Short answer: the Emotiva B1+ for better sound quality, the Neumi Silk 4 for the lower price. The Emotiva B1+ ranks #7 of 34 bookshelf speakers at $250. The Neumi Silk 4 ranks #15 at $199.99, $50.01 cheaper.
What the Emotiva B1+ offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Resonance and peak from 1-2khz.
What the Neumi Silk 4 offers: 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. Watch for: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume.
Buy the Emotiva B1+ if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Neumi Silk 4 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva B1+ | Neumi Silk 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 Discontinued | $199.99 |
| Ranked | #7 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #15 of 34 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 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Weight | 8.8 lbs / 4.0 kg each | 6.2 lbs / 2.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
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- KEF Q150 vs JBL Stage A120
- KEF Q150 vs Jamo C 93 II
- KEF Q150 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- Neumi Silk 4 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Emotiva B1+ vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva B1+: $250 Discontinued
Cons: Resonance and peak from 1-2khz. A little bright up top. Not great vertically off-axis. 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) |
| Dimensions | 10.8"H x 7.1"W x 8.3"D (274 x 181 x 210 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| 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) |
| Weight | 8.8 lbs / 4.0 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Neumi Silk 4: $199.99 Amazon
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.
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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs / 2.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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