Short answer: the ELAC DBR62. It ranks #79 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $699.98; the GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #146, rated 3.5/5, and costs $1,300, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The ELAC DBR62 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. An affordable bookshelf speaker that is very forgiving of placement and aiming, with wide sound and a little extra bass punch. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 64Hz for the GR-Research X-LS Encore. Watch for: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison.
Why pick the GR-Research X-LS Encore: Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them. The catch: A slight depression in the upper bass and some peaking in the lower bass shows up on-axis, along with directivity error in the crossover region.
Buy the ELAC DBR62. It is rated higher for sound quality than the GR-Research X-LS Encore and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
An affordable bookshelf speaker that is very forgiving of placement and aiming, with wide sound and a little extra bass punch.
Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them.
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
| ELAC DBR62 | GR-Research X-LS Encore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.98 per pair | $1300 per pair |
| Ranked | #79 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #146 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) | 13.5”H x 8.5”W x 12.1”D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review on the kit; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 6.5” Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1” Peerless India T26SG tweeter |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 5.05 (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 | 7.42 (measured, spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for ELAC DBR62: