Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks #41 of 131 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $549. The Monolith Encore B6 ranks #63, rated 3.9/5, at $360, $189 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: Very neutral, linear frequency response at the recommended toe-out angle, with better directivity than the similarly-priced ELAC DB63. The tradeoff: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
What the Monolith Encore B6 does well: For its budget price, the B6 delivers useful midbass punch and a long reflex tail: Erin measured F3 at 68Hz and F10 near 37Hz. The catch: Erin measured 85.3dB sensitivity and a 3.4-ohm minimum, so this is not an easy load despite its modest output ceiling.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $189 with the Monolith Encore B6 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | Monolith Encore B6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 per pair | $360 per pair |
| Ranked | #41 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #63 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 12.8” x 8.5” x 11.5” (325 x 216 x 292 mm) | 15.7H x 7.9W x 9.9D inches |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) | 4 ohms nominal; 3.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) | 85.3dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 6” woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter | 6.5-inch pulp woofer; 25mm waveguided silk dome |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) | 15.4 lbs (7.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported | - |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | - |
| Power Handling | 125W continuous, 200W peak | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.65 | 4.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.93 | 6.93 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 compares with other leading options:
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Perlisten S4b
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- AsciLab C6B vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
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The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: $549 per pair Emotiva eBay
Older models: the Emotiva B1+ (rated 4.1/5) and the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ (ranked lower, rated 3/5).
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 |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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 | 5.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.93 |
| 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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Monolith Encore B6: $360 per pair Amazon Monoprice eBay
Pros: For its budget price, the B6 delivers useful midbass punch and a long reflex tail: Erin measured F3 at 68Hz and F10 near 37Hz. The revised tweeter assembly yields broadly smooth horizontal directivity and an early-reflections trend that accepts EQ well. At sane levels, its 6.5-inch pulp woofer provides satisfying attack, and gloss top/bottom panels plus a braced MDF cabinet are unusually substantial for the class. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.3dB.
Cons: Erin measured 85.3dB sensitivity and a 3.4-ohm minimum, so this is not an easy load despite its modest output ceiling. Low-frequency compression reaches about 2dB and distortion rises rapidly when driven full-range; use an 80Hz subwoofer crossover. Response variation is roughly +2.7/-3.7dB, with residual crossover/treble irregularities that keep it from true neutrality without EQ. The listening window tightens vertically, so ear height matters.
Full Monolith Encore B6 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7H x 7.9W x 9.9D inches |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch pulp woofer; 25mm waveguided silk dome |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; 3.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.3dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.93 |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7.0 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons