Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks #40 of 130 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $549; the GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #83 and costs $1300, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 offers: Very neutral, linear frequency response at the recommended toe-out angle, with better directivity than the similarly-priced ELAC DB63. Decent bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 at 62Hz). AMT folded-ribbon tweeter with a rotating waveguide for placement flexibility. Great value - rated a top-three performer for the money by Erin’s Audio Corner. Watch for: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff. Sounds noticeably bright pointed directly at the listener - needs toeing out 10-20 degrees, crossfiring behind the head, for the most linear result. Elevated multi-tone distortion at higher output leads to some grainy, compressed mids when pushed. Irregular compression deviations affect dynamics at higher volume. Needs a subwoofer for real bass authority.
What the GR-Research X-LS Encore offers: An amazing value, especially if you managed to snag one of these built by AV123 in the early 2000s for $200-300. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response, especially in the listening window. Predicted in-room response is generally smooth and on-target. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is pretty clean above 200Hz. Watch for: 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. Vertical directivity requires staying within about 20 degrees of the tweeter axis. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion becomes “rather unhappy,” with bass distortion, a possible woofer issue around 2kHz, and a tweeter problem above 7kHz. As a DIY kit, it requires building the cabinet and crossover yourself.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the GR-Research X-LS Encore and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | GR-Research X-LS Encore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 per pair | $1300 per pair |
| Ranked | #40 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #83 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 8.5" x 11.5" (325 x 216 x 292 mm) | 13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1x 6" woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon 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) | 17 lbs (7.7 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 | 4.78 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 | - |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: $549 per pair Emotiva eBay
Pros: Very neutral, linear frequency response at the recommended toe-out angle, with better directivity than the similarly-priced ELAC DB63. Decent bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 at 62Hz). AMT folded-ribbon tweeter with a rotating waveguide for placement flexibility. Great value - rated a top-three performer for the money by Erin’s Audio Corner. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff. Sounds noticeably bright pointed directly at the listener - needs toeing out 10-20 degrees, crossfiring behind the head, for the most linear result. Elevated multi-tone distortion at higher output leads to some grainy, compressed mids when pushed. Irregular compression deviations affect dynamics at higher volume. Needs a subwoofer for real bass authority.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 8.5" x 11.5" (325 x 216 x 292 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6" woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) |
| Power Handling | 125W continuous, 200W peak |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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GR-Research X-LS Encore: $1300 per pair Gr-research eBay
Pros: An amazing value, especially if you managed to snag one of these built by AV123 in the early 2000s for $200-300. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response, especially in the listening window. Predicted in-room response is generally smooth and on-target. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is pretty clean above 200Hz. Measured bass extension of 64Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.4dB.
Cons: 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. Vertical directivity requires staying within about 20 degrees of the tweeter axis. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion becomes “rather unhappy,” with bass distortion, a possible woofer issue around 2kHz, and a tweeter problem above 7kHz. As a DIY kit, it requires building the cabinet and crossover yourself.
Full GR-Research X-LS Encore review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1" Peerless India T26SG tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs Dynaudio Special Forty
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs Mission LX-3 MKII
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
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- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs Polk Monitor XT20
- GR-Research X-LS Encore vs Philharmonic BMR Monitor
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