Short answer: the Neumi Silk 4, if you are buying new. The Emotiva B1+ ranks higher than it (#17 vs #32 of 88 bookshelf speakers, 4.1/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Neumi Silk 4 is still sold new at $199.99.
What the Emotiva B1+ does well: Emotiva B1+ uses 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter in a conventional wired-speaker design. The tradeoff: It needs an external amplifier and thoughtful placement.
What the Neumi Silk 4 does well: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover, achieving an impressively high preference score of 4.4 for the price. The catch: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume.
Buy the Neumi Silk 4 if you want one new; the Emotiva B1+ is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva B1+ | Neumi Silk 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 per pair Discontinued | $199.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #17 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #32 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 10.8”H x 7.1”W x 8.3”D (274 x 181 x 210 mm) | 8.9”H x 5.5”W x 8.2”D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter | 4” treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1” silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter |
| Weight | 8.8 lbs (4.0 kg) each | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.34 (spinorama.org) | 4.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.86 (spinorama.org) | 7.10 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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
Emotiva B1+: $250 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, rated 4.2/5.
Pros: Emotiva B1+ uses 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter in a conventional wired-speaker design. Its form factor and driver layout make it a sensible match for a properly chosen amplifier and room. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: It needs an external amplifier and thoughtful placement. Speaker performance will depend heavily on the partnering electronics and room acoustics. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva B1+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10.8”H x 7.1”W x 8.3”D (274 x 181 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woven fiber cone with SBR surround woofer, 25x32 mm Airmotiv folded ribbon tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.86 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 8.8 lbs (4.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Neumi Silk 4: $199.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover, achieving an impressively high preference score of 4.4 for the price. Distortion stays below 1% up to about 120Hz and below 3% above roughly 50-60Hz at 86dB. High-frequency compression is surprisingly good (better than some speakers costing 2-3x as much) and at 96dB/1m for a pair, output still reaches about 93dB at 3 meters, plenty loud for most listeners. F3 of 83Hz and F10 of 55Hz with in-room extension to about 70Hz. Takes very well to EQ correction, and the reviewer provides a specific fix (a notch around 650Hz, Q of about 6) that cleans up its main resonance. Measured bass extension of 83Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82.6dB.
Cons: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume. A resonance around 650Hz (likely port- or cabinet-related) creates an audible 1-2dB midrange thickness/boxiness on certain tracks, tied to a probable baffle-step compensation shortfall: about 1dB more energy in the midrange from the factory would likely have resolved it. Multitone distortion becomes audible around the same 600Hz-1kHz region at 96dB. Horizontal radiation narrows to about ±50° with the waveguide, on the narrower side of what the reviewer prefers. A diffraction-related dip around 5kHz at 5° below the tweeter axis creates a small hole in the response if placed on a desk below ear level. Nominal impedance of about 6 ohms with a low sensitivity means it benefits from a subwoofer pairing (the reviewer suggests an 80Hz crossover) for a complete small-room or surround setup.
Full Neumi Silk 4 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 8.9”H x 5.5”W x 8.2”D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1” silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.10 |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons