Short answer: the Dayton Audio B652-AIR on price, but neither escapes serious crossover criticism. Its AMT tweeter and full-range woofer keep the crossover simple at $77.99, against $129.95 for the Yamaha NS-6490. Amir found a 340Hz suckout on the Dayton from woofer/tweeter cancellation plus multiple peaks and dips, while the Yamaha lets all three drivers bleed together with rising amplitude. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 141 bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, look higher up that list instead.
Buy the Dayton Audio B652-AIR only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dayton Audio B652-AIR | Yamaha NS-6490 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $77.99 per pair Discontinued | $129.95 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #140 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #141 of 141 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 6.5” polypropylene woofer (full-range, no low-pass filter), 1”x1” mini AMT tweeter | 8” woofer, 4” midrange cone, 7/8” balanced dome tweeter (3-way, acoustic suspension) |
| Dimensions | 11.8H x 7.06W x 6.4D in | 16.2H x 10.5W x 13.2D in |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) each | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (1W/1m, manufacturer specified) | 89.6dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 40W RMS, 75W max | 70W nominal, 140W max |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 98.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 54.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.45 (spinorama.org) | 2.17 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.57 (spinorama.org) | 5.05 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 45Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Dayton Audio B652-AIR compares with other leading options:
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Dayton Audio B652-AIR
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Yamaha NS-6490
- Yamaha NS-10 vs Yamaha NS-6490
- JBL 4319 vs Yamaha NS-6490
- Polk Monitor XT20 vs Zu Audio Method
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Dayton Audio B652-AIR: $77.99 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter offers a novel driver technology at a very low price point, and the full-range woofer keeps the crossover simple. Measured bass extension of 98.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Amir says this speaker “does everything wrong that you want to avoid in modern speaker design”: the woofer runs full-bandwidth without a proper crossover filter, causing a 340Hz suckout from woofer/tweeter cancellation and multiple additional peaks and dips. The AMT tweeter lacks adequate damping (only a capacitor and resistor), and the thin cabinet resonates audibly. Listening tests revealed “piercing and distorted highs” and “distorted lisping” on female vocals. Amir specifically criticized other reviewers for calling these speakers “clear and clean” with “five star performance,” calling such assessments “embarrassing,” and recommended the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR instead. Discontinued; replaced by the Dayton Audio Classic B65.
Full Dayton Audio B652-AIR review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 98.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8H x 7.06W x 6.4D in |
| Drivers | 6.5” polypropylene woofer (full-range, no low-pass filter), 1”x1” mini AMT tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 40W RMS, 75W max |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (1W/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.45 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.57 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Yamaha NS-6490: $129.95 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Attractive industrial design with a large 8-inch woofer for the price. Simple direct-driven woofer with capacitor-only mid/tweeter crossovers keeps the design straightforward. Measured bass extension of 54.4Hz (-10dB), with a measured sensitivity of 89.6dB.
Cons: Amir found the woofer runs essentially full-range with only a capacitor separating the mid and tweeter, letting all three drivers bleed into each other’s range and causing “rising amplitude” across the response. Extensive narrow peaking indicates numerous cabinet resonances: Amir noted, “we have more of them than I have ever seen.” Distortion is high across the measurement range, and directivity is highly variable, particularly vertically. With a 1.6 preference score, Amir concluded, “I just can’t recommend it,” noting that extensive EQ would not fix the underlying resonance issues. Discontinued and no longer sold new.
Full Yamaha NS-6490 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.2H x 10.5W x 13.2D in |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 4” midrange cone, 7/8” balanced dome tweeter (3-way, acoustic suspension) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 70W nominal, 140W max |
| Sensitivity | 89.6dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.17 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.05 |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons