Sonus faber Lumina V Amator - Walnut - Red - Wenge

Description

Sonus faber's Entry-Level Floorstander

The Lumina V Amator is the largest loudspeaker in the Lumina collection, Sonus faber's entry-level passive lineup. Its mission is clear: make the house sonic signature accessible in a 3-way floorstanding format, while keeping the Italian manufacturing in the historic Vicenza workshops. It fills the main front-channel role in a stereo or multichannel system, alongside the Lumina II Amator bookshelf and the Lumina CI center channel from the same collection.

Drivers Shared with the Sonetto Collection

The Lumina V Amator's technical strategy rests on a deliberate choice: share the driver family of the Sonetto collection (Sonus faber's mid-range tier). The tweeter is a 29 mm DAD™ silk dome with a hand-coated Kurtmueller diaphragm; the 150 mm midrange uses the proprietary Sonus faber natural-fiber-and-paper blend membrane, air-dried, identical to the one used in the Sonettos. The concrete result for the listener: the same tonal signature as the Sonetto models, at a significantly more accessible price point.

Dual 165 mm Sandwich-Diaphragm Woofers Designed for Lumina

The two 165 mm woofers were developed specifically for the Lumina collection. Their distinguishing feature is a sandwich-structure diaphragm: two external layers of cellulose pulp and natural fibers, with an intermediate layer of high-tech syntactic foam. This construction increases stiffness without adding mass and guarantees a natural reproduction of the low frequencies. Loaded in a bass-reflex enclosure, they reach down to 38 Hz — an extension consistent with the format and vocation of the loudspeaker.

Hybrid IFF-Paracross Crossover

The crossover network is a hybrid IFF-Paracross solution with two crossover points (260 Hz between the woofers and the midrange, 2,850 Hz between the midrange and the tweeter). It combines two Sonus faber approaches: the traditional Paracross topology of the house and the IFF (Interactive Fusion Filtering) developed for the flagship Maxima Amator. The optimization targets aligned amplitude and phase response for coherent spatial rendering, with Hi-Fi components chosen for reproduction quality.

Squared Cabinet in High-Gloss Wood with Black Leather

The Lumina V Amator cabinet adopts a squared shape (in contrast to the lute shape of the Sonetto collection), finished in a high-gloss wood veneer with a black leather top panel. The aesthetic is deliberately more minimalist than the higher Sonetto, Heritage, or Homage collections, while retaining the identifiable house visual codes: crafted wood, leather, Italian proportions. A chrome ring frames each driver.

4 Binding Posts for Bi-Wiring, Steel Decoupling Spikes

The Lumina V Amator features four binding posts (Mid-Hi and Low pairs) that allow bi-wiring or bi-amplification, a flexibility uncommon at this level of the range. Floor decoupling is provided by adjustable iron spikes included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference from the standard Lumina V (without Amator)?

The Lumina V Amator and the standard Lumina V share the same 3-way architecture, the same drivers (29 mm DAD™ tweeter, 150 mm midrange, dual 165 mm sandwich woofers), the same dimensions, and the same weight. The differences are subtle: the upper crossover point (2,850 Hz on the Amator vs 2,600 Hz on the standard Lumina V) and the finish (high-gloss only on the Amator, with a semi-gloss option on the standard version). The Amator targets a slight refinement in the mid-high rendering and a more premium aesthetic; the standard Lumina V delivers the essentials of the performance at a lower price.

What is the difference from the Sonetto models?

The Lumina V Amator shares several key drivers with the Sonetto collection (DAD™ tweeter, 150 mm midrange), which gives it a very close tonal signature. The differences are in the cabinet (squared shape vs Sonetto's lute shape, without the Intono or Suprema cork chamber technologies), the finish (high-gloss wood vs the Sonetto finishes), and the tweeter (standard 29 mm DAD vs the DAD Arrow Point 28 mm on the Sonetto G2). The result: the Lumina V Amator delivers 80 to 90% of the Sonetto performance at a significantly lower percentage of the price.

Which amplifier should I choose?

The Lumina V Amator has 89 dB sensitivity and 4 Ω nominal impedance. Sonus faber recommends a power range of 50 to 300 W per channel, which covers high-end integrated amps and dedicated power blocks. A high-current amplifier from 50 W is a great fit. The four binding posts also allow bi-wiring or bi-amplification for those who want to optimize the separation between the bass and mid-high registers.

What does the hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover bring?

The crossover combines two Sonus faber topologies: the traditional house Paracross, and the IFF (Interactive Fusion Filtering) developed for the flagship Maxima Amator. This hybrid approach simultaneously optimizes amplitude and phase around the two crossover points (260 Hz and 2,850 Hz), for coherent three-dimensional spatial rendering. Components are selected in the Hi-Fi category.

Can it be used in a home cinema?

Yes, the Lumina V Amator is perfectly suited as a main front-channel (left/right) speaker in a home cinema. Its 89 dB sensitivity and 38 Hz extension reduce dependence on the subwoofer for fundamentals. For a complete Lumina multichannel system, it pairs with the Lumina CI center channel from the same collection, and the Lumina II Amator can serve as surrounds for perfectly aligned timbre.

What's in the Box

Sonus faber Lumina V Amator Floorstanding Loudspeakers (pair)

Magnetic grilles

Iron spikes and protective shoes

Owner's manual