Short answer: the Focal Trio6 ST6. It ranks #37 of 68 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $3499; the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII ranks #63, rated 3.8/5, and costs $11700, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII: Erin measured 32.2Hz -3dB extension, giving useful deep bass without a separate subwoofer. Watch for: Its 6.16 ideal-subwoofer score and uneven listening-window response do not support a top accuracy ranking.
What the Focal Trio6 ST6 does well: Sound & Recording’s measurements indicate 37.8Hz -3dB bass extension and a 7.12 ideal-subwoofer score. The tradeoff: The measured balance tilts downward through the treble, with a 2.6dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz.
Buy the Focal Trio6 ST6. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ex Machina Pulsar MKII | Focal Trio6 ST6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,700 per pair | $6,998 per pair |
| Ranked | #63 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #37 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed 3-way | 3-way active, sealed/ported |
| Drivers | 9-inch SEAS woofer, 7-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter | 1.5" beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 5" W-composite midrange, 8" W-composite woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 250W LF, 100W MF, 50W HF per speaker | 250W total (2x 100W Class-G bass/mid, 50W Class-AB tweeter) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-32kHz (+/-1dB) | 35Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB continuous at 1m | - |
| Coverage | 90 degrees conical | - |
| Inputs | Analog and AES/EBU digital | XLR |
| DSP | SHARC, phase and magnitude correction | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.04 | 5.46 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.16 | 7.12 |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Dimensions | 19" x 11.4" x 13.6" (483 x 289 x 345 mm) (H x W x D) | 21.1"H x 11.5"W x 14.4"D (537 x 292 x 367 mm) |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23 kg) | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Country | - | France |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Focal Trio6 ST6:
- Focal Trio6 ST6 vs Palmer Orbit 11
- Meyer Sound Amie vs Focal Trio6 ST6
- Dynaudio Core 47 vs Focal Trio6 ST6
- Ex Machina Pulsar MKII vs JBL 4329P
- Ex Machina Pulsar MKII vs Focal Twin6 Be
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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
Ex Machina Pulsar MKII: $11,700 per pair Vintage King eBay
Pros: Erin measured 32.2Hz -3dB extension, giving useful deep bass without a separate subwoofer. The active multiway format and DSP offer a substantial studio system.
Cons: Its 6.16 ideal-subwoofer score and uneven listening-window response do not support a top accuracy ranking. The measured balance rises toward the treble, despite a relatively modest 2.7dB midband span. Deep bass, premium drivers and processing features should not obscure the native tonal irregularities.
Full Ex Machina Pulsar MKII review and specifications →
| AES Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 250W LF, 100W MF, 50W HF per speaker |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Coverage | 90 degrees conical |
| DSP | SHARC, phase and magnitude correction |
| Dimensions | 19" x 11.4" x 13.6" (483 x 289 x 345 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 9-inch SEAS woofer, 7-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed 3-way |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-32kHz (+/-1dB) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Analog and AES/EBU digital |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB continuous at 1m |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.16 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Trio6 ST6: $6,998 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Sound & Recording’s measurements indicate 37.8Hz -3dB bass extension and a 7.12 ideal-subwoofer score. The three-way format and alternate Focus monitoring modes offer useful flexibility for professional work.
Cons: The measured balance tilts downward through the treble, with a 2.6dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz. Heavy cabinets and a premium price do not by themselves establish better neutrality, and alternate modes change the result.
Full Focal Trio6 ST6 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 250W total (2x 100W Class-G bass/mid, 50W Class-AB tweeter) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Country | France |
| Dimensions | 21.1"H x 11.5"W x 14.4"D (537 x 292 x 367 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.5" beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 5" W-composite midrange, 8" W-composite woofer |
| Enclosure | 3-way active, sealed/ported |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.46 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.12 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons