Sonus faber Lumina V - Walnut - Black - Wenge

Description

The True Entry-Level Sonus faber 3-Way Floorstander

The Lumina V is the 3-way floorstanding model in the Lumina collection, Sonus faber's entry-level passive lineup. It occupies a strategic position in the catalog: it is the loudspeaker that gives access to the house acoustic DNA — DAD™ tweeter, hybrid IFF-Paracross crossover, natural-fiber-and-paper midrange, cabinet hand-built in Vicenza — without stepping up to the price of the Sonetto, Heritage, or Homage collections. It targets listeners who want a true 3-way for a medium-to-large room, in stereo listening or as fronts in a home cinema.

Lute-Shaped Internal Chamber for the Mid-High Section

The acoustic distinguishing feature of the Lumina V is inside the cabinet: the internal volume housing the tweeter and midrange adopts the signature Sonus faber lute shape (a geometry inherited from the house's upper models). This lute-shaped chamber serves two simultaneous functions: it structurally stiffens the upper portion of the cabinet, and it eliminates the parallel walls that would generate standing waves behind the midrange. Result: an airier midrange and a more stable soundstage than a standard rectangular cabinet.

3-Way: 29 mm DAD™, 150 mm Midrange, Dual 165 mm Woofers

The tweeter is a 29 mm DAD™ (Damped Apex Dome) silk dome with a ferrite motor and visco-elastic baffle decoupling. The midrange is a 150 mm driver with a paper membrane. The two 165 mm woofers were designed specifically for the Lumina V: their diaphragm uses a sandwich construction — two outer layers of cellulose pulp and natural fibers, with an intermediate layer of high-tech syntactic foam. This structure increases stiffness without adding mass, for a natural reproduction of the low frequencies.

Down-Firing Bass-Reflex Port

The bass-reflex port is placed at the base of the cabinet, firing toward the floor. This architectural choice makes placement noticeably more flexible than a traditional rear-firing port: the Lumina V can be installed close to a back wall without the bass becoming muddy or imprecise. One less constraint for integration into a standard living room.

Hybrid IFF-Paracross Crossover with Components on the Negative Rail

The crossover network combines two Sonus faber topologies: IFF (Interactive Fusion Filtering) and the traditional Paracross. Its technical distinguishing feature: reactive components (capacitors and inductors/coils) are placed on the negative rail of the circuit. This choice reduces the back-EMF generated by the drivers, letting them operate in a maximally connected way, and also lowers the crossover's sensitivity to radio-frequency interference (improving sound definition).

Squared Cabinet, Four Nickel-Plated Terminals for Bi-Wiring

The cabinet adopts a squared shape finished in a wood veneer in either semi-gloss or high-gloss (depending on variant), with a black leather top panel and a chrome ring around each driver. The four nickel-plated binding posts (Mid-Hi and Low pairs) allow bi-wiring or bi-amplification for those who want to optimize the separation between the registers. Decoupling via adjustable iron spikes included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference from the Lumina V Amator?

The Lumina V and the Lumina V Amator share the same 3-way architecture (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 (2,600 Hz on the Lumina V, 2,850 Hz on the Amator), the finish (semi- or high-gloss on the V, high-gloss only on the Amator), and the price positioning. Sonically, the Amator targets a slight refinement, but the Lumina V delivers the essentials of the performance.

Can it be placed close to a wall?

Yes, more easily than most floorstanders in its category. The bass-reflex port fires toward the floor (instead of the rear), which significantly reduces sensitivity to placement. Sonus faber states that the Lumina V delivers high-quality sound even when placed close to a back wall. A clearance of 15 to 30 cm is still recommended for optimal soundstage.

Which amplifier should I choose?

The Lumina V 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 nickel-plated binding posts also allow bi-wiring or bi-amplification.

What does the lute-shaped internal chamber do?

The internal volume housing the tweeter and midrange is not rectangular: it adopts the signature Sonus faber lute shape. This geometry eliminates the internal parallel walls behind the midrange and tweeter, which suppresses standing waves that would color the vocal range. It also stiffens the upper structure of the cabinet. Result: an airier midrange and a more stable soundstage than a rectangular cabinet of the same volume.

What's in the Box

Sonus faber Lumina V Floorstanding Loudspeakers (pair)

Magnetic grilles

Iron spikes and protective shoes

Owner's manual