Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks #48 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $549; the Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #148, rated 3.5/5, and costs $3,600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is the more accurate pick. A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.65 against 4.73 for the Dynaudio Special Forty. Watch for: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
The Dynaudio Special Forty is the deeper-bass option. 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. The catch: 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.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Special Forty 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.
A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size.
Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet.
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
| Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | Dynaudio Special Forty | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 per pair | $3600 per pair |
| Ranked | #48 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 12.8” x 8.5” x 11.5” (325 x 216 x 292 mm) | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1x 6” woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported | ported |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | - |
| Power Handling | 125W continuous, 200W peak | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.65 | 4.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.93 | 6.74 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 compares with other leading options: