Short answer: the DIYSG HTM-12 v2. It ranks #14 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Fosi Audio SP601 ranks #75.
What the DIYSG HTM-12 v2 offers: Purpose-built high-output cinema kit pairing a 12-inch woofer with a compression driver in a large SEOS waveguide. Watch for: Erin measured F3 at approximately 67Hz, the normal efficiency/bass-extension tradeoff of a high-sensitivity 12-inch design, so a subwoofer is mandatory.
What the Fosi Audio SP601 offers: Two-way bookshelf design with a 6.5” paper/aluminum-alloy composite cone woofer and 1.5” silk dome tweeter. Watch for: 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…
Buy the DIYSG HTM-12 v2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Fosi Audio SP601 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Fosi Audio SP601. It ranks near the bottom of the 84 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| DIYSG HTM-12 v2 | Fosi Audio SP601 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Availability varies | $399.99 |
| Ranked | #14 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #75 of 84 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 |
| Weight | - | 11.5 lbs / 5.2 kg |
| Dimensions | - | 14.5"H x 9.1"W x 14"D (368.3 x 231.1 x 355.6 mm) |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 80w RMS Per Speaker |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Yamaha NS-10
- Klipsch RP-600M vs Triangle Borea BR03
- Aperion Audio Verus V8B vs HSU Research CCB-8
- ELAC DB63 vs Fosi Audio SP601
- KEF Q350 vs Fosi Audio SP601
The Two Speakers In Full
DIYSG HTM-12 v2: Availability varies DIY Sound Group
Pros: Purpose-built high-output cinema kit pairing a 12-inch woofer with a compression driver in a large SEOS waveguide. Erin measured 91dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity, extraordinarily low distortion—still below 1% to about 60Hz at 102dB—and only about 0.5dB tweeter compression at the same level. Horizontal directivity is consistent and crossover integration is unusually good, so response corrections remain EQ-friendly. The benign impedance curve can be driven by many capable AVRs.
Cons: Erin measured F3 at approximately 67Hz, the normal efficiency/bass-extension tradeoff of a high-sensitivity 12-inch design, so a subwoofer is mandatory. A few narrow resonances appear in the response, impedance and decay plots; Erin suggested crossover/component investigation could improve them. Vertical radiation narrows around the crossover, the unfinished kit requires cabinet assembly and finishing, and its broad baffle is visually and physically substantial.
Full DIYSG HTM-12 v2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 12" woofer; compression driver in SEOS waveguide |
| Impedance | AVR-compatible impedance profile (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
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Fosi Audio SP601: $399.99 Amazon Fosiaudio
Pros: Two-way bookshelf design with a 6.5” paper/aluminum-alloy composite cone woofer and 1.5” silk dome tweeter. Bass reaches a respectable 60-70Hz in most rooms (F3 59Hz, F10 40Hz) for a budget bookshelf speaker. Distortion at 86dB and 96dB measures reasonably well at face value, and compression issues at extreme output are generally in line with what’s expected for a speaker at this price point. The overall tonal character can be substantially improved with basic EQ - the reviewer found a boost around 400Hz plus a cut around 4kHz brought it to an acceptable baseline.
Cons: 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. The 4-7kHz peak gives a sharp, sibilant edge to S and T sounds in vocals. A strong diffraction dip around 4kHz followed by a peak can’t be fully corrected with EQ; the reviewer recommends sidewall absorption panels instead, since off-axis energy in the 2-7kHz range actually exceeds the direct sound reaching the listener. Multitone distortion becomes more noticeable and grainy at higher volumes, concentrated in the upper-midrange where hearing is most sensitive. A peaking distortion issue right at the crossover region suggests a possible combination of tweeter distortion and midwoofer/crossover-component strain. The enclosure sounds notably hollow when tapped, and a flashlight inspection suggested a lack of internal damping material, along with likely insufficient bracing. Vertical listening position is fairly tightly constrained around the tweeter axis. Still requires a subwoofer for real kick-drum impact and bass authority.
Full Fosi Audio SP601 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 14.5"H x 9.1"W x 14"D (368.3 x 231.1 x 355.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" woofer, 1.5" Silk Dome Tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Output Power | 80w RMS Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | 85.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs / 5.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons