Short answer: the JBL 4329P. It ranks #45 of 68 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $4500; the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII ranks #63, rated 3.8/5, and costs $11700, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII: Erin measured 32.2Hz -3dB extension, giving useful deep bass without a separate subwoofer. 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: Measured -3dB extension of 32.2Hz provides deeper native bass than the smaller 4305P. The tradeoff: 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 JBL 4329P. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ex Machina Pulsar MKII | JBL 4329P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,700 per pair | $4,500 per pair |
| Ranked | #63 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 68 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, 5.3 |
| 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 |
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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
JBL 4329P: $4,500 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Measured -3dB extension of 32.2Hz provides deeper native bass than the smaller 4305P. Integrated amplification and streaming make it convenient for a full-range living-room system, and its larger format is useful when scale matters. Measured bass extension of 31Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 102.2dB.
Cons: 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. Its 6.72 ideal-subwoofer score trails the 4305P. There is no HDMI connection for the simplest TV hookup.
Full JBL 4329P review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 300W RMS per speaker (600W total system power) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 27Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX Adaptive |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 20.3"H x 12.6"W x 12.7"D |
| Drivers | 8" midwoofer, 1" compression driver with JBL High-Definition Imaging horn |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (anechoic, manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | USB, Optical, Bluetooth, Analog, 3.5mm, AirPlay 2 |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | No |
| Sensitivity | 102.2dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.40 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.72 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 34.4 lbs (15.6 kg) (primary), 34.4 lbs (15.6 kg) (secondary) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons