Short answer: the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X. It ranks #3 of 26 surface-mount and background music speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $519; the Martin Audio CDD6 ranks #7, rated 3.1/5, and costs $550, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X: A weather-resistant (IP65) surface-mount installation speaker from Electro-Voice with a 5.25” woofer and a tweeter, for 70V and 100V systems or low impedance. The catch: Bass is very limited, so it needs a subwoofer for full-range music, and the on-axis response is uneven (1.29 average deviation).
Why pick the Martin Audio CDD6: A passive Coaxial Differential Dispersion speaker from the same Martin Audio CDD line as the measured Martin Audio CDD8 and Martin Audio CDD10: a 6.5” coaxial driver in a cabinet small enough for discreet installs. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Buy the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Martin Audio CDD6 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Worth knowing: the Martin Audio CDD6 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.7 to 3.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X | Martin Audio CDD6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $519.00 per pair Passive | $550.00 each Passive |
| Ranked | #3 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers | #7 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated |
| Rigging | U-bracket mount for U-bolt, threaded rod, pole or junction box | 4 x M6 inserts for wall/ceiling brackets |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) | 12.5 lbs (5.69 kg) |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 119dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, tweeter | 6.5” woofer with coaxial 1” HF driver |
| IP Rating | IP65 | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 150.0Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) | 80Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 81.6Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.44 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.05 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Configuration | - | Passive 2-way coaxial installation speaker |
| Power Handling | - | 150W AES |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz - 20kHz (±3dB), 70Hz (-10dB) (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| DSP | - | No (passive) |
| Amplifier Power | - | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X:
- JBL Control 24CT vs Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Yamaha VXS5
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Yamaha VXS8
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Martin Audio CDD5
- Martin Audio CDD6 vs Yamaha VXS5
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X: $519.00 per pair Passive Amazon eBay
Same family: the Electro-Voice EVID-S4.2 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.5/5), the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.6/5) and the Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 (larger model, ranked lower, rated 2.7/5).
Pros: A weather-resistant (IP65) surface-mount installation speaker from Electro-Voice with a 5.25” woofer and a tweeter, for 70V and 100V systems or low impedance. EV’s measurements show a preference score of 2.44 that reaches 6.05 with an ideal subwoofer, with 0.55 listening window deviation.
Cons: Bass is very limited, so it needs a subwoofer for full-range music, and the on-axis response is uneven (1.29 average deviation). The data comes from EV. Bass reaches 150.0Hz (-3dB) and about 82Hz (-10dB).
Full Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 81.6Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 150.0Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, tweeter |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Rigging | U-bracket mount for U-bolt, threaded rod, pole or junction box |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.05 |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Martin Audio CDD6: $550.00 each Passive Estimated Full Compass eBay
Same family: the Martin Audio CDD-LIVE 8 (smallest powered model, estimated 3.4/5), the Martin Audio CDD-LIVE 12 (powered model, estimated 3.1/5), the Martin Audio CDD-LIVE 15 (largest powered model, estimated 3.5/5), the Martin Audio CDD5 (smaller passive model, ranked lower, estimated 3/5), the Martin Audio CDD8 (larger passive model, rated 3.2/5), the Martin Audio CDD10 (larger passive model, rated 3.1/5), the Martin Audio CDD12 (larger passive model, rated 2.9/5) and the Martin Audio CDD15 (larger passive model, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: A passive Coaxial Differential Dispersion speaker from the same Martin Audio CDD line as the measured Martin Audio CDD8 and Martin Audio CDD10: a 6.5” coaxial driver in a cabinet small enough for discreet installs. CDD widens the horizontal pattern close to the speaker and narrows it with distance, which keeps level more even from front to back of a room.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. It needs an external amplifier, and its small woofer limits bass and output, so larger rooms need a subwoofer or bigger CDD models.
Full Martin Audio CDD6 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial installation speaker |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer with coaxial 1” HF driver |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (±3dB), 70Hz (-10dB) (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 119dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 150W AES |
| Rigging | 4 x M6 inserts for wall/ceiling brackets |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.69 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons