Short answer: the Focal Twin6 Be. It ranks #60 of 66 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2200; the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII ranks #61 and costs $11700, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII offers: 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. Watch for: Its 5.27 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.
What the Focal Twin6 Be offers: The dual-woofer arrangement offers useful output capability for studio work, with a 48.3Hz measured -3dB point in the horizontal test. Its professional controls and format can suit a dedicated monitoring installation. Watch for: The horizontal measurement scores 5.33 with an ideal subwoofer and spans 2.9dB from 300Hz to 5kHz. Off-axis variation limits tonal consistency across listening positions. Orientation matters, and neither the beryllium tweeter nor the additional woofer makes its measured balance class-leading.
Buy the Focal Twin6 Be. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Neither of these is a sound-quality pick. Look higher up the 66 powered bookshelf speakers if that is what you are optimizing for.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ex Machina Pulsar MKII | Focal Twin6 Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,700/pair | $2,200 each |
| Ranked | #61 of 66 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #60 of 66 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed 3-way | - |
| Drivers | 9-inch SEAS woofer, 7-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter | 1" inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5" W-cone drivers |
| Amplification | 250W LF, 100W MF, 50W HF per speaker | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-32kHz (+/-1dB) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB continuous at 1m | - |
| Dispersion | 90 degrees conical | - |
| Inputs | Analog and AES/EBU digital | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity |
| DSP | SHARC, phase and magnitude correction | - |
| Bass Extension | - | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 48.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39.1Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | - | Not applicable (active studio monitor) |
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- Focal Twin6 Be vs Genelec 8361A
- Focal Twin6 Be vs Neumann KH420
Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 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/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 5.27 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 →
| Amplification | 250W LF, 100W MF, 50W HF per speaker |
|---|---|
| DSP | SHARC, phase and magnitude correction |
| Dispersion | 90 degrees conical |
| Drivers | 9-inch SEAS woofer, 7-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed 3-way |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-32kHz (+/-1dB) |
| Inputs | Analog and AES/EBU digital |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB continuous at 1m |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Twin6 Be: $2,200 each Amazon eBay
Pros: The dual-woofer arrangement offers useful output capability for studio work, with a 48.3Hz measured -3dB point in the horizontal test. Its professional controls and format can suit a dedicated monitoring installation.
Cons: The horizontal measurement scores 5.33 with an ideal subwoofer and spans 2.9dB from 300Hz to 5kHz. Off-axis variation limits tonal consistency across listening positions. Orientation matters, and neither the beryllium tweeter nor the additional woofer makes its measured balance class-leading.
Full Focal Twin6 Be review and specifications →
| Amplification | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39.1Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48.3Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1" inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5" W-cone drivers |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active studio monitor) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons