**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY** 1) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please) 2) All comments are moderated by a third party
These speakers are simply awesome. I now have them broken in well. They are an absolute treat to listen to. I didn't really Need a sub, but I did get a REL T-zero MKIII just to hit a tiny bit lower. Match made in heaven. I am in love with my system again. Thanks to the Lumina 2s. I bought these after buying the KEF LS50 Metas and the Polk R200's. Liked the Lumina2 better than BOTH.
I am not the target market for these videos. I don't even own any speakers. Just a rather nice pair of IEM's and a little DAC/AMP stack. And yet I watch every one of John's videos just to learn more and to enjoy the wonderful delivery. So many "audiophile-targeted" channels fill their time with buzzwords and cryptic jargon, and a thinly veiled distaste for anyone not in the know. Darko Audio is a breath of fresh air.
I purchased a pair lumina 2 's a couple of months ago . Largely based on this review. Couldn't be happier . A RelT7i takes care of the low end . Fantastic pairing .
I was considering this speaker but I am worried about the bass, its going to be for a bedroom tv/streaming setup and I don't want to do a sub in this space. I primarily stream electronic and industrial music in my room so low end might be an issue for me but I don't know.
I received the sonus faber lumina 2 yesterday, I have been using the Dynaudio emit 20 over the last two years paired with a Rega elex-r and a Bluesound node 2i. The Sonus Faber sound amazing with the Rega amplifier, the luminas have taken the system to a different level! I can highly recommend this combination
Thanks For your posting James. I consider buying SF Lumina 2. Now i have SF Principa5, floor speaker. But I am moving to another home where nu listening room is smaller I have now about 20m2. I only listen and love classical music. What is your opinion SF L2 for classical music? My amp is NAD C 326BEE. Greetings from the Netherlands
I live in the San Juan Archipelago (Pacific NW) The midday sky is dark, the landscape remote & organic, composed of a palette of a million shades of green, rain falls gently, water drips ubiquitously, the forest floor yields yet firmly, while paradoxically, Bright Magic provides a perfect soundtrack for the day. Thanks for sharing
What if we appreciate aesthetics same as sound quality, would it be good for whole industry? Would great looking speakers push industry to new level? As much I love and prefer sound over aesthetics it was so much easier for me to buy speakers like a nice piece of furniture which my wife love as well (for look). I bought Sonus Faber for both sound quality and looks.
John - I can’t afford pretty much any of the gear you review…but I can dream. I also don’t understand a lot of the technical and audio jargon…but I can learn. But what I DO get with almost every video, is fresh music to explore and enjoy. Thank you! Maybe one day I’ll be able to enjoy it on some of the gear you showcase…probably not though
There are not many UA-cam videos I clicked and watched to the very end when it’s first released and especially very early in the morning before work. This is one of them.
Wow! I 100% agree with you : "Enjoyability" is a much more useful qualification for describing musical reproduction than neutrality . For me, enjoyablity is the main factor for choosing speakers ( or any component hifi component, but especially speakers) because why are we listening to music if not for the pleasure? That said, I understand that not everyone share the same tastes. I also share another stong point you made about "voice intelligibility". At 75 years, my hearing decreases at frequencies above 4500 Hz. This is not a problem when listening to music but I have some problems with spoken words containing the letters s, f, b, c, d, p, t, m, n, and v, in songs or listening speeches or conversations. I have tried the KEF LS Meta at home last week and I did not enjoy the experience compared to my Totem Hawks speakers driven by my YBA Integré Passion amplifier. They are less dry and shouty, much more fun, organic, even better holographic qualities and have more solid bass. I don't think this feeling is only due to being more familiar with the Hawks.
Hi John, another excellent review and very topical for me! as I recently had a home audition of a pair of Sonetto IIIs (the first time I've every heard Sonus Faber...!) - I was astounded actually and mesmerised really! I had actually gone into a great independent HiFi dealer near Cambridge to listen to a Moon 340i Integrated amp (to upgrade from Roksan K3 Int. Amp.) and while I was there I said to them "ok - hit me with something new on the speaker front!" When I listened to them in-store (with my kit!) - I would have guessed they were more like £5K!! Better still they sounded staggeringly good in my home (I currently have KEF LS50 Metas) - great sound stage and scale, beautiful fluid and effortless sound with a distinct character (colour?) of their own - but one which DID NOT overwhelm the character of music. The downward firing port on the Sonetto IIIs is great for easier / more flexible placement in a small / medium room. Your review is making think of Lumina IIs (or maybe Is for a near field desktop setup)! so thanks for the review. I am now an absolute Sonus Faber convert & fan! your principle of "a good speaker makes you want to turn the volume up and not down" is so simple but SPOT ON TRUE!!! I love the Sonetto IIIs ! and asking myself could I eventually move up to Olympica Nova II in time (although I would need a bigger lounge or listening space). Kepp up the good work - Alan
I absolutely agree with coloring as I love vacuum tube equipment and turn up the color of my high-end Samsung TV as well. Better than life's static realism!
Sonus' speakers are truly gorgeous. Completely setting sound aside, I think they absolutely tower above most audio companies just in terms of their aesthetics.
Nice video and I truly always enjoy how you present information in your videos. I have the KEF LS50 Meta's in 2 installations in the house both with KEF KC62 subs. I am not one who particularly likes modern design but I think you have to look beyond that with the LS50 Meta design. The rounded back edges actually are more than an aesthetic touch. It actually helps with off axis performance. I have had a number of different speakers over time such as Vandersteen but the LS50 Meta's are truly one of the best sounds I have heard for the money. Since you had the KC62 subs maybe you might give an update on this video using the them with the Sonus Farber to see how the subsystem compares with the KEF LS50 Meta/KC62 combo.
I always wonder about this. being in mid nowhere there are no Hi Fi stores around, just to start ( ahh the old days of ' wall to wall stereo' - at the mall near you ! maybe 25 different speakers, near full range lineup from the major companies ; Pioneer, Sansui EPI etc. not talking near custom audiophile. not a place to do even semi serious listening. ) anyway - as a curiosity, how good would dipping the bass & treble a bit simulate the 'mid boost'.... sidenote, I have Meta Spks and an Outlaw receiver
Thank you for your review. Just bought the Lumina 3 instead of the 2. Coming from the Focal Aria 906, who unfortunately have some issues in one driver, I think they are a step up. To be honest I do not agree with your “no harshness” comment regarding the Lumina 2. I listened on the Lumina 2 to Natalie Merchant’s “The Pepper Man” with a Marantz model 30 amplifier. Natalie Merchant unfortunately had some harsh- and shrillness with the Lumina 2. Going to the Lumina 3 with their 3-way system the harshness was completely gone. So I bought the Lumina 3. Unfortunately here on UA-cam one does not find many reviews for the Lumina 3.
Re Colouration: You're spot on John.. In fact all the "Neutralists" out there, don't know what the neutral sound is unless they were in the studio at the session.. For better or worse, those studio monitors produced the original sound.
Really looking forward to getting mine. These seem to be only through dealer channels for the most part. Placed my order in early August with a mid December arrival…patience is a virtue
Terrific video John! Quite a few reviewers have compared the Lumina II with the Metas but yours is the best by far. That said which one would you pick?
Enjoyment? That might be the word. Thank you for another excellent overview. Looking forward to your thoughts on amp pairings. Now I’m going to listen to the new Nightfly with my bedside rig iPad Pro Apple Music lossless>Geshelli Labs JNog Dac>SMSL Sp200>Focal Radiance
Nice that you mentioned Pixies again. My all-time favorite band, and the last actual gig I went to, pre-COVID here in NL. Music first! That's what I love about this channel, and what I think lack a lot of other audiophiles channels that only talk about gear. I love the combination, so thanks John, keep up the good work! BTW: through my LS50meta's, I think Trompe le Monde sounds great to me, especially now I've got the KC62 sub to accompany it with.
Thanks for tipping me off about The Nightfly live. It pleases me to see someone like you "take a punt" on a pair of speakers. I did the same with a pair of Audio Physic Step 25, perhaps comparable if a little more expensive, and I'm very pleased.
I have a pair of Lumina II and he describes them well: the top it's just fun to listen to, not at all fatiguing or harsh. It's just a bite of energy to enjoy the music more. The sound it's just clean, instruments are well defined. Great depth but not much vertical soundstage. You definitely need a sub, not to get the windows rattling, but to complete the overall frequency range.
I am going to stick my neck out here and say I will choose the KEFs purely on aesthetic alone. I live in a small cottage with one living space and I don't want my room to look or feel like a HiFi shop. I want my HiFi to feel like it is part of the design of the room, which the KEFs achieve, especially with those colour options! Great video as usual, John.
In a far as the bass is concerned…. Surprise surprise. I own a pair of Nova 1s. The bass is so good that it even challenges my floor standing b&w 804 D3s
I have 803 d3’s and nova 1’s and I did a side by side comparison and I can tell you the bowers like being played much louder but the sonus Olympica nova 1’s image is amazing.. I bought the nova 1’s with a nova w as a center channel for my wife for Mother’s Day present “lol” for our bedroom setup and it’s a tight space and seems to work ok with our extra sr6015 but I picked up an arcam avr20 yesterday so with Dirac and a rel ht1003 it could improve things for the better. In our big listening space they were much better with the McIntosh amps
Also I know I've said it before but you should really check out the Edifier S3000 Pro. Don't let the brand name fool you, these are not some well priced computer speakers. Truly remarkable
Thanks JD I’ve got some Quad mini floorstanders but looking to go to standmounts just for the sake of change to get a fresh sound happening! The Lumina II sound very appealing from what you described.
I had a pair of Sonus Faber Signum a few years ago. They sounded sweet but lacked dinamics and had a lot of sibilance with TV sound. Traded for my current B&W CM1 that are near perfect in everything and have gone trough 3 diferent rooms and 3 amps... but would like to try a pair of LS50 and these Luminas have great reviews too ;)
Yes, neutrality does not mean better speakers. I like elevated treble because it gives more energy up top. It’s the reason I picked up b&w 707 s2 over the metas.
After feeling like I needed more electronic music suggestions you are now my go to guy for that. You should start a new channel just for electronic music!
Lovely speakers. I almost bought them paired with a bluesound powernode 2i. I completely agree about their captivating rythm and clarity in those mid to high's that make them very atractive and aurally pleasing. But, I was then invited to listen (in another shop) to a similarly priced amp/streamer, the Quad Vena 2. Having sound tested (by which I mean sat on a couch and tried to make head or tail of what my senses were telling me) a number of speakers and yo-yo'd back and forth between the 2 resellers one thing struck me midway through re-evaluating the sound comming from the Sonus - Faber's. They seemed to leave me with a sense that I'd been bamboozled by their ability to produce low bass. It's very clever. Unfortunately, another thing I noticed was the sound of clicking fingers (sorry, can't remember the track) sounded more like a "clipping" sound. The speakers I was holding them up aginst (and promptly bought) were the Audio Physic Classic 3's! I found the reproduction of realistic sound comming from these speakers to be paramount and overriding in my choice to go for the Classic 3s. They have more than enough low frequency for the average large livingroom, reproduce (in combination with the Quad), and in my opinion, a very wholesome and balanced sound stage and I so hope that one day the Darko show will choose or want to test these two components because I have loads of respect for the way mr. Darko breaks down and does his utmost to verbalise what can only be heard and experienced in his always honest opinion.
I've owned both. LS50 Meta is more accurate overall but has a metallic tinge when turned up. Lumina II is more peaky and required some equalization for me. My amp is Creek Evolution 100A. I used a sub crossed at 60hz with both, recommend you do too.
Well done John. Good idea to own a couple of references from known top of the game players like KEF and Sonus Faber. And all the better they are from the affordable middle of the pricing range.
As an Atom owner I'm looking forward to the follow up! Great stuff as always, I've always liked the fact that colour and nuance can bring far more enjoyment to music reproduction than the satisfaction of something measuring neutral. Whatever that means...
Great review, love your delivery and explanations. Question, how far apart are the Lumina speakers, tweeter-to-tweeter? How far away do you sit from their center. Thanks very much and happy 2022. 🎵
I remember listening to that Plastikman Music album for the first time as my jaw dropped in disbelief from the opening track. I wonder, does everyone remember their first time listening to it?
My first Plastikman exposure was at a ‘rave’ in Denver around 1999. He blew my mind, but there might have been some chemical support. Anyway, I’ve never forgotten and still get chills every time I listen …some 20 years later.
The “neutrality” debate can go on endlessly. But my experience is that speakers that, at first, sounded “exciting” eventually wore out their welcome as they leant a certain sameness to everything played through them. . . Similar to the SET amps that were all the rage 20 years ago. I own a pair of LS-50s and will admit that those, driven by the BAT electronics that I own, do not throw a top end at you the way some other combinations might. OTOH, I could just be losing my hearing. Applause for your channel and your approach to reviewing. I always check out your latest.
I heard the Lumina 3 recently and have to agree with you. They are a very likeable speaker straight up but I don't think I could live with them long term. For most casual listeners though they will impress any friends they have over.
Very curious to hear your take on the Lumina / Naim Uniti Atom combo. My guess would be that the Atom would be a little light for driving a 86db / 4 ohm speaker, in a room bigger than a kitchen, den or bedroom but maybe not.
Good shout on the Downpour... Very experimental vibe , but defo harking back to that golden age of the mid to late 90's Some realllllly interesting production on their drums giving a kind of 'live / @ the club' sound , wonder what machines they use? Great for banging through my system , have you heard of the Russel K Red 50? These bad boys are rapido and don't get sybillant , but no surprises, don't go ultra low. Oh yeah they are coloured too with some clever internal porting , it's like they were made for female vocals ... Maybe try and find a pair for a comparative listen?
For the $1700 youi can try a pair of American made time aligned Vandersteen Model 1Ci ..only thing is you need audioquest spade connectors that are more narrow...These look cool though!
Thanx! Good insightful review ! Any chance you might get to review the 40th Anniversary Triangle Comètes ?!? Also, what’s your take on Canton ?!? Bill from France ( an American in Moselle)
Had many sonus fabers,anthony gallo ref 3,s,,,nothing beats magnepans,,beats a box speaker all day,the treble,mid,depth and soundstage are amazing if you are not a bass junkie
I've had a chance to hear these and they're shockingly good. Like, I was legitimately surprised at how good they sounded. There may be better options for that budget, but I doubt that many people would be disappointed with these. You do get surprisingly decent bass, but a sub is required if your music calls for it. They're really quite pleasant and the little diffuser on the tweeter makes them really sweet compared to some textile dome tweeters that lack such diffusion. If you're in the market for bookshelves, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to try to find somewhere to demo these.
I just listened to them and also the Lumina 3 and wow... impressive and not bright so won't be fatiguing like my old B&W. You are right when you say: "you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to try to find somewhere to demo these." well said!
@@ServantofJC The Sonus Faber have a bit of upper treble gain around 7.5-8kHz, if my ears are correct, but that rarely becomes problematic until you crank the volume really high, and only on certain tracks with bad compression artifacting. Otherwise, it primarily enhances sound stage without making the reproduction sound wonky. If you like the "easy listening" genres like Jazz, Funk, Orchestral, Classical, and Acoustic, then you'll like the sound signature that Sonus Faber offers. They aren't limited to those genres, but those are what they excel at.
@@mndlessdrwer Thank you, very interesting information: I do like Orcherstral, Classical, Neoclassical and Acoustic music. Now I'm just wondering if I should go with the Lumina 2 with sub or with Lumina 3. I have a large room so I think I should buy the Lumina 3.
@@ServantofJC I'd say Lumina 3 and decide on a sub later when funds allow. A sub will almost always be a good idea, but towers are more capable of producing solid midbass without needing to rely on a sub. They also typically allow you to play your music louder with less distortion compared to their equivalent bookshelf speakers. The downside is that you need a larger room to create some distance from the speakers to reduce the perceived vertical distortion created by the larger vertical stack of drivers. If you've got the space, then towers are my preference.
I would really to hear your oppinion on the fishhead audio resolution series. Small manufacturer from Berlin. Similar price point, and supposedly also very special.
I'm really torn between the Lumina II and III... Both feature what I am looking for: Bi-amping terminals (as I'm using a 7.2 AVR for 5.1 bi-amping) and no rear port. As I have a small living room, about ~5 x3,80m, my current Nubert nuBox 483 sometimes sound a little droney in the bass. They're close to the front wall and there's nothing I can do about the placement. Between the Luminas I just don't know if to stay with beautiful small towers (still droney?) or go stand-mounted. I do have a small REL T-Zero III subwoofer to go alongside...
I'd completely forgotten about Donald Fagen until I watched this video - thanks. p.s. I think the live version of The Nightfly is 'better' as for me it has more depth; the studio version sounds a bit clinical and flat. (listened to on LS50 Meta and Bluesound Sub Pulse+ powered by Bluesound Powernode)
I want those stands so bad, but it’s hard for me to justify the cost (I already have great, albeit less attractive stands). I have too many stands as is. But I still want them.
John I'm really digging your content. I'm looking seriously at a pair of these now as I'm upgrading my system and just acquired a Peachtree Nova 300. In the video you stated that some care should be taken when selecting an amp because they are 4 ohm but you didn't elaborate - excuse my ignorance but specifically what needs to be considered with a lower (or is it higher) impedance? Thanks very much, and I'm willing to also get an education from a few of your legion of fans!
Remember when American cars had vinyl roofs? Strange choice to put pleather on a speaker. Still better looking than the space age LS50. Give me wood please.
I wish I could listen to the Lumina II's - they still haven't arrived in Hungary, yet. I hope they are less bright than the I's. They were a bit fatiguing on the long haul.
**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY**
1) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please)
2) All comments are moderated by a third party
How can one not just celebrate this man and how he does reviews. Thanks!
These speakers are simply awesome. I now have them broken in well. They are an absolute treat to listen to.
I didn't really Need a sub, but I did get a REL T-zero MKIII just to hit a tiny bit lower. Match made in heaven. I am in love with my system again. Thanks to the Lumina 2s. I bought these after buying the KEF LS50 Metas and the Polk R200's. Liked the Lumina2 better than BOTH.
Sonus Faber are one of the only speaker companies I would trust buying their products online unheard.
I know this video is old now, but thank you for this. I’m cross shopping the LS50 Meta and Lumina II’s, so this is just what I needed.
I am not the target market for these videos. I don't even own any speakers. Just a rather nice pair of IEM's and a little DAC/AMP stack. And yet I watch every one of John's videos just to learn more and to enjoy the wonderful delivery. So many "audiophile-targeted" channels fill their time with buzzwords and cryptic jargon, and a thinly veiled distaste for anyone not in the know. Darko Audio is a breath of fresh air.
I purchased a pair lumina 2 's a couple of months ago . Largely based on this review. Couldn't be happier . A RelT7i takes care of the low end . Fantastic pairing .
I was considering this speaker but I am worried about the bass, its going to be for a bedroom tv/streaming setup and I don't want to do a sub in this space. I primarily stream electronic and industrial music in my room so low end might be an issue for me but I don't know.
I have the Lumina III. They are absolutely fantastic. With a Marantz amplifier they sound incredibly good.
Which amp did you pair it with @tainwa?
I received the sonus faber lumina 2 yesterday, I have been using the Dynaudio emit 20 over the last two years paired with a Rega elex-r and a Bluesound node 2i. The Sonus Faber sound amazing with the Rega amplifier, the luminas have taken the system to a different level! I can highly recommend this combination
Thanks for the info. I’ve had my eye on the Elex-R for a while and knowing they work well with the Lumina 2 is really useful.
Do you mean the emit m20 or the new emit 20?
@@khallgrimsen James have written "using the Emit over the last two years". I suppose the old Emit M20
Thanks For your posting James. I consider buying SF Lumina 2. Now i have SF Principa5, floor speaker. But I am moving to another home where nu listening room is smaller I have now about 20m2. I only listen and love classical music. What is your opinion SF L2 for classical music? My amp is NAD C 326BEE. Greetings from the Netherlands
@@jan-pietervanwaasbergen9870 Gramaphone promotes SF. You can check their video series. Cheers.
I live in the San Juan Archipelago (Pacific NW) The midday sky is dark, the landscape remote & organic, composed of a palette of a million shades of green, rain falls gently, water drips ubiquitously, the forest floor yields yet firmly, while paradoxically, Bright Magic provides a perfect soundtrack for the day. Thanks for sharing
Sonus Fabers stimulate the visual and tactile senses like few other speakers. Fabulously gorgeous Italian workmanship.
Nice one, I shouldn’t have passed on those speakers! I screwed up.
Back to school for you, Steve. 😆
What if we appreciate aesthetics same as sound quality, would it be good for whole industry? Would great looking speakers push industry to new level? As much I love and prefer sound over aesthetics it was so much easier for me to buy speakers like a nice piece of furniture which my wife love as well (for look). I bought Sonus Faber for both sound quality and looks.
John - I can’t afford pretty much any of the gear you review…but I can dream. I also don’t understand a lot of the technical and audio jargon…but I can learn. But what I DO get with almost every video, is fresh music to explore and enjoy. Thank you! Maybe one day I’ll be able to enjoy it on some of the gear you showcase…probably not though
There are not many UA-cam videos I clicked and watched to the very end when it’s first released and especially very early in the morning before work. This is one of them.
Love your take on audio! So real and with a sense of humor. Well done, John! Thanks!
Wow! I 100% agree with you : "Enjoyability" is a much more useful qualification for describing musical reproduction than neutrality . For me, enjoyablity is the main factor for choosing speakers ( or any component hifi component, but especially speakers) because why are we listening to music if not for the pleasure? That said, I understand that not everyone share the same tastes. I also share another stong point you made about "voice intelligibility". At 75 years, my hearing decreases at frequencies above 4500 Hz. This is not a problem when listening to music but I have some problems with spoken words containing the letters s, f, b, c, d, p, t, m, n, and v, in songs or listening speeches or conversations. I have tried the KEF LS Meta at home last week and I did not enjoy the experience compared to my Totem Hawks speakers driven by my YBA Integré Passion amplifier. They are less dry and shouty, much more fun, organic, even better holographic qualities and have more solid bass. I don't think this feeling is only due to being more familiar with the Hawks.
What a delightful commentary!
Hi John, another excellent review and very topical for me! as I recently had a home audition of a pair of Sonetto IIIs (the first time I've every heard Sonus Faber...!) - I was astounded actually and mesmerised really! I had actually gone into a great independent HiFi dealer near Cambridge to listen to a Moon 340i Integrated amp (to upgrade from Roksan K3 Int. Amp.) and while I was there I said to them "ok - hit me with something new on the speaker front!" When I listened to them in-store (with my kit!) - I would have guessed they were more like £5K!!
Better still they sounded staggeringly good in my home (I currently have KEF LS50 Metas) - great sound stage and scale, beautiful fluid and effortless sound with a distinct character (colour?) of their own - but one which DID NOT overwhelm the character of music. The downward firing port on the Sonetto IIIs is great for easier / more flexible placement in a small / medium room.
Your review is making think of Lumina IIs (or maybe Is for a near field desktop setup)! so thanks for the review.
I am now an absolute Sonus Faber convert & fan! your principle of "a good speaker makes you want to turn the volume up and not down" is so simple but SPOT ON TRUE!!! I love the Sonetto IIIs ! and asking myself could I eventually move up to Olympica Nova II in time (although I would need a bigger lounge or listening space).
Kepp up the good work - Alan
Lumina II’s have been purchased and what a great find! Unique tight clean sound!
The design, fit and finish of Sonus Faber speakers is next level! I always give them some attention when I go to Listen Up
The Lumina series are gorgeous. I got the Lumina 3. Partners sweetly with my Sugden A21a, UK, meet Italy.
Such a good review with backgroundinfos. Well done!
I absolutely agree with coloring as I love vacuum tube equipment and turn up the color of my high-end Samsung TV as well. Better than life's static realism!
Sonus' speakers are truly gorgeous. Completely setting sound aside, I think they absolutely tower above most audio companies just in terms of their aesthetics.
to each their own. I find them to be absolutely hideous. when they combine leather with wood.
@@nnaaeee Fair enough. "I think" and "I find" are the most important clauses in both of our comments. Nothing wrong with that.
Them and Revel really do take premium aesthetics seriously.
...as always - the great insight of the highlighted gear! So, thank you so much for casting!
Nice video and I truly always enjoy how you present information in your videos. I have the KEF LS50 Meta's in 2 installations in the house both with KEF KC62 subs. I am not one who particularly likes modern design but I think you have to look beyond that with the LS50 Meta design. The rounded back edges actually are more than an aesthetic touch. It actually helps with off axis performance. I have had a number of different speakers over time such as Vandersteen but the LS50 Meta's are truly one of the best sounds I have heard for the money. Since you had the KC62 subs maybe you might give an update on this video using the them with the Sonus Farber to see how the subsystem compares with the KEF LS50 Meta/KC62 combo.
Colouration is the spice of audio
... John, there is no problem with colouration, Bass/Treble, Graphic Equalizers and Loudness buttons are all God sends! 👍 ...
