Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 for better sound quality, the Neumi Silk 4 for the lower price. The Emotiva B1+ ranks higher than the Neumi Silk 4 (#23 vs #58 of 179 bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued. Its replacement, the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, is rated 4.2/5 at $549; the Neumi Silk 4 is rated 3.6/5 at $199.99, $349.01 cheaper.
The Emotiva B1+ is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. Highly rated budget bookshelf speakers with a folded ribbon tweeter, now discontinued but worth buying used. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.34 against 4.44 for the Neumi Silk 4. Its bass reaches about 70Hz before falling 3dB, against 83Hz for the Neumi Silk 4. The catch: It needs an external amplifier and thoughtful placement.
What the Neumi Silk 4 does well: Affordable small bookshelf speakers with a waveguide tweeter, low distortion and enough output for a desk or small room. 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 price matters most. For better sound quality, the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, the replacement for the discontinued Emotiva B1+, is rated higher but costs $549.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Efficiency: the Emotiva B1+ is rated at 85 dB sensitivity against 82.6 dB for the Neumi Silk 4, so it plays as loud with roughly two thirds of the amplifier power.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (49 Hz vs 55 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva B1+ | Neumi Silk 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 per pair Discontinued | $199.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #23 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #58 of 179 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 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Emotiva B1+: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Neumi Silk 4: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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