Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Focal ST6 Twin6

Short answer: the Cambridge Audio L/R X. It ranks #76 of 118 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $2,399; the Focal ST6 Twin6 ranks #107, rated 3.8/5, and costs $4,260, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.

Why pick the Cambridge Audio L/R X: A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Watch for: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison.

What the Focal ST6 Twin6 does well: The ST6 update of the Twin6 keeps the dual 6.5 inch W-cone woofers and inverted beryllium dome tweeter, now on an optimized baffle for better dispersion control. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Focal Twin6 Be, which spanned 2.9dB from 300Hz to 5kHz with uneven off-axis response and reached 48.3Hz (-3dB).

Buy the Cambridge Audio L/R X. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal ST6 Twin6 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.

Worth knowing: the Focal ST6 Twin6 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.6 to 4.0, so treat this verdict as provisional.

Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

Related Speaker Comparisons

More worthwhile head-to-heads for Cambridge Audio L/R X:

• AsciLab C8C vs Cambridge Audio L/R X
• Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Mesanovic CDM65
• Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Neumann KH 150
• Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Buchardt A10
• Neumann KH 310 A vs Cambridge Audio L/R X

Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

The Two Speakers In Full

Cambridge Audio L/R X: $2,399.00 per pair Amazon eBay

Same family: the Cambridge Audio L/R S (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.4/5) and the Cambridge Audio L/R M (smaller bookshelf, estimated 4.2/5).

Pros: A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner measured wide, even horizontal dispersion (a broad flare out to about the -6dB point around 1.5 to 3kHz) and deeper extension than the smaller L/R S, with an F3 of about 43Hz and F10 of about 37Hz. In-app DSP for room size, speaker distance from the front wall, and reflective surface type gave an audible change in bass tightness in testing. Connectivity covers HDMI eARC, RCA aux, a moving-magnet phono input, optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Wi-Fi streaming, and a subwoofer output, making it a full living-room hub rather than just a stereo pair. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB).

Cons: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison. Vertical dispersion is narrower and asymmetric than the L/R S, at about plus 20 to minus 10 degrees, because the greater distance between the tweeter and mid-woofer creates more lobing, so listening height and stand placement matter more. Multitone distortion rides close to the 3% threshold at 96dB measured at 1 meter in the far field, limiting headroom for loud, wide-band material. Output falls off quickly below about 50Hz, so home-theater use with deep bass content benefits from an added subwoofer.

Full Cambridge Audio L/R X review and specifications →

Released	Jul 2026 (3 months ago)
AES Input	No
Amplifier Power	800W total (400W per speaker)
App	Yes
Aux Input	No
Bass Extension (-10dB)	37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Bluetooth	Yes
Bluetooth Codecs	SBC, AAC
Coaxial Input	No
DSP	Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction
Dimensions	7.9” (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each)
Drivers	28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5” mid-woofers, 2x 6” side-firing passive radiators
Frequency Response	35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified)
HDMI Input	Yes
Inputs	HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
Optical Input	Yes
Outputs	Subwoofer
RCA Input	Yes
Subwoofer Output	Yes
TRS Input	No
USB Input	Yes
Weight	22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each
XLR Input	No

• Links
  • Official Cambridge Audio L/R X Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Erin’s Audio Corner: Cambridge Audio LRS & LRX Review More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Dynaudio Core 47
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs JBL 4329P
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Barefoot Footprint 01
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Fluid Audio Image 2
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs ADAM Audio A7V
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs Palmer Orbit 11
  • Cambridge Audio L/R X vs ADAM Audio T8V
  • See all 25 comparisons

Focal ST6 Twin6: $4,260 per pair Estimated Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay

Older model: the Focal Twin6 Be (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5). See every Focal Twin6, Solo6 and Trio6 generation.

Same family: the Focal Solo6 ST6 (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.3/5) and the Focal Trio6 ST6 (larger bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5).

Pros: The ST6 update of the Twin6 keeps the dual 6.5 inch W-cone woofers and inverted beryllium dome tweeter, now on an optimized baffle for better dispersion control. Focus mode turns the woofers into a full range speaker (110Hz to 10kHz) for checking mixes on a small speaker, and bass, low-mid and treble controls plus a 45/60/90Hz high-pass filter help fit it to the room.

Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Focal Twin6 Be, which spanned 2.9dB from 300Hz to 5kHz with uneven off-axis response and reached 48.3Hz (-3dB). It is expensive at $2130 each, heavy at 22 kg, and has only an XLR input.

Full Focal ST6 Twin6 review and specifications →

Released	2022 (4 years ago)
AES Input	No
Amplifier Power	50W HF (class AB) + 2x 70W LF/MF (class G)
Aux Input	No
Bluetooth	No
Coaxial Input	No
Dimensions	9.8”H x 19.7”W x 13.4”D (250 x 500 x 340 mm)
Drivers	1” inverted beryllium dome tweeter; dual 6.5” W-cone woofers
Frequency Response	40Hz - 40kHz (manufacturer specified); 110Hz - 10kHz in Focus mode
HDMI Input	No
Inputs	Balanced XLR
Maximum SPL	112dB peak @ 1m (manufacturer specified)
Optical Input	No
RCA Input	No
TRS Input	No
USB Input	No
Weight	48.5 lbs (22 kg)
XLR Input	Yes

• Links
  • Official Focal Twin6 ST6 Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Recording Magazine: Focal Twin6 ST6 Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Focal ST6 Twin6 vs Klipsch The Sevens II
  • Focal ST6 Twin6 vs Fluid Audio Image 2