Lumio Aura 5 review: Putting some heart back into stereo
As an audiovisual enthusiast, I always like to see more competition and good products entering the market. Lumio is one such brand that, in a relatively short span since its launch in 2025, has introduced several value-focused products, including its Vision series of TVs and Arc series of projectors. In 2026, the brand expanded into home audio with the Aura 5. Unlike a conventional soundbar, the Aura 5 is a pair of powered bookshelf speakers designed to deliver proper left-right stereo separation. It aims to offer the sound quality and flexibility of a traditional Hi-Fi setup without the need for a separate amplifier or complicated installation.
My first home speaker system was a pair of bookshelf speakers, so setting up the Aura 5 brought back some nostalgia. However, that feeling aside, while using it for several weeks, I wanted to see how good a product it is, especially for the asking price of Rs 22,999.
A neat design with practical connectivity
Aura 5's two separate cabinets feature a curved front panel with exposed driver cones. So, no removable fabric or mesh grilles. This and the composite-wood construction look cool and modern. But this means the aluminum woofer and silk dome tweeter are prone to damage. Also, the grey colour, albeit neat and understated, can invite scratches and dust easily. You can easily clean them.
I like the fact that the bass drivers are on the front, which makes placement beside a television convenient. You just need to have space for them. So check the measurements before you buy it, I suggest. Thanks to the fairly long cable connecting them, you can physically separate the left and right channels and place them at a distance for a proper stereo effect.
On the back of the right unit, there is a healthy array of ports including HDMI ARC with CEC, USB-A, optical, coaxial, RCA, and Bluetooth 5.4. This makes it suitable for a television, smartphone, PC, and compatible audio equipment. I did use it over Bluetooth and also connected it to my Lumio Vision 7 over HDMI ARC. But here, I noticed a millisecond lip-sync delay while watching 'Carrie'.
On the side of the right unit, there are also physical bass, treble, and volume controls. But I, and I am sure most people, would prefer controlling the device using the bundled remote. The Minion remote is small and ergonomic. It has most of the essential buttons, including power, play/pause, volume up/down, source, Bluetooth, and EQ controls. The latter three are on the side of the remote. Also, thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity, I could control the playback across rooms, even behind closed doors. So there is no need to point it directly at the speakers. The remote's OLED display also shows key information like current input, volume and sound mode. Good things.
One minor annoyance I have is that the remote takes a second or sometimes multiple taps to register the Source or DGS (EQ) options I select. When Lumio eventually releases the Lumio Aura app for iOS and Android, I would like to see how quickly that works. Since I like the software experience on Lumio TVs, I am looking forward to this.
Convincing stereo separation and enjoyable bass
The Aura 5 features a 4.5-inch aluminium woofer and a 1-inch silk dome tweeter in each cabinet. This is an active stereo speaker with a built-in amp and is said to work at 100W RMS, with 200W peak output, and claims a frequency response of 35Hz to 20kHz and SPL of up to 105dB at 1 metre. The Aura 5 can get reasonably loud for a speaker system of this type, and the decibel test shows the volume increases progressively, although not uniformly.
I like the stereo separation of this speaker. I started with 'Killing in the Name' by Rage Against the Machine, using it to evaluate the guitar riffs, rock beats, and channel separation. The distantly placed speakers make it easier to follow the different elements of the recording, along with the details in guitar riffs and rock beats.
On 'Rocketman' by Elton John, the layered chorus also remained reasonably discernible.
I also played 'Sign of the Times' by Harry Styles to particularly evaluate vocal reproduction. The singer sounded close and clearly positioned in the centre. Similarly, I have noticed the trumpet in Miles Davis's 'So What' remains centered. Meanwhile, other instruments and effects appear positioned towards the left or right depending on their mixing.
I noticed this particularly with 'Holy Ghost' by Gameface. At around the 1:48 mark, the 'sa ri ga ma pa' passage moves from one speaker to the other clearly. I could follow its movement across the space between them. It gave the passage an almost curved, rainbow-like movement. A special experience, I must say.
The Aura 5 delivers a reasonable amount of bass weight, although it won't blow your mind. For example, I used 'Purusha' by NVDES to evaluate the rumble effect. It is enjoyable but I would have liked a little more depth and impact. I know I am being greedy here.
Another time, while watching the fight sequences in the beginning of the Tamil film 'Baththa' (2026) on my MacBook, I found the dishoom dishoom effect had more punch and impact on Lumio speakers than the laptop's built-in speakers could manage.
Likewise, in 'Carrie' (2026), the background score, including the 'Do You Remember the Lilacs' track by Haute & Freddy, was moodier on these speakers. The opening conversation between Batista and Ryan Reynold's characters in 'Blade Runner 2049' was pretty legible on the Lumio speakers.
For clearer vocals/dialogues in movies, podcasts and music tracks, I suggest using Cinema mode. I would switch to it if I am listening to Nilay and David's conversation on Vergecast. But for songs in general, Studio mode is better. Groove, meanwhile, is for emphasis on beats. Use this if say you want to dance to the rhythm.
However, this is still a two-channel system, so do not expect it to work like dedicated surround channels of a home theatre setup.
Should you buy the Lumio Aura 5?
The Lumio Aura 5 makes a good case for choosing a pair of bookshelf speakers over a conventional soundbar, particularly if music is as important to you as television and movie playback. I enjoyed its stereo imaging, centred vocals, and ability to position individual instruments across the soundstage. It also gets sufficiently loud for everyday listening, while the three sound modes and wide range of connectivity make it easy to use across different scenarios.
However, I found some minor latency issues over HDMI transmission, and the remote wouldn't precisely respond to my button taps. They don't spoil the experience whatsoever, but are some things I thought worth highlighting from my experience. And you will need to plan a space to accommodate its two cabinets and also place it in an area where its exposed drivers don't get damaged. Audio-wise, the bass output is enjoyable but mind-blowing.
All that said, at Rs 22,999, I would recommend the Aura 5 to anyone looking for a solid active stereo speaker system. It is particularly worth considering if you enjoy listening to music and want a more engaging audio experience from your television. However, those prioritising a compact setup, dedicated surround sound or deeper bass may explore other options. After all, the Aura 5 is not meant to replace every soundbar or home theatre system, but it does offer a good alternative for listeners who value stereo separation and music reproduction in this budget.
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