Short answer: the ELAC DBR62. It ranks #79 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $699.98; the Philharmonic BMR Monitor ranks #134, rated 3.6/5, and costs $2,200, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The ELAC DBR62 is the better-sounding choice. An affordable bookshelf speaker that is very forgiving of placement and aiming, with wide sound and a little extra bass punch. The catch: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison.
The Philharmonic BMR Monitor is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.02 against 5.07 for the ELAC DBR62. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 3dB, against 53Hz for the ELAC DBR62. The tradeoff: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks.
Buy the ELAC DBR62. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Philharmonic BMR Monitor and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it 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.
Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage.
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Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC DBR62 | Philharmonic BMR Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.98 per pair | $2200 per pair |
| Ranked | #79 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #134 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) | 20”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 84dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 6” Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5” midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 6.02 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 | 7.67 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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