Audio T Verdict
The Sonus faber Lumina V is where the Lumina range really begins to stretch its legs. This is a substantial three-way floorstander with a dedicated 150mm midrange and twin 165mm bass drivers, giving it the scale and low-frequency authority to work confidently in medium and larger rooms without immediately needing a subwoofer.
There is considerably more going on inside than the deliberately simple cabinet suggests. The twin woofers use sandwich diaphragms with natural-fibre outer layers and a syntactic-foam core, the midrange sits in its own lute-shaped internal chamber, and the Hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover is designed to control both amplitude and phase through the driver transitions. The down-firing reflex port is another genuinely practical feature, making Lumina V less fussy about rear-wall distance than many large rear-ported floorstanders.
With 89dB sensitivity it can produce useful scale without requiring enormous amplifier power, although the 4-ohm nominal impedance means we would still partner it with an amplifier that has proper current delivery. For customers who want a full-size Sonus faber with strong bass, a dedicated midrange and enough dynamic ability for everything from vinyl and jazz to rock, orchestral music and home cinema, Lumina V is a very strong all-rounder.
Sonus faber Lumina V Floorstanding Speakers
The Sonus faber Lumina V is a three-way passive floorstanding loudspeaker designed to deliver greater bass extension, dynamic range and room-filling scale than the smaller Lumina models while retaining the collection's clean, understated styling.
Each cabinet combines a 29mm high-definition D.A.D. soft-dome tweeter, dedicated 150mm paper-cone midrange and two 165mm sandwich-construction woofers. A Hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover divides the frequency range at 260Hz and 2600Hz, while a base-mounted down-firing reflex port helps extend bass to a published 38Hz.
The external cabinet is deliberately simple and squared, but Sonus faber retains many of its recognisable materials and design ideas: multilayer wood, real wood veneer, black leather, natural-fibre driver diaphragms and an internally curved lute-shaped chamber for the midrange and tweeter.
- Current Sonus faber Lumina Collection floorstander
- Three-way passive loudspeaker
- Made in Italy
- Vented-box enclosure
- Base-mounted down-firing reflex system
- 29mm high-definition D.A.D. tweeter
- Damped Apex Dome technology
- Soft-dome diaphragm
- Ferrite tweeter motor
- Visco-elastically decoupled tweeter
- Dedicated 150mm paper-cone midrange
- Twin 165mm sandwich-cone woofers
- Natural-fibre and cellulose woofer skins
- Syntactic-foam woofer core
- Lute-shaped internal mid/high chamber
- Hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover
- Interactive Fusion Filtering
- 260Hz lower crossover point
- 2600Hz upper crossover point
- Amplitude and phase-optimised response
- 38Hz–24kHz frequency response
- 89dB sensitivity
- 4-ohm nominal impedance
- 50–300W recommended amplifier power
- Four nickel-plated binding posts
- Bi-wire capability
- Bi-amp capability
- Iron floor spikes
- Multilayer wood front baffle
- Black leather cabinet covering
- Piano Black finish
- Walnut with maple inlays
- Wenge with maple inlays
- 1049mm height
- 280mm width
- 372.6mm depth
- 22.5kg per speaker
A Full-Size Three-Way Lumina
Lumina V is the larger of the standard Lumina floorstanding loudspeakers and expands on the three-way architecture introduced by Lumina III.
Rather than asking one driver to reproduce bass and midrange together, Lumina V separates the workload between:
- Twin dedicated bass drivers
- A dedicated midrange
- A separate high-frequency tweeter
Why Use a Three-Way Design?
A three-way loudspeaker allows each driver to concentrate on a narrower part of the audible spectrum.
The woofers can focus on moving the large amounts of air required at low frequencies, the midrange can reproduce voices and instruments without simultaneously generating deep bass, and the tweeter can handle the highest frequencies with a lightweight diaphragm.
The Importance of the Midrange
Much of the information that allows us to recognise voices and instruments sits in the midrange.
This includes a large proportion of:
- Male and female vocals
- Acoustic guitar
- Electric guitar
- Piano
- Strings
- Brass
- Woodwind
- Snare drum
Using a dedicated driver means this important region is not being reproduced by the same cones responsible for the deepest bass.
150mm Dedicated Midrange
Lumina V uses a 150mm paper-cone midrange derived from Sonus faber's wider natural-fibre driver philosophy.
The diaphragm combines paper and natural fibres to provide a useful balance of low mass, stiffness and internal damping.
Why Paper?
Paper-based loudspeaker diaphragms remain popular because they can combine several desirable mechanical properties without requiring excessive moving mass.
These include:
- Useful stiffness
- Low weight
- Natural damping
- Controlled resonant behaviour
A Dedicated Lute-Shaped Internal Chamber
One of Lumina V's most interesting design features is hidden inside the rectangular outer cabinet.
The midrange and tweeter operate within a dedicated internal chamber shaped according to Sonus faber's traditional lute geometry.
Why a Lute Shape?
Curved internal surfaces reduce the simple parallel boundaries that encourage standing waves inside conventional rectangular enclosures.
Sonus faber also uses the structure to increase rigidity around the midrange system.
Keeping Bass Pressure Away From the Midrange
The dedicated chamber separates the midrange and tweeter from the pressure generated by the twin 165mm woofers.
That gives the midrange driver a more controlled acoustic environment and prevents the entire internal volume from behaving as one large shared enclosure.
Twin 165mm Woofers
Lumina V uses two 165mm bass drivers developed specifically for the model.
Moving up from Lumina III's twin 150mm woofers provides greater cone area and helps Lumina V deliver more effortless low-frequency scale.
Why Two Woofers?
Using two bass drivers rather than a single unit provides:
- Greater total radiating area
- More bass output
- Lower-frequency capability
- Greater dynamic headroom
- Reduced excursion demand on each individual driver
Sandwich Woofer Construction
The Lumina V bass drivers use sandwich diaphragms rather than a simple single-layer paper cone.
The structure combines two outer layers made from cellulose pulp and natural fibres with a lightweight high-tech syntactic-foam layer between them.
Why Use a Sandwich Cone?
Separating two relatively thin outer skins with a lightweight core substantially increases structural stiffness.
This is useful for a woofer because the diaphragm is required to move relatively large distances while resisting flex across its surface.
Why Woofer Rigidity Matters
Ideally, the cone should move forwards and backwards in a controlled manner rather than different parts of the diaphragm bending independently.
Increasing stiffness helps maintain more predictable behaviour as the driver is asked to produce greater bass output.
38Hz Bass Extension
Sonus faber specifies Lumina V from 38Hz to 24,000Hz.
For a passive floorstanding speaker, 38Hz provides substantial musical bass before considering a separate subwoofer.
What Does 38Hz Cover?
This allows Lumina V to reproduce useful fundamental energy from:
- Bass guitar
- Kick drum
- Double bass
- Piano
- Cello
- Large orchestral instruments
- Much electronic music
Does Lumina V Need a Subwoofer?
For most two-channel music systems, no.
The twin 165mm woofers and published 38Hz response already give the loudspeaker substantial bandwidth.
A subwoofer becomes useful if:
- You want strong output below 30Hz
- Electronic sub-bass is a priority
- You regularly listen to pipe organ
- Your room is particularly large
- You want greater bass headroom
- You are using Lumina V for home cinema
Get the 38Hz You Already Have
Before adding a subwoofer, spend time positioning Lumina V correctly. A speaker extending to 38Hz interacts strongly with the room, and a relatively small change in position can make a much larger difference than expected.
Subwoofer Integration for Music
A subwoofer should extend Lumina V rather than dominate it.
Pay attention to:
- Crossover frequency
- Subwoofer level
- Phase
- Physical position
When properly integrated, the subwoofer should seem to make the main speakers sound larger rather than drawing attention towards the location of the sub itself.
Subwoofer Integration for Home Cinema
A dedicated active subwoofer remains highly worthwhile for home cinema because the LFE channel can contain very deep frequencies below the natural range of even a large floorstander.
29mm D.A.D. Tweeter
High frequencies are reproduced by Sonus faber's 29mm high-definition D.A.D. soft-dome tweeter.
D.A.D. stands for Damped Apex Dome.
What Does Damped Apex Dome Mean?
At very high frequencies, the centre of a conventional soft dome can begin behaving differently from the rest of the diaphragm.
Sonus faber's D.A.D. arrangement locally damps the apex to control this behaviour while retaining the low moving mass and natural damping associated with a textile dome.
Soft-Dome High Frequencies
The tweeter uses a soft diaphragm rather than a rigid metal dome.
This gives the moving assembly very low mass and allows Sonus faber to use the material's inherent damping as part of the driver's behaviour.
Ferrite Tweeter Motor
The high-frequency driver uses a ferrite magnetic motor to control movement of its voice coil and diaphragm.
Visco-Elastic Tweeter Decoupling
The tweeter is mechanically decoupled from the surrounding front baffle using a visco-elastic interface.
This helps reduce vibration from the three larger cone drivers reaching the much lighter high-frequency assembly.
Why Isolation Matters Here
The twin woofers and 150mm midrange can generate significantly greater mechanical energy than the tweeter.
Providing some isolation between these systems gives the high-frequency driver a more controlled mechanical environment.
260Hz Lower Crossover
The two woofers hand over to the dedicated 150mm midrange at 260Hz.
This keeps the bass drivers focused primarily on low frequencies while allowing the midrange to reproduce the broad central region containing most voices and instruments.
2600Hz Upper Crossover
The midrange hands over to the D.A.D. tweeter at 2600Hz.
The standard Lumina V therefore allows its dedicated midrange to operate across a broad range from 260Hz to 2600Hz.
Hybrid IFF-Paracross Crossover
Lumina V uses Sonus faber's Hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover architecture.
This combines Interactive Fusion Filtering with the company's Paracross approach.
What Is Interactive Fusion Filtering?
IFF focuses on the interaction between adjacent drivers through their crossover region rather than treating each drive unit as an isolated source.
The aim is a more coherent transition between the bass, midrange and treble sections.
What Is Paracross Topology?
Sonus faber arranges reactive crossover components such as capacitors and inductors on the negative rail of the circuit.
The company uses the topology to reduce the effects of driver back EMF and lower crossover sensitivity to radio-frequency interference.
What Is Back EMF?
A loudspeaker driver's moving voice coil can itself generate electrical energy as it moves through the magnetic field.
This reverse energy is known as back electromotive force, or back EMF.
Crossover architecture influences how these electrical interactions are managed.
Amplitude and Phase Optimisation
Sonus faber's crossover is designed around both amplitude and phase response.
This matters because neighbouring drivers overlap around their crossover frequencies rather than one driver stopping instantaneously as another starts.
Why Phase Matters
If the acoustic output from adjacent drivers does not combine correctly, the result can affect:
- Vocal focus
- Stereo imaging
- Soundstage depth
- Frequency balance
- Instrument placement
One Speaker, Not Four Separate Drivers
The purpose of sophisticated crossover design is ultimately simple: the listener should hear a coherent musical presentation rather than becoming conscious of the individual drive units.
89dB Sensitivity
Lumina V is specified at 89dB SPL for 2.83V measured at one metre.
This is relatively generous for a modern three-way speaker and contributes to its ability to produce useful scale without requiring enormous amplifier power.
4-Ohm Nominal Impedance
The nominal impedance is 4 ohms.
That means amplifier current delivery remains important despite the relatively high sensitivity.
Sensitivity Is Only Half the Story
A speaker can produce plenty of output from a given voltage while still demanding substantial current from the amplifier.
For Lumina V, we would therefore look for electronics that combine adequate power with confident 4-ohm performance.
50–300W Recommended Amplification
Sonus faber recommends amplifier power between 50 and 300 watts per channel with an undistorted signal.
That exceptionally broad range gives Lumina V considerable flexibility when building a system.
Will a 50W Amplifier Work?
Yes.
A good 50W amplifier sits within the manufacturer's recommended range and can work very successfully in a normal domestic room.
What About 70–100W?
This is an extremely sensible region for quality integrated amplifiers and should provide useful headroom in many medium-sized rooms.
Would 150W Be Better?
Additional power can provide extra headroom for dynamic recordings, larger rooms and longer listening distances.
Can I Use 200W?
Yes.
A capable 200W amplifier is comfortably within Sonus faber's published recommendation.
Can I Use 300W?
Yes. That is the upper end of the manufacturer's current recommendation.
The important point is clean, controlled power rather than simply chasing the highest possible wattage.
Why Does Sonus faber Say "Undistorted Signal"?
An underpowered amplifier driven heavily into clipping can produce damaging high-frequency distortion.
A more powerful amplifier operating comfortably within its limits can therefore be safer than a smaller amplifier continually being pushed beyond what it can cleanly deliver.
Amplifier Quality Matters More Than a Big Number
A well-designed 80W or 100W amplifier with a strong power supply can be a much better partner for Lumina V than a cheaper design claiming far more power but struggling into a 4-ohm load.
Solid-State Amplifiers
A capable solid-state integrated amplifier is a natural partner for Lumina V.
Look for good current delivery into 4 ohms and enough power for the listening distance and volume you actually use.
Pre/Power Amplification
Lumina V has enough scale and resolution to justify separate preamplifier and power amplifier systems where the rest of the installation supports it.
The additional power-supply capacity can be particularly useful in larger rooms.
Class A Amplification
A suitably powerful Class A amplifier can be an excellent partner provided it is comfortable with the nominal 4-ohm load.
Class D Amplification
Modern Class D amplification is also entirely suitable when properly engineered for lower-impedance speakers.
Its combination of high output and compact size can make it particularly useful in contemporary systems.
Valve Amplifiers
Valve amplification is possible, helped by Lumina V's 89dB sensitivity.
The 4-ohm load still needs consideration, so very low-powered valve amplifiers are not automatically the obvious choice.
Where several impedance taps are available, follow the amplifier manufacturer's guidance.
Streaming Amplifiers
A premium streaming amplifier can make a surprisingly simple system around Lumina V.
Streaming, DAC and amplification can be combined in one component while retaining a full-scale conventional passive speaker system.
Good for Vinyl?
Yes.
The dedicated midrange and strong low-frequency capability make Lumina V a natural partner for a serious turntable-based system.
Good for Streaming?
Absolutely.
A high-quality streamer and amplifier can exploit everything Lumina V offers without requiring an analogue source.
Good for CD?
Yes.
