Short answer: the Fosi Audio SP601, if you are buying new. The DIYSG HTM-12 v2 ranks higher than it (#14 vs #201 of 222 bookshelf speakers, 4.5/5 vs 2.7/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Fosi Audio SP601 is still sold new at $399.99.
The DIYSG HTM-12 v2 is the better-sounding choice. A high output home theater kit with a 12 inch woofer and horn tweeter, very low distortion, and an easy load for most receivers. The tradeoff: Erin measured F3 at approximately 67Hz, the normal efficiency/bass-extension tradeoff of a high-sensitivity 12-inch design, so a subwoofer is mandatory.
The Fosi Audio SP601 is the deeper-bass choice. A budget bookshelf speaker with a 6.5 inch woofer and respectable bass that improves noticeably with simple EQ. Its bass reaches about 59Hz before falling 3dB, against 67Hz for the DIYSG HTM-12 v2. The catch: An unusually erratic, up-and-down frequency response (a scooped midrange followed by an upper-mid bump, a dip, another small bump, then a strong 3-4dB peak around 4-7kHz) makes the speaker’s overall character genuinely hard to characterize: the reviewer compared the experience to a similarly disliked model, the Triangle Borea BR03, which has a comparably inconsistent response.
Buy the Fosi Audio SP601, since the DIYSG HTM-12 v2 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Efficiency: the DIYSG HTM-12 v2 is rated at 91 dB sensitivity against 85.4 dB for the Fosi Audio SP601, so it plays as loud with roughly a third of the amplifier power.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (45 Hz vs 40 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| DIYSG HTM-12 v2 | Fosi Audio SP601 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $920 per pair per kit, Discontinued | $399.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #14 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #201 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | AVR-compatible impedance profile (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer; compression driver in SEOS waveguide | 6.5” woofer, 1.5” Silk Dome Tweeters |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.26 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.88 | - |
| Dimensions | 25”H x 18”W x 9.5”D (635 x 457.2 x 241.3 mm) | 14.5”H x 9.1”W x 14”D (368.3 x 231.1 x 355.6 mm) |
| Weight | 39.9 lbs (18.1 kg) assembled | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
| Power Handling | - | 80w RMS Per Speaker |
Where the Ratings Come From
- DIYSG HTM-12 v2: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Fosi Audio SP601: reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Audio Science Review Fosi Audio SP60.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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