Sonus Faber Lumina II - Review & Measurements by Erin

[MarcT]

Bite the bullet and buy a calibrated measurement microphone (umik-1 is like 100 usd). There is no quicker and more sure way to know exactly what is going on and all your other setups will benefit too. Just to be sure though, have you confirmed that the tweeter is working? Now that I see that the speaker uses very shallow crossover slope, it actually might not be obvious if it's not working. The tweeter may have blown (it's not very well protected by the minimalist crossover) or the jumper/link on the terminal is missing/loose.

Thanks, I just checked and both tweeters are definitely working.

In addition to my very damped room, I just realized that another factor that may at least in part account for my Lumina's not sounding very bright is the power amp I use. It is an older Krell FPB 400cx amp, which is a class A amp and I believe Krell may have intentionally designed these amps for that big ballsy but not bright type of sound. If this Krell didn't weigh over 100 pounds, I would swap it out with an amp known to be neutral and see how the tweeters sound.

 

[MarcT]

I listened to multiple sonus Faber speakers. Bright with no bass...

Hmm, that is the opposite of my impression of my Lumina V's. But, as I previously explained, my dead room and amp may be the explanation. For me, the bass is the best part of my Lumina V's, as I can't believe how deep they go for a tower of this size.

 

[CleanSound]

Hmm, that is the opposite of my impression of my Lumina V's. But, as I previously explained, my dead room and amp may be the explanation. For me, the bass is the best part of my Lumina V's, as I can't believe how deep they go for a tower of this size.

It is also possible that you are "used to" that sound. If you are up for it, get a miniDSP USB microphone and REW to measure your speakers in room. That will tell you the full story.

 

[TonyJZX]

i'm surprised that they can even make $1,400 speakers in Italy and wonder why Sonus are even trying to get this class of product... i guess sound united needs their brands to pay the rent

what next? a 5.1 kit with a $500 denon avr?

 

[Bogda89]

i'm surprised that they can even make $1,400 speakers in Italy and wonder why Sonus are even trying to get this class of product... i guess sound united needs their brands to pay the rent

what next? a 5.1 kit with a $500 denon avr?

I am pretty sure that they are made in china

 

[rynberg]

our opinions are not that different actually. I absolutely applaud the complete measurements, but the keyword here is "accessible". Not a lot of people have knowledge, patience and/or time to read/watch a lengthy video/review. Sure, if you are into those things, it's like a treat. but definitely not for everyone, and not for every review

When I am on the verge of buying something, you can be sure I read and re-read reviews multiple times, even for parts I don't really understand. But definitely not on every speaker.

You contradict yourself, first you say you it's too complex but then you say you want to form your own opinion. How can you form your own opinion without looking at the data?

Erin has the subjective commentary right at the beginning and you can quickly jump to the parts of the video showing whatever data you might want to see. Or he creates a write-up on his website you can quickly go through. I fail to see how Amir's reviews are more accessible...I mean do you really need to see some form of panther at the top to form your "own" opinion?

Here's a hint: you don't have to watch/read. Please don't ask Erin to dumb down his reviews for the rest of us.

 

[Vacceo]

i'm surprised that they can even make $1,400 speakers in Italy and wonder why Sonus are even trying to get this class of product... i guess sound united needs their brands to pay the rent

what next? a 5.1 kit with a $500 denon avr?

Matched to a Mac amp, you can know for sure It will be correctly colored on the speaker

 

[rynberg]

Another junk speaker from a "storied" brand. It's just amazing how many companies make an existence out of pushing junk on the populace.

 

[MarcT]

I am pretty sure that they are made in china

Made in Italy.

 

[VintageFlanker]

I am pretty sure that they are made in china

Except they're aren't...

 

[SorenTyson]

Another junk speaker from a "storied" brand. It's just amazing how many companies make an existence out of pushing junk on the populace.

Most of their speakers look great though. Rave reviews and shady salesmen are the disease, ASR and Erin is the cure

 

[VintageFlanker]

Another junk speaker from a "storied" brand. It's just amazing how many companies make an existence out of pushing junk on the populace.

I listened to these at PAVS and they were actually good :

 

[tw 2022]

Another junk speaker from a "storied" brand. It's just amazing how many companies make an existence out of pushing junk on the populace.

I tend to agree, I'll take my emo b1 mods 8 days out of 7....Erin was being kind when he compared the sonus fabers to the sierra1 v2s....it's a no contest ...

 

[Bogda89]

Except they're aren't...
View attachment 332662

If true than that's really nice. We need more products made domestically in native countries.

Although, those claims are sometimes semi misleading, like some products just assembled here from imported parts, but still is something.

I think I heard from someone, maybe Dennis or Chris from ps that their cabinets are made in the same factory that makes cabinets for sonus and Bowers. It's gorgeous looking speaker and spectacular finish anyway. But not my type of sound. I like a little brighter speakers, but I also like extended punchy Bass

 

[TonyJZX]

those kinds of 'purity tests' dont make sense in our global economy

we know the Chinese dominate in discrete components... is there Chinese parts in this? almost assuredly

i am reminded by the fact that my partner has a made in italy handbag that is more expensive than this set of speakers... which to some of the guys here is ENTIRELY not surprising

the materials come from outside of italy and they are hand made in italy but i seen a documentary recently where its an italian factory full of chinese migrant labor... sponsored by the italian government

and so the best response is to not play this game... and dont buy from these brands

btw. isnt the perrenial favorite here the DBR62? just get that instead

apparently as low as €250 euros

i wish those of us outside of europe get these deals

 

[Karmacoma]

Another debunking from Erin! These are my favourite kind of reviews, hyped expensive brands striped naked, I must be some kind of audio pervert.

 

[Dennis Murphy]

i'm surprised that they can even make $1,400 speakers in Italy and wonder why Sonus are even trying to get this class of product... i guess sound united needs their brands to pay the rent

what next? a 5.1 kit with a $500 denon avr?

What makes you think they're made in Italy?

 

[TonyJZX]

What makes you think they're made in Italy?

Sonus Faber Lumina II - Review & Measurements by Erin

Bite the bullet and buy a calibrated measurement microphone (umik-1 is like 100 usd). There is no quicker and more sure way to know exactly what is going on and all your other setups will benefit too. Just to be sure though, have you confirmed that the tweeter is working? Now that I see that the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

i want to posting something snarky but really, what's the point

 

[CleanSound]

What he doesn't speak very highly of anyway?

Real science, he speaks highly of everything but science

 

[delta76]

You contradict yourself, first you say you it's too complex but then you say you want to form your own opinion. How can you form your own opinion without looking at the data?

Erin has the subjective commentary right at the beginning and you can quickly jump to the parts of the video showing whatever data you might want to see. Or he creates a write-up on his website you can quickly go through. I fail to see how Amir's reviews are more accessible...I mean do you really need to see some form of panther at the top to form your "own" opinion?

Here's a hint: you don't have to watch/read. Please don't ask Erin to dumb down his reviews for the rest of us.

I did not say anything about dumbing down. It is about accessible. I prefer Amir's approach because I can quickly decide if I should care about a speaker, before diving into the review (which most parts, for me, are still just colorful graphs which do not make a lot of senses)

Life is too short to read every review carefully. For me at least.