Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 for better sound quality, the Monolith Encore B6 for the lower price. The Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 ranks #31 of 84 bookshelf speakers at $549. The Monolith Encore B6 ranks #46 at $360, $189 cheaper.
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. Watch for: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
What the Monolith Encore B6 offers: For its budget price, the B6 delivers useful midbass punch and a long reflex tail: Erin measured F3 at 68Hz and F10 near 37Hz. Watch for: 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 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Monolith Encore B6 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | Monolith Encore B6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 | $360/pair |
| Ranked | #31 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #46 of 84 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 | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported | - |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | - |
| Output Power | 125W continuous, 200W peak | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- ELAC DB63 vs Fosi Audio SP601
- ELAC DB63 vs HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod
- ELAC DB63 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- StarkSound Beta 5 vs Monolith Encore B6
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Monolith Encore C6
The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: $549 Emotiva
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.
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) |
| Output Power | 125W continuous, 200W peak |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs / 8.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported |
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Monolith Encore B6: $360/pair Amazon Monoprice
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.
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) |
| 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) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons