Short answer: the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII, if you are buying new. The JBL 4329P ranks higher than it (#73 vs #105 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers, 4.1/5 vs 3.8/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII is still sold new at $11,700.
The case for the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII: A high end active three way studio monitor with deep bass that can skip a subwoofer and digital and analog inputs. The catch: Its 6.16 ideal-subwoofer score and uneven listening-window response do not support a top accuracy ranking.
The case for the JBL 4329P: Discontinued powered horn speakers with deep bass, streaming, and Bluetooth, a convenient full range living room system. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII lacks. The catch: The measured 4.5dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes a notable midrange dip, so it is not as neutral as its size and price might suggest.
Buy the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII new; the JBL 4329P is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ex Machina Pulsar MKII | JBL 4329P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,700 per pair | $4,500 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #105 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #73 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed 3-way | - |
| Drivers | 9-inch SEAS woofer, 7-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter | 8” midwoofer, 1” compression driver with JBL High-Definition Imaging horn |
| Amplifier Power | 250W LF, 100W MF, 50W HF per speaker | 300W RMS per speaker (600W total system power) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-32kHz (+/-1dB) | 30Hz - 20kHz (anechoic, manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB continuous at 1m | - |
| Coverage | 90 degrees conical | - |
| Inputs | Analog and AES/EBU digital | USB, Optical, Bluetooth, Analog, 3.5mm, AirPlay 2 |
| DSP | SHARC, phase and magnitude correction | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.04 | 5.40 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.16 | 6.72 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 19” x 11.4” x 13.6” (483 x 289 x 345 mm) (H x W x D) | 20.3”H x 12.6”W x 12.7”D |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23 kg) | 34.4 lbs (15.6 kg) (primary), 34.4 lbs (15.6 kg) (secondary) |
| Sensitivity | - | 102.2dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 27Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX Adaptive |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
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