I always wonder about this. being in mid nowhere there are no Hi Fi stores around, just to start ( ahh the old days of ' wall to wall stereo' - at the mall near you ! maybe 25 different speakers, near full range lineup from the major companies ; Pioneer, Sansui EPI etc. not talking near custom audiophile. not a place to do even semi serious listening. ) anyway - as a curiosity, how good would dipping the bass & treble a bit simulate the 'mid boost'.... sidenote, I have Meta Spks and an Outlaw receiver
Absolutely LOVE that incidental music!
Finally jazz music on background 🙏
Yes! (But I would really like to know the name of the group playing...)
@@robineur Later at the Bar by Tiki Tiki
The comparison I’ve been waiting for! Thanks!
Thank you for your review. Just bought the Lumina 3 instead of the 2. Coming from the Focal Aria 906, who unfortunately have some issues in one driver, I think they are a step up. To be honest I do not agree with your “no harshness” comment regarding the Lumina 2. I listened on the Lumina 2 to Natalie Merchant’s “The Pepper Man” with a Marantz model 30 amplifier. Natalie Merchant unfortunately had some harsh- and shrillness with the Lumina 2. Going to the Lumina 3 with their 3-way system the harshness was completely gone. So I bought the Lumina 3. Unfortunately here on UA-cam one does not find many reviews for the Lumina 3.
I agree the KEYWORD is" enjoyment" it's more important than anything else.
100%
The audio breaks make these a delight to listen to. Like two friends listening together and discussing what they heard and enjoyed. Olaf is a wizard.
Re Colouration: You're spot on John.. In fact all the "Neutralists" out there, don't know what the neutral sound is unless they were in the studio at the session.. For better or worse, those studio monitors produced the original sound.
Very interesting review and insightful comments on speaker performance, thought provoking as ever, thank you.
Really looking forward to getting mine. These seem to be only through dealer channels for the most part. Placed my order in early August with a mid December arrival…patience is a virtue
Won’t that be so you listen to them first? Home demo them if needed?
Terrific video John! Quite a few reviewers have compared the Lumina II with the Metas but yours is the best by far. That said which one would you pick?
This is brilliant. I was just about to dive in looking for a step up from the Klipsch 600. So this video is godsend!
Enjoyment?
That might be the word.
Thank you for another excellent overview. Looking forward to your thoughts on amp pairings.
Now I’m going to listen to the new Nightfly with my bedside rig iPad Pro Apple Music lossless>Geshelli Labs JNog Dac>SMSL Sp200>Focal Radiance
Nice that you mentioned Pixies again. My all-time favorite band, and the last actual gig I went to, pre-COVID here in NL.
Music first! That's what I love about this channel, and what I think lack a lot of other audiophiles channels that only talk about gear. I love the combination, so thanks John, keep up the good work!
BTW: through my LS50meta's, I think Trompe le Monde sounds great to me, especially now I've got the KC62 sub to accompany it with.
Thanks for tipping me off about The Nightfly live.
It pleases me to see someone like you "take a punt" on a pair of speakers. I did the same with a pair of Audio Physic Step 25, perhaps comparable if a little more expensive, and I'm very pleased.
I have a pair of Lumina II and he describes them well: the top it's just fun to listen to, not at all fatiguing or harsh. It's just a bite of energy to enjoy the music more. The sound it's just clean, instruments are well defined. Great depth but not much vertical soundstage. You definitely need a sub, not to get the windows rattling, but to complete the overall frequency range.
Hi John,
I think you'll like Bob Moses quite a lot as well. The album days gone by is great
Great review! Hopefully you'll be able to do a review on the Olympica Nova I's soon!
I am going to stick my neck out here and say I will choose the KEFs purely on aesthetic alone. I live in a small cottage with one living space and I don't want my room to look or feel like a HiFi shop. I want my HiFi to feel like it is part of the design of the room, which the KEFs achieve, especially with those colour options! Great video as usual, John.
Was about to say this aswell, I mean at this point it brinks on merely a aesthetic choice, they're already packing so much performance
In a far as the bass is concerned…. Surprise surprise. I own a pair of Nova 1s. The bass is so good that it even challenges my floor standing b&w 804 D3s
For real?! Waiting on a pair of Nova 1's to be delivered to the nearby SF dealer so I can go have a listen this week.
I have 803 d3’s and nova 1’s and I did a side by side comparison and I can tell you the bowers like being played much louder but the sonus Olympica nova 1’s image is amazing.. I bought the nova 1’s with a nova w as a center channel for my wife for Mother’s Day present “lol” for our bedroom setup and it’s a tight space and seems to work ok with our extra sr6015 but I picked up an arcam avr20 yesterday so with Dirac and a rel ht1003 it could improve things for the better. In our big listening space they were much better with the McIntosh amps
With my mc611’s the sonus couldn’t handle past 50% on my c2700 if that’s relevant
We're all allowed to change Jon 🤣🤣. I indeed have a difficult room and am grateful for this suggestion! Crack on!
What an album recommendation with Bright Magic. This is outstanding.
Also I know I've said it before but you should really check out the Edifier S3000 Pro. Don't let the brand name fool you, these are not some well priced computer speakers. Truly remarkable
Thanks JD I’ve got some Quad mini floorstanders but looking to go to standmounts just for the sake of change to get a fresh sound happening! The Lumina II sound very appealing from what you described.
I had a pair of Sonus Faber Signum a few years ago. They sounded sweet but lacked dinamics and had a lot of sibilance with TV sound. Traded for my current B&W CM1 that are near perfect in everything and have gone trough 3 diferent rooms and 3 amps... but would like to try a pair of LS50 and these Luminas have great reviews too ;)
Great stuff as usual 👍
Been passionately waiting for this one =)
Patiently?
Looks like this speakers is making its rounds on UA-cam.
Yes, neutrality does not mean better speakers. I like elevated treble because it gives more energy up top. It’s the reason I picked up b&w 707 s2 over the metas.
After feeling like I needed more electronic music suggestions you are now my go to guy for that. You should start a new channel just for electronic music!
Great review. But we need perspective.. and that means a test of the Sonetto ii 😉
Nice review.
Had an Italian turntable with leather wrap finish (Gold Note). Rather fetching it was.
I’ve just bought a pair and I love them
🤗🧐VERY INTERESTING ,INFORMATIVE 👍
THANKS JOHN 😍😍😍
Props for highlighting PBS :)
Lovely speakers. I almost bought them paired with a bluesound powernode 2i. I completely agree about their captivating rythm and clarity in those mid to high's that make them very atractive and aurally pleasing. But, I was then invited to listen (in another shop) to a similarly priced amp/streamer, the Quad Vena 2. Having sound tested (by which I mean sat on a couch and tried to make head or tail of what my senses were telling me) a number of speakers and yo-yo'd back and forth between the 2 resellers one thing struck me midway through re-evaluating the sound comming from the Sonus - Faber's. They seemed to leave me with a sense that I'd been bamboozled by their ability to produce low bass. It's very clever. Unfortunately, another thing I noticed was the sound of clicking fingers (sorry, can't remember the track) sounded more like a "clipping" sound. The speakers I was holding them up aginst (and promptly bought) were the Audio Physic Classic 3's! I found the reproduction of realistic sound comming from these speakers to be paramount and overriding in my choice to go for the Classic 3s. They have more than enough low frequency for the average large livingroom, reproduce (in combination with the Quad), and in my opinion, a very wholesome and balanced sound stage and I so hope that one day the Darko show will choose or want to test these two components because I have loads of respect for the way mr. Darko breaks down and does his utmost to verbalise what can only be heard and experienced in his always honest opinion.
I've owned both. LS50 Meta is more accurate overall but has a metallic tinge when turned up. Lumina II is more peaky and required some equalization for me. My amp is Creek Evolution 100A. I used a sub crossed at 60hz with both, recommend you do too.
Beautiful speakers
Well done John. Good idea to own a couple of references from known top of the game players like KEF and Sonus Faber. And all the better they are from the affordable middle of the pricing range.
As an Atom owner I'm looking forward to the follow up! Great stuff as always, I've always liked the fact that colour and nuance can bring far more enjoyment to music reproduction than the satisfaction of something measuring neutral. Whatever that means...
Great review, love your delivery and explanations. Question, how far apart are the Lumina speakers, tweeter-to-tweeter? How far away do you sit from their center. Thanks very much and happy 2022. 🎵
Great review. I'd love to see you review the Bowers and wilkins 705 S2 speakers....
They are great speakers
I remember listening to that Plastikman Music album for the first time as my jaw dropped in disbelief from the opening track. I wonder, does everyone remember their first time listening to it?
My first Plastikman exposure was at a ‘rave’ in Denver around 1999. He blew my mind, but there might have been some chemical support. Anyway, I’ve never forgotten and still get chills every time I listen …some 20 years later.
The “neutrality” debate can go on endlessly. But my experience is that speakers that, at first, sounded “exciting” eventually wore out their welcome as they leant a certain sameness to everything played through them. . . Similar to the SET amps that were all the rage 20 years ago. I own a pair of LS-50s and will admit that those, driven by the BAT electronics that I own, do not throw a top end at you the way some other combinations might. OTOH, I could just be losing my hearing. Applause for your channel and your approach to reviewing. I always check out your latest.
I heard the Lumina 3 recently and have to agree with you. They are a very likeable speaker straight up but I don't think I could live with them long term. For most casual listeners though they will impress any friends they have over.
Classey looking speakers on top notch solid steel stands nice video...
Love this video on 2X.
Very curious to hear your take on the Lumina / Naim Uniti Atom combo. My guess would be that the Atom would be a little light for driving a 86db / 4 ohm speaker, in a room bigger than a kitchen, den or bedroom but maybe not.
@Michael-xz1nk: Any recommendations of Amp for driving these speakers?
Good shout on the Downpour... Very experimental vibe , but defo harking back to that golden age of the mid to late 90's
Some realllllly interesting production on their drums giving a kind of 'live / @ the club' sound , wonder what machines they use?
Great for banging through my system , have you heard of the Russel K Red 50? These bad boys are rapido and don't get sybillant , but no surprises, don't go ultra low. Oh yeah they are coloured too with some clever internal porting , it's like they were made for female vocals ... Maybe try and find a pair for a comparative listen?
For the $1700 youi can try a pair of American made time aligned Vandersteen Model 1Ci ..only thing is you need audioquest spade connectors that are more narrow...These look cool though!
Any thoughts as to whether the Sonus Fabers or KEFs are more non-fatiguing to listed to?
No1 question!
Nice Review 👍
Thanx! Good insightful review ! Any chance you might get to review the 40th Anniversary Triangle Comètes ?!? Also, what’s your take on Canton ?!? Bill from France ( an American in Moselle)
I think that you have the u-ring of the solidsteel stands on the wrong side of that plastic tube under the top plate. :)
Arse rock ! bought stands because they look cool ! great stuff more please ... Thank you
I always crinch when I see a loudspeakercable making sharp bends when connected to a terminal. I usually rotate the terminal 180°.
Dad rockers on the DAD tweeters 🤘
Love the latest PSB album.
Had many sonus fabers,anthony gallo ref 3,s,,,nothing beats magnepans,,beats a box speaker all day,the treble,mid,depth and soundstage are amazing if you are not a bass junkie
Nice job
Nice video! These two should be compared with DALI Opticon 2 MK2
I've had a chance to hear these and they're shockingly good. Like, I was legitimately surprised at how good they sounded. There may be better options for that budget, but I doubt that many people would be disappointed with these. You do get surprisingly decent bass, but a sub is required if your music calls for it. They're really quite pleasant and the little diffuser on the tweeter makes them really sweet compared to some textile dome tweeters that lack such diffusion. If you're in the market for bookshelves, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to try to find somewhere to demo these.
I just listened to them and also the Lumina 3 and wow... impressive and not bright so won't be fatiguing like my old B&W. You are right when you say: "you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to try to find somewhere to demo these." well said!
@@ServantofJC The Sonus Faber have a bit of upper treble gain around 7.5-8kHz, if my ears are correct, but that rarely becomes problematic until you crank the volume really high, and only on certain tracks with bad compression artifacting. Otherwise, it primarily enhances sound stage without making the reproduction sound wonky. If you like the "easy listening" genres like Jazz, Funk, Orchestral, Classical, and Acoustic, then you'll like the sound signature that Sonus Faber offers. They aren't limited to those genres, but those are what they excel at.
@@mndlessdrwer Thank you, very interesting information: I do like Orcherstral, Classical, Neoclassical and Acoustic music. Now I'm just wondering if I should go with the Lumina 2 with sub or with Lumina 3. I have a large room so I think I should buy the Lumina 3.
@@ServantofJC I'd say Lumina 3 and decide on a sub later when funds allow. A sub will almost always be a good idea, but towers are more capable of producing solid midbass without needing to rely on a sub. They also typically allow you to play your music louder with less distortion compared to their equivalent bookshelf speakers. The downside is that you need a larger room to create some distance from the speakers to reduce the perceived vertical distortion created by the larger vertical stack of drivers. If you've got the space, then towers are my preference.
Any amp recommendations for SF Lumina2?
"Boys,boys, it's a sweet thing"
I wish someone would get a pair of the Lumina V towers in for review. Not a whole lot of info out there on the top model from this line.
I would really to hear your oppinion on the fishhead audio resolution series. Small manufacturer from Berlin. Similar price point, and supposedly also very special.
I'm really torn between the Lumina II and III... Both feature what I am looking for: Bi-amping terminals (as I'm using a 7.2 AVR for 5.1 bi-amping) and no rear port. As I have a small living room, about ~5 x3,80m, my current Nubert nuBox 483 sometimes sound a little droney in the bass. They're close to the front wall and there's nothing I can do about the placement.
Between the Luminas I just don't know if to stay with beautiful small towers (still droney?) or go stand-mounted. I do have a small REL T-Zero III subwoofer to go alongside...
I'd completely forgotten about Donald Fagen until I watched this video - thanks.
p.s. I think the live version of The Nightfly is 'better' as for me it has more depth; the studio version sounds a bit clinical and flat. (listened to on LS50 Meta and Bluesound Sub Pulse+ powered by Bluesound Powernode)
I want those stands so bad, but it’s hard for me to justify the cost (I already have great, albeit less attractive stands). I have too many stands as is. But I still want them.
My next speakers.
John I'm really digging your content. I'm looking seriously at a pair of these now as I'm upgrading my system and just acquired a Peachtree Nova 300. In the video you stated that some care should be taken when selecting an amp because they are 4 ohm but you didn't elaborate - excuse my ignorance but specifically what needs to be considered with a lower (or is it higher) impedance? Thanks very much, and I'm willing to also get an education from a few of your legion of fans!
Remember when American cars had vinyl roofs? Strange choice to put pleather on a speaker. Still better looking than the space age LS50. Give me wood please.
My favorite stand mounts are klipsch heresys 🤣
I wish I could listen to the Lumina II's - they still haven't arrived in Hungary, yet. I hope they are less bright than the I's. They were a bit fatiguing on the long haul.
Hi John, Thanks so much for this outstanding review. how does this Sonus Faber Lumina II compare to Triangle Genese Trio? Cheers!!
I don't care much about neutrality. I want music to be fun to listen to.
John i hope you will review Audiovector r1 speakers.