Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, if you are buying new. The Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks higher than the Dynaudio Special Forty (#40 vs #148 of 222 bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, is rated 3.6/5 at $2,200 and is still sold new.
The Dynaudio Special Forty is the deeper-bass choice. Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 3dB, against 62Hz for the Philharmonic BMR (v1). The tradeoff: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
The Philharmonic BMR (v1) is the better-sounding option. A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange. The catch: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification.
Buy the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, the replacement for the discontinued Philharmonic BMR (v1); it is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Special Forty.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet.
A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Special Forty | Philharmonic BMR (v1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3600 per pair | $2,395 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #40 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner website) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) | 22H x 9W x 13.5D in |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5” BMR midrange; 7” Scan-Speak woofer |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 37.9 lbs (17.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.73 | 4.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.74 | 7.17 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Port Tuning | - | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Philharmonic BMR (v1):