Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Stylish and elegant design, blending minimalist aesthetics with Sonus Faber's signature touches such as leather wrap and wood front baffle
- Detailed and airy midrange and treble, offering a lush and refined sound
- Good imaging precision and soundstage reproduction
- Forgiving placement in room
- Made in Italy, reflecting quality and attention to detail in manufacturing
Product Considerations
- Bass response can be lean or lacking punch in some rooms, and may require careful placement or room correction to achieve optimal balance
- The treble can be a little accentuated, which may lead to irritation at higher listening volumes or with already bright recordings
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Lumina III matches the Polk L600s in midrange and uppers, but lacks in lower end
- Compared to the Focal Chora 806, Lumina III has better bass, speed, and articulation, while the Chora 806 has more robust midrange and more even-keeled top end
Takeaway: The Lumina III speakers offer a blend of Sonus Faber's signature style and sound at a more accessible price, making them worth considering for those who appreciate detailed highs and lush midrange. These good-looking speakers will look great in many rooms.
All
Lumina III
reviews
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Manufacturer details
- System: 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker system. Vented box design
- Tweeter: Ø 29 mm high definition DAD™ driver
- Midrange: Ø 150 mm paper cone driver
- Woofer: Ø 2x150 mm paper cone drivers
- Frequency response: 40 Hz – 24.000 Hz
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- The brand distinguishes itself through its "Lute" shaped cabinet design, aimed at minimizing internal resonances and optimizing sound dispersion.
- Sonus Faber tunes its speakers to be relatively neutral and non-fatiguing, yet also rich and full, making them enjoyable for long listening sessions across various music genres.
- Sonus Faber leverages its Italian heritage by incorporating materials like leather, wood, and sometimes concrete, into its designs, creating visually striking products.
Select products
Lumina V Amator
- Positioning: A slender 3-way floorstanding speaker designed for those seeking powerful, immersive sound in a compact form.
- Description: Impresses with its upgraded crossover network, enhancing the listening experience with improved frequency response. Compared to the Sonetto VIII, it offers a more compact design suitable for smaller spaces, while still delivering robust sound. Its use of iconic Sonus Faber materials like wood and leather provides a luxurious feel, making it ideal for those with a moderate budget seeking high-quality aesthetics and performance.
Sonetto VIII
- Positioning: The flagship model of the Sonetto collection, representing a high-end luxury speaker with a focus on natural sound.
- Description: Stands out with its use of a bespoke cork chamber to enhance midrange clarity, a feature borrowed from the flagship Suprema. It offers a powerful 3-way design, making it suitable for larger rooms compared to the Lumina V Amator.
Olympica Nova V
- Positioning: The flagship of the Olympica Nova collection, embodying Sonus Faber's Natural Sound signature.
- Description: Features a 3-way ported tower design with three woofers for powerful low frequencies, setting it apart from the Sonetto VIII's 3-way design. Its asymmetrical lute-shaped cabinet minimizes internal resonances, offering a purer sound.
Serafino
- Positioning: Part of the Homage collection, offering a balance of artistry and sonic excellence.
- Description: Incorporates upgraded drivers and a refined crossover, delivering a soundstage that captures the essence of live performances. Compared to the Amati, it offers a more compact design while still providing a rich, full sound.
Amati
- Positioning: The flagship of the Homage collection, inspired by the artistry of violin craftsmanship.
- Description: Features advanced Neodymium magnets and ultra-light voice coils for precise sound control, distinguishing it from the Serafino's design. Its elegant lute-shaped cabinet and meticulous craftsmanship make it a top choice for audiophiles seeking the ultimate listening experience.
Suprema
- Positioning: The pinnacle of Sonus Faber's design, representing the most ambitious project in their lineup.
- Description: Features a sophisticated four-column system, including two main columns and two subwoofers. Its innovative combination of drivers and external electronic crossover sets it apart from the Amati and other models.
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Used
Sonus Faber
What if you spend more?
Slender Speakers with Surprising Performance.Lumina V takes inspiration from Sonus faber’s core designs and technologies, packaged in a sleek and minimalistic floorstanding speaker.LUXURY, SIMPLIFIED.Lumina V is the flagship three-way floor standing model in the collection. A slender speaker with high-power handling and fast transient response, Lumina V produces a natural, generous, and emotional sound for an immersive listening experience.LIGHTING THE WAYThe Lumina collection ushers in exciting changes while preserving the history and values core to Sonus faber. Centered on simplicity, Lumina provides an immersive and musical experience to a broader audience.SIGNATURE SONUS FABER MATERIALSLumina V incorporates multilayer wood on the front baffle and wood veneer, available in multiple finishes. The sides and top of the speaker cabinet are hand-covered in black leather.SIMPLICITY AND STYLELumina takes note of Sonus faber’s iconic natural materials.
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Product Strengths
- Elegant design with a combination of wood and leather that gives a classy appearance
- Impressive bass output, with some reviewers noting deep and tuneful bass
- The midrange is articulate and expressive, delivering vocals with palpability and detail
- Smooth and detailed high-end reproduction, thanks to the Damped Apex Dome (DAD) tweeter
- Relatively easy to drive with a sensitivity of 89-90dB
Product Considerations
- Requires careful placement to achieve the best balance, especially regarding toe-in
- The bass can sometimes be perceived as boomy depending on the room acoustics
- Some reviewers mention the included binding posts are cheap
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Q Acoustics Concept 50, the Lumina V has a more live sound, but the Concept 50 is more neutral, and more inert
- Compared to the Polk R700, the Lumina V is sonically similar to the R700, but with slightly less bass and a smaller cabinet—with better aesthetics; the R700 is more full range and warmer
- Compared to the Spendor A4 or ProAc Response DT8, the Lumina V is not as precise, but offers a natural sonic grace
Takeaway: The Sonus Faber Lumina V is an elegant speaker that delivers detailed sound and impressive bass. It is a great option if you want speakers that look as good as they sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Slender speakers with surprising performance.
Lumina V Amator builds upon Lumina V, with upgraded technology and fresh design queues.
AMATOR HERITAGE
Amator is an evocative name, which has always characterized all the special Sonus faber models, becoming synonymous with uniqueness. Any market enthusiast knows that from this name it is right to expect an exciting and engaging listen.
MADE IN ITALY
Made in Sonus faber's Vicenza, Italy factory, Lumina Amator incorporates iconic Sonus faber design materials, including wood and leather. Lumina V Amator features the simple squared design of the Lumina collection with new front panels featuring 45-degree woodgrain lacquered veneers.
IMPROVED CROSSOVER
The Lumina V Amator crossovers have been designed, inheriting the legacy left by the development of the new Homage collection. Many of the solutions adopted on the new special models are derived from those of the Amati G5 and Guarneri G5.
Lumina V Amator boasts an upgraded crossover network at 2850 Hz, a 250 Hz improvement from Lumina V, elevating the listening experience to new heights.
SIMPLICITY AND STYLE
Lumina takes note of Sonus faber's iconic natural materials.
Product Strengths
- Upgraded crossover network
- Luxurious look
- Consistent sound regardless of distance from the rear wall
- Refined, cultured, and easy-to-enjoy sound, with a combination of bass richness, an open midband, and explicit treble
Product Considerations
- Iron spikes fitted to the bottom of the speaker can scratch floors
- Spikes can be sharp
- Manual suggestions for placement are simply a serving suggestion
- Not suitable for those seeking ultimate sound levels, muddy bass, or harsh treble—they're too refined for that
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Focal, the Lumina V Amator is better for music listening because of its richness
Takeaway: The Lumina V Amator speakers offer a combination of fine audio engineering and stunning craftsmanship. With their rich, refined, and involving sound, they're great for those who listen to music and appreciate striking design.
Video review
Our take on the brand
A SOUND THAT SURPRISES
With its slender figure and exceptional power, Sonetto III combines design and innovation. A sophisticated 2.5-way system showcases the new flower-patterned suspension mid-woofer, meticulously designed by the Sonus faber DesignLab in Italy. This development process ensures that every aspect of the speaker's performance is carefully honed to deliver an unparalleled listening experience
DECEPTIVELY SLIM, IMPRESSIVELY STRONG
Looks can be deceiving. Despite its slim dimensions, Sonetto III has the commanding presence of a much larger speaker, thanks to advanced technologies and design solutions. Its exquisite aesthetic appeal has been enhanced with a new concrete base, designed for improved structural integrity and effortless installation.
ORGANIC BASKET
Designed and developed in Sonus faber laboratories, the die cast baskets have been designed from scratch specifically for this collection.
CLASSIC DESIGN
The lute shape that characterizes many Sonus faber models has been redesigned to ensure the delivery of the perfect control over internal resonances.
