Short answer: the JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor. It ranks #35 of 68 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $15000. The Ex Machina Pulsar MKII ranks #63, rated 3.8/5, at $11700, $3300 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII does well: Erin measured 32.2Hz -3dB extension, giving useful deep bass without a separate subwoofer. The tradeoff: Its 6.16 ideal-subwoofer score and uneven listening-window response do not support a top accuracy ranking.
What the JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor does well: A high-output specialist: Erin’s low-distortion and compression tests support considerable dynamic capability, beyond what a single preference score captures. The catch: Its 4.1dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.58 ideal-subwoofer score do not support a top tonal-accuracy ranking.
Buy the JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $3300 saving on the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ex Machina Pulsar MKII | JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,700 per pair | $15,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #63 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #35 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Powered sealed 3-way | - |
| Drivers | 9-inch SEAS woofer, 7-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter | 15" 2216Nd woofer; D2 compression driver in Image Control Waveguide |
| Amplifier Power | 250W LF, 100W MF, 50W HF per speaker | External two-channel amplification and JBL DSP tuning required |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz-32kHz (+/-1dB) | 20Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB continuous at 1m | 123dB manufacturer specified |
| Coverage | 90 degrees conical | - |
| Inputs | Analog and AES/EBU digital | None (passive cabinet driven by a matched Crown amplifier via speaker-level connection) |
| DSP | SHARC, phase and magnitude correction | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.04 | 5.74 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.16 | 6.58 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| 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) | 49.4"H x 20"W x 14"D (1256 x 508 x 355.6 mm) |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23 kg) | 130.1 lbs (59 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 21.0Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 800Hz active DSP |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor:
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Kii THREE
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Genelec 8351B
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Neumann KH420
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Genelec 8361A
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Neumann KH 150
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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 M2 Master Reference Monitor: $15,000 per pair JBL Professional Dealer Locator eBay
Pros: A high-output specialist: Erin’s low-distortion and compression tests support considerable dynamic capability, beyond what a single preference score captures. Measured -3dB extension is 33.7Hz. The large woofer and waveguide are particularly useful for greater listening distances. Measured bass extension of 34Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Its 4.1dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.58 ideal-subwoofer score do not support a top tonal-accuracy ranking. It requires the correct external amplification and DSP rather than a simple built-in amplifier. The very large cabinet, installation cost and possible amplifier fan noise make it impractical for most desks.
Full JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | External two-channel amplification and JBL DSP tuning required |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 21.0Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Crossover Frequency | 800Hz active DSP |
| Dimensions | 49.4"H x 20"W x 14"D (1256 x 508 x 355.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 15" 2216Nd woofer; D2 compression driver in Image Control Waveguide |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | None (passive cabinet driven by a matched Crown amplifier via speaker-level connection) |
| Maximum SPL | 123dB manufacturer specified |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.74 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.58 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 130.1 lbs (59 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Genelec 8040B
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs JBL 708P
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Klipsch The Nines
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs JBL 4305P
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Genelec 8050B
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Kali Audio IN-8 V2
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs JBL 4329P
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Kali Audio LP-6 V2
- See all 23 comparisons