
- Medium-sized rooms
- Dynamic recordings
- Higher playback levels
Can I Use 150W?
Yes. That is the top of Sonus faber's current recommended range.
A 150W amplifier does not continuously deliver 150 watts; the extra capacity is primarily useful during short musical peaks.
Don't Match Lumina II by Watts Alone
A well-designed 50W amplifier with a robust power supply can be a much better partner than a budget amplifier claiming 100W or more but struggling to deliver current into a 4-ohm loudspeaker.
Solid-State Amplifiers
A quality solid-state integrated amplifier is an obvious partner for Lumina II.
Look for good 4-ohm performance and sufficient power for your normal listening distance and volume.
Class D Amplifiers
A well-designed modern Class D amplifier can also work extremely well, particularly where compact electronics and high efficiency are priorities.
Streaming Amplifiers
Pairing Lumina II with a good streaming amplifier can create a particularly neat modern system.
Network streaming, DAC and amplification can all sit in one component while the Sonus fabers remain conventional passive loudspeakers.
Valve Amplifiers
Lumina II can potentially work with suitable valve amplification, but very low-powered designs need more careful thought.
The amplifier should provide sufficient power and be comfortable with the nominal 4-ohm load.
Where multiple output-transformer taps are provided, follow the amplifier manufacturer's recommendation.
Good for Vinyl?
Yes.
Lumina II can form the loudspeaker end of a very capable turntable-based system, with enough resolution to benefit from improvements in cartridge, phono stage and amplification.
Good for Streaming?
Absolutely.
A quality streamer and amplifier, or an integrated streaming amplifier, makes a natural contemporary partner.
Good for CD?
Yes.
A CD player, transport and DAC or integrated digital source can make an excellent match.
Good for Vocals?
Yes.
The 150mm midwoofer covers most of the vocal range before meeting the tweeter at 1800Hz, making crossover integration particularly important for natural voice reproduction.
Good for Jazz?
Lumina II has enough bass reach to give double bass and drums useful body while retaining the compact-speaker advantages of image focus and easy placement.
Good for Acoustic Music?
Yes.
The natural-fibre midwoofer, soft-dome tweeter and two-way architecture make acoustic instruments and voices a natural application.
Good for Classical Music?
Lumina II works very well with chamber music and smaller ensembles, while its additional bass extension over Lumina I gives larger orchestral recordings more scale.
A floorstander will still provide greater low-frequency authority in a large room.
Good for Rock?
Yes.
The 150mm midwoofer provides useful weight for bass guitar, drums and electric guitars without requiring a physically large cabinet.
Good for Electronic Music?
Yes, although the very deepest synthesised bass lies below the speaker's main operating range.
A subwoofer is worth considering where sub-bass is central to your listening.
A Front-Positioned Reflex System
Lumina II uses a bass-reflex enclosure with the reflex arrangement positioned on the front side of the speaker.
This is an important practical feature because many standmount loudspeakers vent directly towards the rear wall.
Why Put the Reflex Port at the Front?
Sonus faber designed the arrangement to reduce Lumina II's sensitivity to rear-wall placement.
This means the speaker can remain useful in normal domestic rooms where placing the cabinets far out into the floor is not always practical.
Can Lumina II Go Close to a Wall?
Yes, but front porting does not make wall position irrelevant.
The wall itself still reinforces low frequencies, regardless of which direction the port faces.
A little experimentation remains worthwhile.
If Bass Sounds Too Heavy
Move the speakers further from nearby room boundaries.
Pay particular attention to corners, where reinforcement from two walls can quickly make bass sound thick or slow.
If Bass Sounds Too Light
Moving the speakers slightly closer to the rear wall can provide useful reinforcement.
Make small changes and listen for both bass weight and definition.
Avoid Corners Where Practical
Corner placement creates very strong low-frequency reinforcement.
It can also make the left and right speakers behave differently if only one cabinet sits close to a corner.
Speaker Placement
A good starting arrangement is to position the speakers symmetrically around the main listening position and provide some space from nearby walls.
Sonus faber's general bookshelf-speaker guidance recommends leaving useful room from boundaries and using dedicated stands where possible.
Speaker Spacing
The correct distance between the pair depends on the listening distance.
You are looking for a stereo image that is wide enough to feel spacious without creating a weak centre.
Use a Vocal to Check Spacing
A centrally mixed singer should appear firmly between the two loudspeakers.
If the middle sounds vague or hollow, experiment with speaker spacing and toe-in before changing electronics.
Toe-In
Begin with a modest inward angle towards the listening area.
Then adjust in small steps while listening for:
- Centre-image focus
- Soundstage width
- Soundstage depth
- Treble balance
- Consistency across the listening seat
More Toe-In
Greater toe-in can sharpen centre focus and direct more treble energy towards the listener.
Less Toe-In
Reducing the angle can create a broader soundstage in some rooms.
The correct setting depends on room acoustics and listening distance.
Standmount Rather Than Just Bookshelf
Sonus faber officially calls Lumina II a bookshelf speaker, and it can certainly be used on suitable furniture.
For a dedicated hi-fi system, however, proper stands normally produce the better result.
Why Use Speaker Stands?
Stands allow much greater control over:
- Tweeter height
- Speaker spacing
- Toe-in
- Wall distance
- Mechanical stability
What Should a Stand Provide?
Look for:
- A stable top plate
- Sensible listening height
- Good lateral stability
- Safe support for a 5.8kg cabinet
- A suitable interface with your flooring
Browse speaker stands and brackets at Audio T or ask your local store for advice on the most suitable support.
Can Lumina II Go on a Shelf?
Yes.
The front reflex system makes this more practical than with many rear-ported designs.
The shelf should still be:
- Strong and stable
- Deep enough for the 263mm cabinet
- At an appropriate listening height
- Broadly symmetrical with the support used for the other speaker
- Open enough that the cabinet is not tightly enclosed
Avoid Enclosing the Speaker Tightly
Even with a forward reflex arrangement, placing the entire cabinet within a narrow enclosed compartment can create additional reflections and resonances.
Speaker Dimensions
- Height: 304mm
- Width: 180mm
- Depth: 263mm
- Weight: 5.8kg per speaker
Only 180mm Wide
At just 18cm wide, Lumina II remains relatively discreet despite its larger driver and cabinet volume.
This can make it much easier to accommodate than wide-baffle standmount speakers while still delivering substantially more scale than Lumina I.
Allow for Speaker Cable
The quoted depth does not remove the need for clearance behind the speaker.
Allow enough room for the binding posts and a sensible bend radius in the speaker cable rather than forcing the connection tightly against a wall.
Four Binding Posts
Each Lumina II provides two pairs of nickel-plated binding posts.
These give separate electrical access to the high-frequency and mid/low sections of the crossover.
Single-Wire Connection
The normal connection uses one speaker cable per cabinet with the terminal links fitted between the upper and lower sections.
Bi-Wiring
Bi-wiring uses separate cable runs from the same amplifier channel to the tweeter and midwoofer sections.
Bi-Amping
Bi-amping uses separate amplifier channels for the two crossover sections.
This requires suitable electronics and the terminal links must be removed before the amplifiers are connected.
Check the Terminal Links Before Connecting
For ordinary single-wire operation, leave the links between the high-frequency and mid/low terminals securely fitted. Remove them only when using a correctly configured bi-wire or bi-amp arrangement.
Correct Polarity
Connect positive on the amplifier to positive on both loudspeakers and negative to negative.
Reversing the polarity of one channel can substantially weaken bass response and centre-image focus.
Switch the Amplifier Off First
Make and alter speaker connections with the amplifier switched off.
Check that no loose strands of conductor can bridge the positive and negative terminals.
Multilayer Wood Front Baffle
The Lumina range deliberately concentrates its visible natural wood on the front baffle.
This keeps the cabinet structurally simple while retaining an unmistakably Sonus faber material palette.
Black Leather Cabinet Covering
The sides and top are hand-covered in black leather.
The contrast between the leather and wood front panel gives Lumina II a warmer, more tactile appearance than a conventional painted rectangular cabinet.
Simple, Squared Cabinet
Lumina deliberately avoids the more complicated curved and lute-shaped cabinets used elsewhere in the Sonus faber range.
The simplified enclosure helps keep the speaker accessible while allowing the materials and drive units themselves to provide the visual character.
Piano Black Finish
Piano Black uses a lacquered multilayer wood front baffle combined with black leather.
It is the most visually discreet option and works particularly well with black electronics and contemporary interiors.
Walnut Finish
The Walnut version uses walnut veneer with contrasting maple inlays together with black leather.
It brings out more of the furniture character associated with Sonus faber.
Wenge Finish
Wenge provides a darker natural-wood appearance with maple inlays, sitting visually between Piano Black and the warmer Walnut option.
Made in Italy
The Lumina Collection is produced in Italy and was created as a more accessible route into Sonus faber's material and design philosophy.
That means the range retains wood, leather and natural-fibre driver materials rather than abandoning the brand's identity simply to hit a lower price point.
Luxury, Minimalist and Natural
The Lumina name is associated with the ideas of luxury, minimalism and natural materials.
That philosophy is easy to see in Lumina II:
- Simple cabinet geometry
- Natural wood front panel
- Black leather
- Paper and natural-fibre midwoofer
- Minimal visible ornamentation
Lumina II vs Lumina I
Lumina I is the smaller and more compact model.
Lumina I
- 120mm midwoofer
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 65Hz–24kHz response
- 84dB sensitivity
- 4-ohm impedance
- 30–100W amplification
- 280mm high
- 148mm wide
- 4.4kg each
Lumina II
- 150mm midwoofer
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 55Hz–24kHz response
- 86dB sensitivity
- 4-ohm impedance
- 30–150W amplification
- 304mm high
- 180mm wide
- 5.8kg each
Choose Lumina I If...
- Your room is genuinely compact
- Speaker width is severely restricted
- You expect to use a subwoofer
- You want the smallest passive Lumina
- Surround-speaker use is a priority
Choose Lumina II If...
- You have a little more room
- You want deeper bass
- You want greater acoustic scale
- You listen from a greater distance
- You want to reduce dependence on a subwoofer
Lumina II vs Lumina II Amator
Lumina II Amator takes the same fundamental cabinet and driver format but introduces a significantly revised crossover.
Lumina II
- 150mm paper midwoofer
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 1800Hz crossover
- 55Hz–24kHz response
- 86dB sensitivity
- 30–150W amplification
- Standard Lumina finishes
Lumina II Amator
- 150mm paper midwoofer
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 2600Hz crossover
- IFF crossover technology
- 55Hz–24kHz response
- 86dB sensitivity
- 30–150W amplification
- High-gloss Amator finishes
Why Consider Lumina II Amator?
The Amator model does not simply add more bass or sensitivity.
Its major development is the crossover, where Sonus faber applies a 2600Hz network with technology influenced by work on the company's more expensive Homage loudspeakers.
Why Stay With Standard Lumina II?
Lumina II retains the same fundamental driver sizes, frequency range and cabinet dimensions at a lower price.
That can make it the stronger overall system choice if the money saved allows you to improve the amplifier, source, speaker stands or turntable instead.
Lumina II vs Concertino G4
Concertino G4 approaches the compact two-way idea from Sonus faber's Heritage Collection.
Concertino uses a more elaborate solid-walnut and cork enclosure, while Lumina II concentrates on providing a simpler route into the Sonus faber sound and material palette.
Lumina II in Home Cinema
Sonus faber specifically identifies Lumina II as suitable for rear-channel use in a home cinema system.
Its relatively compact size and useful bass extension also make it flexible enough for:
- Front left and right speakers in compact cinemas
- Rear surrounds
- Side surrounds
- 3.1 systems
- 5.1 systems
- 7.1 systems
- Ear-level channels in Dolby Atmos installations
Matching Lumina CI
Lumina CI is the dedicated centre speaker for the range.
It uses the same 29mm D.A.D. tweeter architecture and related natural-fibre midwoofer technology, helping maintain a consistent tonal character across the front soundstage.
Can Lumina II Be Used as Front Speakers in 5.1?
Yes.
In a small or medium-sized room, a Lumina II pair, Lumina CI centre and suitable active subwoofer can form a compact but serious front-channel system.
Can Lumina II Be Used as Surrounds?
Yes.
Sonus faber specifically highlights rear-channel use as one of Lumina II's applications.
Dolby Atmos Compatibility
Lumina II can be used as a conventional ear-level channel within a Dolby Atmos system.
The AV receiver or processor performs the Dolby decoding; the loudspeaker itself simply reproduces the channel signal supplied to it.
Should Lumina II Be Set to Small?
When a home cinema includes a capable subwoofer, setting Lumina II to Small is normally a sensible starting point.
In AV terminology, this simply redirects frequencies beneath the selected crossover to the subwoofer.
Does Small Mean Lumina II Is a Small Speaker?
No.
It is purely a bass-management term and says nothing about the overall quality of the loudspeaker.
Audio T Has Compared Lumina II Directly
Audio T Bristol compared Lumina II with the ATC SCM7 and Acoustic Energy AE500 in a real in-store system using Naim and Rega amplification, Bluesound streaming, a Chord Qutest DAC and a Rega Planar 3 turntable.
That comparison is useful because it puts Lumina II alongside two very different standmount designs at a broadly similar level rather than assessing it in isolation.
Read Audio T Bristol's Lumina II standmount speaker comparison.
A Real Alternative to Monitor-Style Standmounts
The Audio T comparison highlighted how different speakers at a similar price can pursue quite different priorities.
This is why a demonstration remains useful. Measurements and materials narrow the shortlist, but they cannot tell you which presentation you will prefer in your own system.
Recommended Lumina II Setup Routine
- Unpack both speakers carefully and retain the original packaging.
- Place the speakers on stable stands or suitable equal-height furniture.
- Position the tweeters reasonably close to seated ear height.
- Keep the cabinets away from room corners as an initial starting point.
- Give the speakers useful breathing room from nearby walls where the room allows.
- Position the pair broadly symmetrically around the listening area.
- Start with a modest inward toe-in.
- Switch the amplifier off before connecting the speaker cables.
- If single wiring, check the terminal links are fitted securely.
- Connect positive to positive and negative to negative on both channels.
- Begin playback at a moderate level.
- Use a familiar vocal recording to judge centre-image focus.
- Adjust speaker spacing where necessary.
- Fine-tune toe-in in small increments.
- Use familiar bass-rich music to judge wall interaction.
- If bass sounds heavy, move the speakers further from nearby boundaries.
- If bass sounds light, experiment with slightly greater wall reinforcement.
- Listen to several different musical styles before finalising placement.
- If using a subwoofer, integrate it only after the main speakers are positioned correctly.
- Recheck speaker cable and terminal connections periodically.
Caring for Lumina II
The combination of wood, lacquer and leather deserves sensible care.
Avoid:
- Abrasive cloths
- Strong household cleaners
- Solvents
- Alcohol-based cleaning products
- Spraying liquid directly onto the cabinet
- Prolonged exposure to strong direct sunlight
- Positioning close to strong heat sources
Natural Wood Variation
Walnut and Wenge veneer naturally vary in grain and tone.
These small differences are part of the character of real wood rather than faults in the finish.
Keep the Original Packaging
Retaining the cartons and internal protective materials is worthwhile if the speakers ever need to be transported, moved to another room or returned for service.
Product Registration
Sonus faber currently invites owners to register qualifying products within 30 days of purchase for its available extended manufacturer warranty, subject to the current warranty terms.
Who Is Lumina II For?
- Small and medium-sized listening rooms
- Customers wanting a substantial but compact standmount
- Listeners wanting more bass than Lumina I
- Turntable-based systems
- Streaming systems
- CD systems
- Systems using capable 4-ohm amplification
- Customers who do not need a floorstander
- Home cinema front-channel systems
- Rear-channel home cinema systems
- Surround-speaker installations
- Systems that may later add a subwoofer
- Customers wanting Sonus faber materials at a more accessible price
Who Might Prefer Lumina I?
Lumina I may be the better choice if:
- Your room is genuinely small
- Speaker width is restricted
- You plan to use a subwoofer from the outset
- You need especially compact surround speakers
- You listen at shorter distances
Who Might Prefer Lumina II Amator?
Lumina II Amator may be worth the step up if:
- Your source and amplifier are already at a high level
- You want the upgraded IFF crossover
- You value the special Amator finish
- You want greater crossover sophistication without moving to a larger cabinet
Who Might Prefer a Floorstander?
A Lumina floorstander may make more sense if:
- Your listening room is large
- You want deeper bass without a subwoofer
- You listen at greater distances
- You regularly play at high levels
- You prefer not to use separate speaker stands
Key Features
- Sonus faber Lumina II
- Lumina Collection
- Made in Italy
- Passive loudspeaker
- Compact standmount speaker
- Official bookshelf speaker classification
- Two-way design
- Vented-box enclosure
- Front-positioned reflex system
- 29mm tweeter
- High-definition D.A.D. tweeter
- Damped Apex Dome technology
- Hand-coated soft silk dome
- Ferrite tweeter motor
- Visco-elastic tweeter decoupling
- 150mm midwoofer
- Paper-cone midwoofer
- Cellulose-pulp diaphragm
- Natural-fibre blend
- Custom midwoofer basket
- 1800Hz crossover
- Amplitude-optimised crossover
- Phase-optimised crossover
- 55Hz–24kHz frequency response
- 86dB sensitivity
- 4-ohm nominal impedance
- 30–150W recommended amplification
- Four binding posts
- Nickel-plated terminals
- Single-wire compatible
- Bi-wire capable
- Bi-amp capable
- Rubber decoupling pad
- Multilayer wood front baffle
- Hand-applied black leather
- Piano Black finish
- Walnut finish
- Wenge finish
- Maple inlays
- 304mm height
- 180mm width
- 263mm depth
- 5.8kg per speaker
- Suitable for small rooms
- Suitable for medium rooms
- Suitable for stereo
- Suitable for vinyl systems
- Suitable for streaming systems
- Suitable for CD systems
- Suitable for home cinema
- Suitable for rear-channel use
- Suitable for surround duties
- Suitable for subwoofer integration
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sonus faber Lumina II still current?
Yes. Lumina II remains a current model in Sonus faber's Lumina Collection.
Has Lumina II been replaced by Lumina II Amator?
No. Sonus faber currently lists both Lumina II and Lumina II Amator.
Is Lumina II a bookshelf or standmount speaker?
Sonus faber officially classifies it as a bookshelf speaker. Audio T recommends treating it as a standmount for serious stereo use because stands provide greater control over height and positioning.
Can Lumina II actually go on a bookshelf?
Yes, provided the shelf is stable, suitably deep and gives both speakers similar positioning conditions.
How big is Lumina II?
304mm high, 180mm wide and 263mm deep per speaker.
How much does each Lumina II weigh?
5.8kg.
Is Lumina II two-way?
Yes.
What drivers does it use?
One 29mm high-definition D.A.D. tweeter and one 150mm paper-cone midwoofer per speaker.
What does D.A.D. stand for?
Damped Apex Dome.
What does the D.A.D. tweeter do?
It damps the apex of the soft dome to control unwanted behaviour at very high frequencies.
What is the tweeter diaphragm made from?
Sonus faber uses a hand-coated soft silk diaphragm.
Is the tweeter isolated from the cabinet?
Yes. It is visco-elastically decoupled from the baffle.
How large is the midwoofer?
150mm.