SLENDER YET MIGHTY
Sonetto brings together Sonus faber's core design principles in an elegant silhouette.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Visually appealing lute-shaped cabinets designed to improve sound dispersion
- A new concrete base provides more stability and better vibration management
- Known for their smooth musical sound, warmth in midrange while retaining musical details
- The Sonetto G2 lineup shows attention to detail and has exceptional quality binding posts making it easy to connect to any system
- The new Camellia midrange driver brings a sense of realism and transparency, bringing out every detail
Product Considerations
- Bookshelf models need some good current to really show their best
- Meticulous placement is needed to bring out the best in the speakers
- The bass on the G1 is not as strong or clear as on the G2
- The G2s are larger and heavier than the G1s, which may be a concern for some users
- The round binding post cover doesn't work with all types of loudspeaker cables
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Sonetto 3 G2 has much more bass than the Sonetto 3 G1, and the voicing is very different, the G2's bass is faster and livelier
- The G2 is more transparent and has better tonal qualities than the G1
- The G2 has a bigger soundstage, better separation of instruments, and better depth separation than the G1
Takeaway: The Sonetto G2 speakers are well-crafted and aesthetically pleasing, providing a smooth, detailed, and musical sound experience. They are a winning combination of craftsmanship, aesthetics, and technical achievements.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Introducing the T Series The T66 is the first model in GoldenEar’s new T Series. While it boasts several significant refinements of our time-tested design concepts, the T66 is undeniably a GoldenEar loudspeaker, placing beautiful sound and music before all else. Honoring the Triton Series The T66 honors the critically acclaimed Triton Series, sharing a similarly tall, slender profile; built-in DSP-controlled subwoofer amplification; and a driver complement comprising GoldenEar’s High-Velocity Folded Ribbon AMT tweeter, cast-basket mid/bass units, quadratic planar radiators, and long-throw powered sub-bass section. Onward and Upward Several important cosmetic and sonic refinements distinguish the new T66 from previous GoldenEar speakers. These include a dramatically augmented crossover design, high-quality internal wiring, a new cast-aluminum base and metal grille, and, in addition to GoldenEar’s Gloss Black cabinet finish, a vibrant Santa Barbara Red.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent bass performance is a defining feature, providing tight, smooth, even, solid, and tangible bass extension into the 20 Hz range, eliminating placement issues associated with separate subwoofers
- Balanced overall sound, coherence, and ability to present music in a natural and effortless way is consistently praised
- High levels of detail come through with the High-Velocity Folded Ribbon AMT tweeter and cast-basket mid/bass units
- A holographic image over the seating area of a typical sofa is capable with excellent imaging and a wide and open soundstage, even when not seated in the exact sweet spot
- The Santa Barbara Red finish option receives high marks for its visual appeal
Product Considerations
- Still a significant investment, especially the Santa Barbara Red finish
- The metal grille covering the drivers is not designed to be easily removed
- Care should be taken with system matching, due to a slightly hot high-end
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The T66 offers more refinement and a more 'of-a-piece' sound than the Triton One.R
- Has internal structural improvements that make it even more stable and rigid than previous generations
Takeaway: The GoldenEar T66 delivers audiophile-grade sound and aesthetics, with powerful bass and exceptional detail. These speakers are easy to incorporate into nearly any environment, and have the power to let the listener appreciate all the nuances in favorite songs or movies.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Fit and finish plus performance that is a bargain for around $3k/pair
- Gelcore cabinet construction minimizes unwanted sound energy from resonance and vibrations
- A tweeter that is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated (floating) from the baffle provides lower distortion
- Size, weight, and richness of tone belies their size, with a wider baffle to each loudspeaker pointing at you
- A mild sound throws emphasis back to the midrange that in itself seems almost holographic, as well as deeply insightful in a gentle but revealing manner
Product Considerations
- A medium to large size room is required to shine, otherwise the bass will dominate
- Flaws in poor recordings can be revealed due to their detail and accuracy—warts and all performance
- The top-end is a little soft and gentle—classic BBC like—which may require amps with some zing to compensate
- Listeners seeking absolute detail or transparency might not be satisfied because of Q Acoustics' house sound that massages treble and plumps up bass and lower mid
- They don't go sub-40Hz deep, frequency response is rated at 42 Hz – 30 kHz (-6dB)
Takeaway: The Q Acoustics Concept 50 offers excellent value with its blend of innovative design and high-quality sound, making it a great choice for enjoying music with a sense of depth and engagement. The Concept 50s are easy to listen to and fun.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Retro aesthetics reminiscent of vintage speakers, with a well-applied veneer and woven front panel
- Balanced sound with clarity in the midrange and treble, creating an immersive listening experience
- Good sensitivity makes them relatively easy to drive with a range of amplifiers
- Acoustic suspension design provides tight bass and allows for flexible placement near walls
- Three-position attenuation switch allows for adjustment to different room acoustics
Product Considerations
- Can sound a bit bright out of the box, requiring a break-in period
- Sound can harden a little when provoked by poor or bright recordings, and they are finicky about upstream electronics
- Bass might not be punchy enough for some listeners, potentially requiring a subwoofer or EQ adjustments
