Sonus Faber Lumina II: Two minute assessment
Because the early Eighties, Sonus Faber has been creating high-performance, high-end loudspeakers and charging a (typically completely justifiable) arm and a leg for them. However in a transfer not many individuals noticed coming, the corporate determined to democratize its ‘Made in Italy’ cachet by launching a pair of audio system that promote for an almost-mainstream $1,499 / £999 /AU$2,200 per pair. They’re referred to as the Sonus Faber Lumina II.
In some ways, the Lumina II are Sonus Faber enterprise as regular. The usual of construct and end is impeccable, the supplies are premium (though the corporate’s customary use of actual leather-based will little question alienate as many individuals because it excites), the look is subtle and understated. And, certain sufficient, there’s slightly ‘Made in Italy’ sticker on the cupboard’s rear, simply to let you understand you are coping with one thing slightly particular even among the many heady manufacturers that make the best stereo speakers.
In some ways, the Sonus Faber Lumina II sound like their cash’s-worth, in addition to feeling and looking prefer it. They’re a balanced, insightful and properly detailed hear, are capable of arrange a soundstage effectively, and with unarguable expertise the place frequency response and tonal constancy are involved. No, they’re removed from the punchiest audio system round – they run out of significant puff fairly early within the bass frequencies – and so they’re not keen about greater quantity ranges, both.
However for some individuals, the truth that that is Sonus Faber we’re speaking about will probably be sufficient to miss these (admittedly pretty gentle) shortcomings. The harder-headed client, although, is aware of that the Sonus Faber Lumina II are removed from the one selection at this form of cash – the likes of the KEF LS50 Meta loom giant.
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: Worth and launch date
- Launched June 15, 2021
- $1,499 / £999 / AU$2,199
The Sonus Faber Lumina II are on sale now, and in the UK a pair will value you £999. In the US, you’re taking a look at $1,499, whereas in Australia they’ll set you again AU$2,199.
Passive standmounting audio system at this form of cash usually are not precisely a rarity, after all. So, other than the ‘handmade in Italy’ cachet, what does Sonus Faber have up its fantastically tailor-made sleeve?
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: Options
- 29mm ‘damped apex dome’ tweeter
- 150mm pulp/fibre mid/bass driver
- Entrance-facing bass reflex port
As a pair of small and (comparatively) inexpensive passive loudspeakers, the Sonus Faber Lumina II aren’t precisely awash with options, however these they’ve are of top quality and are completely match for function.
So, studying from the highest of the entrance of every speaker, there’s a 29mm tweeter of Sonus Faber’s personal ‘damped apex dome’ design, which incorporates a silk diaphragm and is mounted utilizing a visco-elastic baffle to successfully isolate the vibration it produces from the cupboard. Beneath right here there’s a 150mm mid/bass driver – a cone made out of a mixture of pure fibres and cellulose pulp. It sits in what Sonus Faber describes as an ‘ultra-free compression basket’, and the promise is of excessive linearity and dynamic efficiency.
The audio system stand on slightly plastic plinth – there’s slightly hole between the primary cupboard and the plinth the place a bass reflex port faces forwards. This makes the Lumina II properly forgiving of positioning in your room, however just a few fairly uncommon positioning points thrown up additional down within the ‘design’ part.
The general association is nice for a frequency response of 55Hz – 24kHz, in response to Sonus Faber. Crossover is at an unremarkable 1.8kHz, sensitivity is an equally extraordinary 85dB, and nominal impedance is 4 ohms. The producer means that any worthwhile amplifier with 50 watts or extra obtainable ought to be capable to drive the Lumina II with out points.
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: Sound high quality
- Detailed and spacious presentation
- Organized and unflappable…
- …except you determine to hear at greater volumes
If you happen to’re accustomed to any of Sonus Faber’s merchandise from the flip of the century onwards, the general emphasis of the Lumina II sound isn’t going to return as a lot of a shock. Irrespective of the form of stuff you wish to take heed to, and regardless of the supply of it, these audio system are a balanced, naturalistic and periodically absorbing hear.
The tonal steadiness of the Lumina II is fastidiously impartial, so a properly natural recording like Nico’s The Fairest of the Seasons enjoys a true-to-life depiction of the small string part, acoustic guitar, and expressive and unmistakable vocal. There’s loads of element revealed and contextualized at each a part of the frequency vary, and the Sonus Faber journey from high to backside in a easy and undemonstrative method. No a part of the frequency vary will get overstated and, other than the very lowest frequencies, no half is underplayed. The crossover between tweeter and mid/bass driver is all-but imperceptible.
The audio system do good work with harmonic variations, and are fairly specific the place soundstaging is anxious, too. There’s a decent diploma of dynamic headroom obtainable, and a willingness to trace even the smaller adjustments in assault or depth fastidiously.
Change to a duplicate of Aw, Shoot! by CMAT and the Lumina II’s skill to open up a reasonably compressed and dense recording is straightforwardly spectacular. It could actually create considerable house on the soundstage, and the place much less achieved audio system current this recording as a form of aural wedding ceremony cake, with ingredient piled on high of ingredient, the Sonus Faber carry some order to bear. Element ranges are good another time, and the power to tease out the finer, extra transient occurrences in a recording and allow them to get pleasure from slightly respiration house is to not be sniffed at.
There’s considerable chunk and shine on the high of the frequency vary, however nothing too threatening or hard-edged – there’s actual refinement to the treble response right here. The midrange is eloquent and revealing, and – up to a degree – low frequencies are simply as substantial and well-resolved as all the things occurring above them.
The Lumina II don’t a lot run out of extension on the backside of the frequency vary – not by the requirements of fairly compact standmounters, anyway – as run out of conviction. There’s an absence of energy and drive in the direction of the underside of their frequency response which might make for a barely light-weight rendition of no matter it’s you’re listening to. Low frequencies are properly managed, so rhythmic expression is convincing, however outright ‘punch’ is in fairly brief provide.
It’s equally secure to say that quantity is an element within the Sonus Faber consolation zone. At average volumes the Lumina II are a composed, insightful and well-organized hear, with abilities that stretch effectively past ‘unflappability’. However in case you up the ante, volume-wise, a good bit of that composure deserts them, together with a few of their powers of group. The can start to sound simply fractionally two-dimensional and ever-so-slightly pressured. Dial the amount down just a bit and regular service is rapidly resumed.
- Sound high quality rating: 4 / 5
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: Design
- Alternative of three finishes
- Leather-based-covered sides and high floor
- 304 x 180 x 263mm (HxWxD)
Clearly you’ll make up your personal thoughts as to the ornamental potential (or in any other case) of the Sonus Faber Lumina II. What can’t be argued with is the standard of development or end – these are impeccably made loudspeakers. The corporate’s ongoing dedication to cowl a superb portion of its audio system in leather-based (either side and the highest of this mannequin) gained’t sit effectively for individuals who’d choose a vegan choice, however so far as ‘craftsmanship’ is anxious, the Lumina II have lots in proof.
Every speaker is a tidy 304 x 180 x 263mm (HxWxD), and in case you select both of the ‘walnut with maple inlays’ or ‘wenge with maple inlays’ the entrance baffle is of multilayered wooden with actual wooden veneer. The piano black various is shiny, all proper, and in addition constructed of multilayered wooden nevertheless it’s fairly reflective, so isn’t maybe the primary selection for individuals who could want to use their Lumina II as a part of a house theater set-up in a darkened room.
On the rear of every cupboard there are 4 nickel-plated speaker binding terminals that can be utilized with naked wire, banana plugs or spade connectors. Biwiring or biamping is completely easy.
Though the configuration of the audio system makes them fairly forgiving of room place, the liberal use of leather-based doesn’t. The corporate is kind of unequivocal: you shouldn’t place your Lumina II close to home windows or sources of warmth, and so they shouldn’t be uncovered to direct daylight. Maybe a lot of leather-based isn’t such a superb concept in any case…
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: Worth
‘Made in Italy’ seldom comes low cost, and in a market dominated by audio system which have been ‘designed and engineered’ in a single place after which inevitably ‘made in China’, it’s fairly a prestigious level of distinction. And the place supplies, construct high quality and the usual of end are involved, it’s arduous to argue that you just’re not getting full worth right here.
And up to a degree, that’s all true in relation to sound high quality, too. However a take a look at the ‘additionally contemplate’ part under lets you understand that in case you’re ready to forgo a little bit of the plain Sonus Faber cachet, higher pound-for-pound efficiency is on the market…
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: Do you have to purchase them?
Purchase them if…
Do not buy them if…
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: Additionally contemplate
Sonus Faber Lumina II assessment: How I examined
- Related to a Naim Uniti Nova, listening to Qobuz and Tidal tracks
- Additionally attached a Rega Apollo for CDs; Cambridge Audio/Clearaudio for vinyl
Throughout my spell listening to the Sonus Faber Lumina II, they had been powered by a Naim Uniti Nova streamer/amplifier able to delivering 70 watts of energy per channel. I additionally used the Naim for listening to Qobuz and Tidal, as it’s each a streamer and an amplifier.
I listened to compact discs utilizing a Rega Apollo participant, and vinyl by way of each the Cambridge Audio Alva TT v2 and Clearaudio Idea turntables.
The Lumina II remained in my listening house for the check’s entirety – the world is nothing too subtle, it’s a reasonably extraordinary (although not notably reflective) room that works excellently for my functions. Utilizing this disparate sources, I listened to myriad completely different recordings, from a loads of genres, and from a variety of eras.