Why does Sonus faber also call it a 6-inch driver?
Sonus faber's descriptive material uses the familiar 6-inch class description, while the detailed technical specification gives the driver diameter as 150mm.
What is the midwoofer cone made from?
Cellulose pulp blended with other natural fibres.
What is the crossover frequency?
1800Hz.
What is the frequency response?
55Hz to 24kHz.
How low does Lumina II play?
Sonus faber's published lower frequency-response figure is 55Hz.
Does Lumina II need a subwoofer?
Not necessarily. In a small or medium-sized room, its 55Hz response can provide satisfying bass for many types of music.
Can I add a subwoofer?
Yes. A properly integrated subwoofer can extend bass considerably below the Lumina II's natural range.
What is Lumina II's sensitivity?
86dB SPL at 2.83V measured at one metre.
What is the nominal impedance?
4 ohms.
Is Lumina II difficult to drive?
It is not an extreme loudspeaker load, but the 4-ohm nominal impedance means a capable amplifier with good current delivery is worthwhile.
What amplifier power does Sonus faber recommend?
30 to 150 watts per channel with an undistorted signal.
Will a 30W amplifier work?
Yes, in an appropriate room and at sensible listening levels, provided the amplifier is comfortable driving 4-ohm speakers.
Can I use a 50W amplifier?
Yes. A good 50W amplifier can be a very sensible match.
Can I use a 75W amplifier?
Yes.
Can I use a 100W amplifier?
Yes.
Can I use a 150W amplifier?
Yes. That is the upper end of Sonus faber's published recommendation.
Can I use a valve amplifier?
Potentially, although very low-powered designs should be considered carefully because the speaker has a nominal 4-ohm impedance.
Can I use Class D amplification?
Yes, provided the amplifier is properly designed to drive a 4-ohm load.
Can I use a streaming amplifier?
Yes. A good streaming amplifier can make an especially neat system with Lumina II.
Where is the bass-reflex port?
Sonus faber positions the reflex system on the front side of Lumina II.
Can Lumina II sit near a wall?
Yes. Its front-positioned reflex arrangement makes it relatively placement friendly, although wall proximity still affects bass balance.
Does front porting mean wall distance does not matter?
No. All low-frequency speakers interact with room boundaries, regardless of port direction.
What if the bass sounds too heavy?
Move the speakers further from nearby walls or corners.
What if the bass sounds too light?
Try slightly more rear-wall reinforcement or consider adding a subwoofer.
Should Lumina II be toed in?
A modest inward angle is a good starting point. Fine-tune according to stereo focus, treble balance and room acoustics.
How far apart should Lumina II speakers be?
The optimum distance depends on your listening position. Aim for a stable centre image without sacrificing useful stereo width.
Do I need speaker stands?
They are not compulsory, but suitable stands generally provide the best control of listening height, spacing and room position.
Does Sonus faber make a dedicated Lumina II stand?
The current Lumina II product page does not specify a dedicated stand. Audio T can advise on appropriate third-party supports.
Can Lumina II sit on furniture?
Yes, provided the support is stable and positions the pair at similar heights.
Can Lumina II be bi-wired?
Yes.
Can it be bi-amped?
Yes, with suitable amplification and correct removal of the terminal links.
Do I have to bi-wire Lumina II?
No. Conventional single-wire operation is entirely suitable.
What finishes are available?
Sonus faber currently lists Piano Black, Walnut with maple inlays and Wenge with maple inlays, all combined with black leather.
Does Lumina II use real wood?
The front baffle uses multilayer wood finished in lacquer or wood veneer depending on the version.
Does Lumina II use leather?
Yes. The sides and top are hand-covered in black leather.
Is Lumina II made in Italy?
Yes. It is part of Sonus faber's Made in Italy Lumina Collection.
Is Lumina II good for vinyl?
Yes.
Is Lumina II good for streaming?
Yes.
Is Lumina II good for CD?
Yes.
Is Lumina II good for vocals?
Yes. Its two-way architecture places strong emphasis on integration between the midwoofer and D.A.D. tweeter through the vocal region.
Is Lumina II good for jazz?
Yes. The 150mm midwoofer provides useful body for double bass and drums while retaining the imaging advantages of a compact standmount.
Is Lumina II good for rock?
Yes. It offers greater bass weight and dynamic ability than Lumina I.
Is Lumina II good for classical music?
Yes. It works particularly well in small and medium rooms, although a floorstander provides greater scale in a large space.
Is Lumina II good for electronic music?
Yes, although a subwoofer can add the deepest synthesised bass below its natural range.
What size room suits Lumina II?
Small and medium-sized listening spaces are its natural territory.
Can Lumina II work in a large room?
Yes at sensible listening distances, although a larger floorstanding speaker may provide more effortless scale.
What is the difference between Lumina I and Lumina II?
Lumina II uses a larger 150mm midwoofer, reaches 55Hz rather than 65Hz, has 86dB rather than 84dB sensitivity and accepts up to 150W of recommended amplifier power.
What is the difference between Lumina II and Lumina II Amator?
The main difference is the crossover. Standard Lumina II crosses at 1800Hz, while Lumina II Amator uses an upgraded 2600Hz IFF network inspired by Sonus faber's Homage development.
Does Lumina II Amator play deeper?
No. Both models currently carry the same published 55Hz–24kHz frequency response.
Is Lumina II Amator more sensitive?
No. Both are specified at 86dB.
Can Lumina II be used for home cinema?
Yes.
Can Lumina II be used as rear surround speakers?
Yes. Sonus faber specifically identifies rear-channel use as one of Lumina II's applications.
What centre speaker matches Lumina II?
Sonus faber Lumina CI is the dedicated centre-channel model in the range.
Can Lumina II be used in Dolby Atmos?
Yes, as a conventional ear-level loudspeaker in a compatible Atmos system.
Should Lumina II be set to Small in an AV receiver?
When using a capable subwoofer, that is normally a sensible starting point for bass management.
Can Lumina II be used with a television?
Yes, when connected to an amplifier or AV receiver providing the appropriate TV connection.
Should I choose Lumina II or a floorstander?
Choose Lumina II when compact size and flexible placement matter. A floorstander becomes more attractive when deeper bass, greater scale and longer listening distances are priorities.
Should I audition Lumina II?
Yes. Its relatively compact cabinet, 4-ohm load and different presentation from similarly priced standmount speakers make a direct comparison particularly worthwhile.
Related Sonus faber Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy Sonus faber Lumina II From Audio T?
Lumina II sits in a competitive part of the standmount speaker market where there are plenty of technically excellent alternatives with very different approaches to cabinet construction, driver materials and voicing. That makes a proper comparison far more useful than simply choosing from a specification sheet.
Audio T can demonstrate Lumina II with suitable amplification, compare it directly with Lumina I and Lumina II Amator, and help decide whether moving to a floorstander or adding a subwoofer makes more sense for your room. We can also advise on speaker stands, positioning, turntable systems, streaming, CD and complete Lumina home cinema installations.
- Sonus faber demonstrations
- Lumina II demonstrations
- Lumina I versus Lumina II comparisons
- Lumina II versus Lumina II Amator comparisons
- Standmount versus floorstander comparisons
- Amplifier matching for 4-ohm speakers
- Solid-state amplifier matching
- Class D amplifier matching
- Valve amplifier guidance
- Streaming amplifier matching
- Turntable and phono-stage matching
- CD and streaming system planning
- Speaker stand advice
- Room-size matching
- Speaker-positioning guidance
- Toe-in optimisation
- Bass optimisation
- Subwoofer matching
- Subwoofer crossover setup
- Home cinema system planning
- Lumina CI centre-speaker matching
- Surround-speaker planning
- Bi-wire and bi-amp advice
- Speaker cable matching
- Part-exchange options
- Home demonstration options where available
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to arrange a demonstration of the Sonus faber Lumina II or compare it with other models in the Lumina range.