A capable CD player, transport and DAC or integrated digital source can make an excellent partner.
Good for Vocals?
Very much so.
Much of the human voice falls within the operating range of the dedicated 150mm midrange driver, which is isolated from the workload of producing deep bass.
Good for Jazz?
Yes.
The dedicated midrange handles voices, piano and brass while the twin woofers give drums and double bass proper physical weight.
Good for Acoustic Music?
Yes.
Natural-fibre driver materials and dedicated midrange reproduction make acoustic instruments an obvious application.
Good for Classical Music?
Yes.
Lumina V has the bandwidth and dynamic scale to deal convincingly with both smaller ensembles and large orchestral recordings.
Good for Rock?
Yes.
Twin 165mm woofers provide substantially more low-frequency authority and impact than the smaller Lumina standmounts.
Good for Electronic Music?
Yes.
The 38Hz extension reaches into a large part of the useful electronic-bass region, with a subwoofer available where true sub-bass is required.
Base-Mounted Down-Firing Reflex Port
Lumina V places its bass-reflex opening at the base of the cabinet, firing downwards.
This is an important practical distinction from many large floorstanding speakers with ports facing directly towards the rear wall.
Why Down-Firing?
The floor provides the port with a relatively consistent nearby boundary.
Sonus faber specifically uses the arrangement to make Lumina V less sensitive to the precise distance from the rear wall.
Can Lumina V Go Close to a Rear Wall?
Yes, within reason.
The down-firing port makes this more practical, but moving the entire speaker towards a room boundary will still reinforce bass.
Placement-Friendly Does Not Mean Placement-Proof
The loudspeaker still interacts with:
- The rear wall
- Side walls
- Room corners
- Floor construction
- The listening position
Start With Some Space
Where practical, begin with useful breathing room behind the cabinets and listen before moving them progressively closer.
If the Bass Is Too Heavy
Try moving the speakers further from the rear wall.
Also check whether:
- One speaker is close to a corner
- The listening seat sits in a strong room mode
- One channel has very different boundary conditions
- A nearby cabinet or alcove is reinforcing the bass
If the Bass Is Too Light
Experiment with modestly reducing the rear-wall clearance.
Make changes in small increments because room response below 100Hz can alter considerably over relatively short distances.
Avoid Tight Corners
A corner reinforces low frequencies from two walls simultaneously.
With Lumina V already extending to 38Hz, excessive corner loading can quickly make bass sound too heavy.
Speaker Spacing
The correct spacing depends on your listening distance and room width.
Aim for enough separation to create useful stereo width while retaining a solid central image.
Use Vocals to Judge the Centre Image
A centrally mixed singer should appear firmly between the cabinets.
If the voice seems vague or split between the two speakers, experiment with spacing and toe-in before changing anything else in the system.
Toe-In
Begin with a modest inward angle towards the listening area.
Listen for changes in:
- Centre-image precision
- Soundstage width
- Soundstage depth
- Treble balance
- Image stability
More Toe-In
Increasing toe-in can sharpen central focus and direct more high-frequency energy towards the main listening position.
Less Toe-In
Reducing the angle can create a broader presentation depending on the room's reflections.
Iron Floor Spikes
Sonus faber equips Lumina V with iron spikes for floor coupling and levelling.
These allow the cabinet to stand securely even where the floor is not perfectly level.
Protect Hard Flooring
Lumina V weighs 22.5kg per speaker and uses metal spikes. Use appropriate spike shoes or floor protectors on timber, laminate, tile and other delicate hard flooring.
Make Sure the Speaker Cannot Rock
Adjust the spikes until every contact point is secure.
A tall 22.5kg loudspeaker should never be left unstable.
Speaker Dimensions
- Height: 1049mm
- Width: 280mm
- Depth: 372.6mm
- Weight: 22.5kg per speaker
A Substantial Floorstander
At just over one metre tall and almost 373mm deep, Lumina V needs more physical space than Lumina III.
Measure the room rather than relying on photographs, particularly if the speakers need to sit either side of furniture or within a constrained front wall.
Allow for Speaker Cable
The quoted 372.6mm depth does not include the additional practical clearance required behind the binding posts.
Allow room for:
- Speaker connectors
- Cable bend radius
- Position adjustment
- Access for tightening terminals
Four Binding Posts
Each Lumina V provides separate Mid-Hi and Low terminal sections.
The two pairs of nickel-plated terminals allow single wiring, bi-wiring and suitable bi-amplification.
Single-Wire Connection
For conventional use, one speaker cable connects each cabinet to the amplifier while the terminal links remain securely installed.
Bi-Wiring
Bi-wiring uses separate cable runs from the same amplifier channel to the Mid-Hi and Low terminal sections.
Bi-Amping
Bi-amping uses separate amplifier channels for the Mid-Hi and Low sections.
This requires suitable electronics and the links must be removed before connection.
Check the Terminal Links
Leave the links securely fitted for ordinary single-wire operation. Remove them only when installing a correctly configured bi-wire or bi-amp system.
Correct Polarity
Connect amplifier positive to loudspeaker positive and negative to negative on both channels.
Reversing the polarity of one speaker can weaken bass and significantly reduce stereo image focus.
Switch the Amplifier Off First
Always switch the amplifier off before connecting or changing speaker cables.
Make sure loose conductor strands cannot bridge the positive and negative terminals.
Minimalist Cabinet Design
The Lumina Collection deliberately uses simple squared cabinets rather than the curved external enclosures normally associated with Sonus faber.
This allows the range to remain comparatively accessible while still incorporating the company's recognisable materials.
Multilayer Wood Front Baffle
The front panel uses multilayer wood rather than a moulded plastic fascia.
Depending on finish, this is lacquered or covered in real wood veneer.
Black Leather Cabinet Covering
The remaining visible cabinet surfaces are covered in Sonus faber's characteristic black leather.
The combination gives the otherwise simple rectangular enclosure a more tactile, furniture-like appearance.
Piano Black
Piano Black uses a high-gloss lacquered multilayer wood front panel with black leather cabinet covering.
It is the most visually discreet option, particularly alongside black electronics and televisions.
Walnut
Walnut adds a warmer wood veneer with contrasting maple inlays.
It gives Lumina V more of the traditional furniture character associated with Sonus faber.
Wenge
Wenge is a darker natural-wood finish with maple inlay detailing, retaining visible grain while appearing more understated than Walnut.
Natural Wood Variation
Real veneer naturally varies in tone and grain.
Slight differences between individual cabinets are part of the character of the material rather than a manufacturing fault.
Made in Italy
The Lumina Collection is manufactured in Italy.
The range was conceived as a simpler and more accessible expression of Sonus faber's design philosophy rather than abandoning the company's use of wood, leather and natural-fibre driver materials.
Lumina V vs Lumina III
Lumina III is the smaller three-way floorstander and will suit many medium-sized rooms extremely well.
Lumina III
- Three-way floorstander
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 150mm midrange
- Twin 150mm woofers
- 40Hz–24kHz response
- 89dB sensitivity
- 50–250W amplification
- 989 x 228 x 277mm
- 15.9kg each
Lumina V
- Three-way floorstander
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 150mm midrange
- Twin 165mm sandwich woofers
- 38Hz–24kHz response
- 89dB sensitivity
- 50–300W amplification
- 1049 x 280 x 372.6mm
- 22.5kg each
Choose Lumina III If...
- Your room is medium sized
- You want a slimmer cabinet
- You do not need maximum bass scale
- You want easier physical placement
- Keeping more budget available for amplification matters
Choose Lumina V If...
- Your room is medium to large
- You want deeper and more authoritative bass
- You listen at greater distances
- You want greater power handling
- You value the sandwich-cone woofer system
Lumina V vs Lumina V Amator
Lumina V Amator develops the same fundamental floorstanding platform rather than replacing it.
Lumina V
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 150mm dedicated midrange
- Twin 165mm sandwich woofers
- 260Hz / 2600Hz crossover
- Hybrid IFF-Paracross
- 38Hz–24kHz response
- 89dB sensitivity
- 50–300W amplification
- Standard Lumina finishes
Lumina V Amator
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- 150mm dedicated midrange
- Twin 165mm sandwich woofers
- 260Hz / 2850Hz crossover
- Revised Hybrid IFF-Paracross network
- 38Hz–24kHz response
- 89dB sensitivity
- 50–300W amplification
- High-gloss Amator finishes
What Does Lumina V Amator Change?
The Amator does not claim deeper bass, additional sensitivity or greater power handling.
Its principal acoustic change is the upper crossover, which moves from 2600Hz to 2850Hz and incorporates development influenced by Sonus faber's newer Homage loudspeakers.
Why Choose Standard Lumina V?
Standard Lumina V retains the same basic driver architecture, 38Hz response, sensitivity and amplifier capability at a lower price.
For many systems, that can allow more budget to be directed towards:
- Amplification
- Turntable or cartridge
- Streamer or DAC
- Speaker cable
- Room treatment
- Subwoofer
Why Choose Lumina V Amator?
The Amator becomes particularly interesting where the surrounding system is already capable and you want the revised crossover and more elaborate high-gloss finish without moving into a completely different Sonus faber range.
Lumina V vs Lumina II Amator
Lumina II Amator offers the alternative of a premium two-way standmount rather than a large three-way floorstander.
Choose Lumina II Amator If...
- Your room is smaller
- You prefer standmount speakers
- You value compact proportions
- You expect to use a subwoofer
- You want the Amator crossover development in a smaller cabinet
Choose Lumina V If...
- You want substantially deeper bass
- You have a medium or larger room
- You want a dedicated midrange
- You listen at longer distances
- You want greater physical scale without a subwoofer
Home Cinema With Lumina V
Lumina is designed for both stereo and multichannel use, and Lumina V can make an extremely capable front left and right pair in a home cinema system.
It can be used in:
- 3.0 systems
- 3.1 systems
- 5.1 systems
- 7.1 systems
- Dolby Atmos systems
- DTS:X systems
Matching Lumina CI
Lumina CI is the dedicated centre-channel model in the collection.
Using a centre from the same family helps maintain a more consistent tonal character as dialogue and effects move between the front left, centre and right channels.
Can Lumina V Work Without a Subwoofer for Films?
Yes for general movie and television use, thanks to its strong low-frequency capability.
A dedicated subwoofer is still preferable when you want the full impact of an LFE soundtrack extending significantly below 38Hz.
Should Lumina V Be Set to Large?
Not automatically.
Even a large floorstanding speaker can benefit from AV bass management when a capable subwoofer is available.
Can Lumina V Be Set to Small?
Yes.
"Small" in AV terminology simply tells the receiver to redirect frequencies beneath the chosen crossover to the subwoofer.
It is not a judgement on the speaker's physical size or performance.
Why Use Bass Management?
Redirecting the lowest frequencies can:
- Reduce bass-driver excursion
- Reduce load on the AV receiver
- Increase system headroom
- Allow the subwoofer to reproduce dedicated LFE information
Recommended Lumina V Setup Routine
- Unpack each speaker carefully and retain the packaging.
- Remember that each cabinet weighs 22.5kg.
- Fit the floor spikes according to the supplied instructions.
- Use appropriate protection on delicate hard flooring.
- Level both cabinets so they are completely stable.
- Begin with useful space from the rear wall.
- Avoid tight corner placement.
- Keep the left and right boundary conditions broadly similar where practical.
- Choose speaker spacing appropriate to the listening distance.
- Begin with a modest amount of inward toe-in.
- Switch the amplifier off before connecting the speaker cables.
- For normal single wiring, make sure the terminal links are secure.
- Connect positive to positive and negative to negative.
- Begin playback at moderate volume.
- Use a familiar vocal recording to check centre-image focus.
- Adjust spacing and toe-in in small increments.
- Use familiar bass-rich music to judge wall distance.
- If the bass is too heavy, move the speakers further into the room.
- If bass is too light, experiment with modest additional boundary reinforcement.
- Only add or adjust a subwoofer after the main speakers are positioned properly.
Caring for Lumina V
The wood, lacquer and leather surfaces should be treated carefully.
Avoid:
- Abrasive cloths
- Strong household cleaners
- Solvent-based products
- Alcohol-based cleaners
- Furniture polish sprayed directly on the cabinet
- Prolonged strong sunlight
- Placement immediately beside strong heat sources
Keep the Packaging
At 22.5kg each, Lumina V is much safer to transport using its original cartons and protective internal packaging.
Retaining the boxes is strongly recommended if you ever move house, change listening room or require service support.
Who Is Lumina V For?
- Medium and larger listening rooms
- Customers wanting a full-size Sonus faber floorstander
- Listeners wanting strong bass without automatically adding a subwoofer
- Systems requiring a dedicated midrange
- Turntable-based systems
- Streaming systems
- CD systems
- Rock and pop listeners
- Electronic music systems
- Jazz and acoustic music
- Large-scale classical music
- Systems with capable 4-ohm amplification
- Integrated amplifier systems
- Pre/power amplifier systems
- Premium home cinema front channels
- Dolby Atmos systems
Who Might Prefer Lumina III?
Lumina III may make more sense if:
- Your room is smaller
- You want a narrower cabinet
- You need easier positioning
- 40Hz bass extension is already sufficient
- You want to devote more of the budget to amplification or sources
Who Might Prefer Lumina V Amator?
Lumina V Amator may be worth considering if:
- Your electronics are already highly capable
- You want the revised 2850Hz crossover
- You value the Amator crossover development
- You prefer the high-gloss 45-degree woodgrain finishes
- You want the most developed version of the Lumina V platform
Key Features
- Sonus faber Lumina V
- Current Lumina Collection
- Made in Italy
- Three-way floorstanding speaker
- Passive loudspeaker
- Vented-box enclosure
- Down-firing reflex port
- Base-mounted reflex system
- Lute-shaped internal chamber
- 29mm D.A.D. tweeter
- High-definition tweeter
- Damped Apex Dome technology
- Soft-dome tweeter
- Ferrite tweeter motor
- Visco-elastic tweeter decoupling
- 150mm dedicated midrange
- Paper-cone midrange
- Natural-fibre midrange diaphragm
- Twin 165mm woofers
- Sandwich-cone woofers
- Cellulose-pulp woofer skins
- Natural-fibre woofer skins
- Syntactic-foam woofer core
- 260Hz crossover
- 2600Hz crossover
- Hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover
- Interactive Fusion Filtering
- Paracross Topology
- Amplitude-optimised crossover
- Phase-optimised crossover
- 38Hz–24kHz frequency response
- 89dB sensitivity
- 4-ohm nominal impedance
- 50–300W recommended amplification
- Four binding posts
- Nickel-plated terminals
- Mid-Hi and Low terminal sections
- Single-wire compatible
- Bi-wire capable
- Bi-amp capable
- Iron floor spikes
- Multilayer wood front baffle
- Black leather cabinet
- Piano Black finish
- Walnut finish
- Wenge finish
- Maple inlay detailing
- 1049mm height
- 280mm width
- 372.6mm depth
- 22.5kg per speaker
- Suitable for medium rooms
- Suitable for larger rooms
- Suitable for vinyl
- Suitable for CD
- Suitable for streaming
- Suitable for home cinema
- Suitable for Dolby Atmos
- Suitable for subwoofer integration
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sonus faber Lumina V still current?
Yes. Lumina V remains a current model in Sonus faber's Lumina Collection.
Has Lumina V been replaced by Lumina V Amator?
No. Sonus faber currently offers both versions.
Is Lumina V a floorstanding speaker?
Yes. It is a three-way passive floorstanding loudspeaker.
Is Lumina V three-way?
Yes.
How many drivers does each speaker use?
Four physical drivers: one tweeter, one dedicated midrange and two woofers.
What size is the tweeter?
29mm.
What type of tweeter does it use?
A high-definition D.A.D. soft-dome tweeter.
What does D.A.D. stand for?
Damped Apex Dome.
Is the tweeter mechanically decoupled?
Yes. Sonus faber uses visco-elastic baffle decoupling.
How large is the midrange?
150mm.
Is it a dedicated midrange?
Yes. It operates separately from the twin bass drivers.
What material is used for the midrange?
The driver uses Sonus faber's paper and natural-fibre diaphragm philosophy.
How many woofers are there?
Two per speaker.
How large are the woofers?
165mm each.
What type of woofer cone does Lumina V use?
A sandwich diaphragm using cellulose-pulp and natural-fibre outer layers around a syntactic-foam core.
Why use a sandwich woofer cone?
The structure increases stiffness while keeping moving mass under control, helping the drivers move more predictably at low frequencies.
What are the crossover frequencies?
260Hz and 2600Hz.
What crossover does Lumina V use?
Sonus faber specifies a Hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover network.
What does IFF mean?
Interactive Fusion Filtering.
What is Paracross?
It is Sonus faber's crossover topology in which reactive components are arranged on the negative rail to help manage driver interaction, back EMF and RF sensitivity.
What is the frequency response?
38Hz to 24kHz.
How low does Lumina V play?
Sonus faber's current published lower frequency-response figure is 38Hz.
Does Lumina V need a subwoofer?
Not necessarily for stereo music. Its twin 165mm woofers and 38Hz response already provide substantial bass.
Can I add a subwoofer?
Yes. A properly integrated subwoofer can extend the system further into the lowest frequencies.
What is Lumina V's sensitivity?
89dB SPL at 2.83V measured at one metre.
What is the nominal impedance?
4 ohms.
What amplifier power does Sonus faber recommend?
50 to 300 watts per channel with an undistorted signal.
Will a 50W amplifier work?
Yes, provided it is a capable design and comfortable driving 4-ohm loudspeakers.
Can I use a 75W amplifier?
Yes.
Can I use a 100W amplifier?
Yes.
Can I use a 150W amplifier?
Yes.
Can I use a 200W amplifier?
Yes.
Can I use a 300W amplifier?
Yes. That is the upper end of the manufacturer's current recommendation.
Can I use a valve amplifier?
Potentially. The 89dB sensitivity is useful, although the amplifier still needs to be suitable for a nominal 4-ohm load.
Can I use a Class A amplifier?
Yes, provided it offers sufficient power and suitable 4-ohm capability.
Can I use Class D amplification?
Yes.
Can I use a streaming amplifier?
Yes, provided its amplifier section is appropriate for the speaker load.
Can I use separate pre and power amplifiers?
Yes. Lumina V can justify more ambitious amplification where the system and room support it.
Where is the reflex port?
It is positioned at the base of the cabinet and fires downwards.
Why is the port down-firing?
Sonus faber uses the arrangement to make Lumina V less sensitive to its distance from the rear wall.
Can Lumina V sit close to a wall?
Yes within reason, although room-boundary reinforcement still affects bass balance.
Does a down-firing port mean placement does not matter?
No. The room still has a major influence on low-frequency performance.
What if the bass sounds boomy?
Move the speakers further from nearby walls and particularly away from corners.
What if the bass sounds too light?
Experiment with modestly reducing the rear-wall distance.
Should Lumina V be toed in?
A modest inward angle is a useful starting point. Fine-tune it to suit the room and listening position.
How far apart should the speakers be?
The optimum distance depends on listening distance and room width. Aim for a stable central image with good stereo width.
Does Lumina V use a separate midrange enclosure?
Yes. The midrange and tweeter operate within a dedicated lute-shaped internal chamber.
Why is the internal chamber lute shaped?
Sonus faber uses the geometry to increase structural rigidity and reduce standing waves within the mid/high acoustic volume.
How tall is Lumina V?
1049mm.
How wide is it?
280mm.
How deep is it?
372.6mm.
How much does each speaker weigh?
22.5kg.
Does Lumina V use floor spikes?
Yes. Sonus faber specifies iron spikes.
Should I protect wooden or laminate flooring?
Yes. Use suitable spike shoes or floor protectors.
Can Lumina V be bi-wired?
Yes.
Can it be bi-amped?
Yes, with suitable electronics and the terminal links removed correctly.
Do I have to bi-wire it?
No. Conventional single-wire operation is entirely suitable.
What finishes are available?
Piano Black, Walnut with maple inlays and Wenge with maple inlays, all combined with black leather.
Does Lumina V use real wood?
The front baffle uses multilayer wood with lacquer or real wood veneer depending on finish.
Does it use leather?
Yes. Black leather covers the surrounding cabinet surfaces.
Is Lumina V made in Italy?
Yes. Lumina is Sonus faber's Made in Italy collection.
What size room suits Lumina V?
Medium and larger rooms are its most natural environment.
Can Lumina V work in a small room?
Potentially, but its physical dimensions and 38Hz bass capability mean positioning needs particular care.
Is Lumina V good for vinyl?
Yes.
Is it good for streaming?
Yes.
Is it good for CD?
Yes.
Is Lumina V good for vocals?
Yes. The dedicated 150mm midrange handles much of the voice independently from the bass drivers.
Is it good for jazz?
Yes. The three-way design combines midrange clarity with substantial low-frequency scale.
Is it good for rock?
Yes. Twin 165mm woofers provide useful impact for drums and bass guitar.
Is it good for classical music?
Yes. Its three-way architecture and 38Hz response make it well suited to larger orchestral recordings.
Is it good for electronic music?
Yes. A subwoofer remains optional where the deepest sub-bass is particularly important.
What is the difference between Lumina III and Lumina V?
Lumina V uses larger twin 165mm sandwich woofers, reaches 38Hz rather than 40Hz, accepts up to 300W and has a substantially larger cabinet.
What is the difference between Lumina V and Lumina V Amator?
The main acoustic difference is the upper crossover. Lumina V uses 2600Hz, while Lumina V Amator moves this to 2850Hz with a revised network influenced by Sonus faber's Homage development.
Does Lumina V Amator have deeper bass?
No. Both versions carry the same current published 38Hz–24kHz frequency response.
Is Lumina V Amator more sensitive?
No. Both are rated at 89dB.
Can Lumina V be used for home cinema?
Yes.
What centre speaker matches Lumina V?
Sonus faber Lumina CI is the dedicated centre-channel speaker in the Lumina Collection.
Can Lumina V be used with Dolby Atmos?
Yes, as the front left and right ear-level channels in a compatible system.
Should Lumina V be set to Large in an AV receiver?
Not necessarily. A system with a capable subwoofer can still benefit from bass management.
Should I choose Lumina III or Lumina V?
Choose Lumina III where easier room integration matters. Choose Lumina V for greater bass scale, higher power handling and larger-room capability.
Should I choose Lumina V or Lumina V Amator?
Lumina V offers the same fundamental driver system and headline bandwidth at a lower price, while Lumina V Amator adds the revised upper crossover and special Amator finish.
Should I audition Lumina V before buying?
Yes. Its size, 4-ohm load and substantial bass capability make amplifier matching and room placement particularly important.
Related Sonus faber Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy Sonus faber Lumina V From Audio T?
Lumina V is capable of filling a substantial room and producing serious bass, but that makes the relationship between speaker, amplifier and room especially important. Its 89dB sensitivity is relatively generous, while the 4-ohm impedance means it still deserves an amplifier with good current capability.
Audio T can demonstrate Lumina V with appropriate electronics, compare it with Lumina III and Lumina V Amator, and help decide which cabinet size best suits your listening space. We can also advise on source components, speaker cable, positioning, floor protection, subwoofer integration and complete Lumina home cinema systems.
- Sonus faber demonstrations
- Lumina V demonstrations
- Lumina III versus Lumina V comparisons
- Lumina V versus Lumina V Amator comparisons
- Amplifier matching for 4-ohm speakers
- Solid-state amplifier matching
- Class A amplifier guidance
- Class D amplifier matching
- Valve amplifier advice
- Streaming amplifier matching
- Pre/power amplifier matching
- Turntable and phono-stage matching
- CD and streaming system planning
- 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
- Dolby Atmos system planning
- Bi-wire and bi-amp advice
- Speaker cable matching
- Floor-protection advice
- 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 V or compare it directly with other models in the Lumina range.