- Lack of provision for spikes to fasten the speakers to the carpet
- Grilles need to be off for best sound, according to one reviewer
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the JBL L100, the Model Five is better balanced and more enjoyable to listen to
- Compared to the NHT C3, the Model Five is an upgraded variant, offering deeper, wider sound and more resolution
- Compared to the Buchardt S400, the Model Five sounds more open, brighter, and more detailed—with better instrument placement
- Compared to the Aurender S5W, the Model Five reaches lower frequencies and has better overall resolution and detail
- Compared to the Graham LS6, they perform on par, albeit via a different approach, trading in some refinement for a more direct—in-your-face sound
Takeaway: The KLH Model Five is a speaker with retro style and balanced sound. They are versatile and can be used in different listening spaces.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent clarity and detail resolution, with leading edges of notes crisply defined
- Accurate reproduction, with precise tonal accuracy and fine spatial definition within the soundstage
- Superb build quality for the money, and they look more expensive than they are
- Easy to drive without requiring excessive power to perform to their best
- Soundstage width is better than the 3050i
Product Considerations
- Needs care in system matching, as they are transparent and will reveal shortcomings in the source or amplifier
- Can sound slightly lean throughout the lower midrange, and the highs can sometimes present as a bit hot depending on the content
- Does not plumb the depths that some other floorstanders do
- Not designed for pokey rooms and cupboard-sized man caves, they need to breathe and require adequate space
- Some reviewers felt the build quality of the binding posts could be better
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The 5040 has a more neutral tonal balance with better-defined bass and exceptional clarity, while the 3050i delivers greater overall impact with its larger drivers and cabinet
Takeaway: The Q Acoustics 5040 is a well-built speaker that sounds great and looks modern, making it a good choice for those who want clarity and detail in their music, but system matching is important to avoid a bright presentation. These speakers are a strong statement in the right listening environment for the price.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers a lot of sound output and low bass, good for listeners who like full-range speakers
- The diamond-coated tweeter offers a big sonic improvement, sounding more open and less tinny or strained on the high end
- Exceptional value for money
- Exceptional bass weight and presence for the price range
- The Ultra Evolution Pinnacle offer scale, drama, and full-range sonics
Product Considerations
- Voiced for warmth rather than accuracy
- Can be room-sensitive in ways that other designs are not
- Should be driven with a robust amplifier
- The speaker's tonality is not linear, with a dip in the upper mid-range followed by a peak, making the sound somewhat shouty
- Speakers require placement away from walls due to a wide Q bump in the lower bass region
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- vs Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4: The new tweeter in the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle loudspeakers had a lot of that open sound when playing "Blackbird" from QoBuz, but the highs weren't as open and airy as the nearly six times more expensive Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 speakers—the improvement over the past tweeter is notable
- vs Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3: B&W is slightly more money and slightly more refined
- vs MartinLogan XT F200: The SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle loudspeakers may have a different sonic signature
Takeaway: The SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers are a great option for those seeking a powerful, full-range sound with exceptional bass at a competitive price. They are the best SVS speaker yet and will make the listening experience vibrant and fun.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers weighty bass that can be felt due to its 15-inch passive bass radiator, a unique feature among Klipsch Heritage speakers
- Offers an open, transparent, true-to-life sound and a greater sense of scale compared to smaller Klipsch speakers, getting very close to the standards set by the La Scala in midrange clarity
- Detailed and nimble high frequencies, refined and easier on the ears than past Klipsch designs due to crossover updates
- Known for superb imaging, even better than some high-end bookshelf speakers, with a clean, sparkly, detailed, and 3-dimensional sound character
- Plays bigger, fatter, and taller than most speakers under £10,000, delivering effortless dynamics and a full-blooded, immediate sonic presentation
Product Considerations
- Placement is crucial; close to the wall can result in too much bass, compromising clarity, while too far can diminish bass capability
- May reveal faults in recordings, with some modern recordings not sounding as good as expected, and proper amplifier matching is essential to avoid tweeter hiss
- Can sound a bit more treble centric and forward compared to other Heritage speakers, potentially sounding hotter on top and thinner in the mids with certain amplifiers
- Requires careful amplifier matching, as the speaker can reveal weaknesses in the system
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Heresy Mark 4: Forte IV has more bass and scale, though some may prefer the size and styling of the Heresy
- Vs La Scala: Forte IV gets close to the La Scala's transparency but provides more bass
- Vs KLH Model 5: Forte IV is the better speaker overall, with greater scale, openness, and dynamics, but the Model 5 is easier to place and more forgiving of poor recordings
- Vs JBL L100 Classic: Forte IV has a more open and live sound
Takeaway: The Klipsch Forte 4 is a highly regarded speaker, offering a great blend of detail, dynamics, and bass performance making it a very enjoyable listening experience. With careful placement and amplifier matching, it can deliver exceptional sound quality that rivals more expensive speakers.
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