Short answer: the Focal Alpha 65 EVO. It ranks #81 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $858. The Focal Alpha 50 EVO ranks #53, rated 3.8/5, at $658, $200 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Alpha 50 EVO has no listed cons at all, described in our notes as more neutral than the great Yamaha HS5.
The Alpha 65 EVO trades that clean review for more scale. Very neutral with better soundstage and instrument definition than the Yamaha HS8, though its trim dials lack a center detent, so returning to a flat setting takes trial and error, and a distortion spike on one reviewer’s original sample wasn’t reproduced on a second unit.
Buy the Alpha 50 EVO for the cleaner review and lower price. Buy the Alpha 65 EVO if you specifically want the larger cabinet’s scale and soundstage.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A 5 inch studio monitor with XLR, TRS and RCA inputs and rear shelving controls for placement.
Studio monitors with useful bass for music, tone controls, and XLR, TRS and RCA inputs for easy studio setup.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Alpha 50 EVO | Focal Alpha 65 EVO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $658 per pair | $858 per pair |
| Ranked | #53 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #81 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 12.2”H x 9”W x 9.4”D (309.9 x 228.6 x 238.8 mm) | 13.4”H x 10.3”W x 11.4”D (340.4 x 261.6 x 289.6 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz - 22 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 22kHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) each | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 6.5” (165mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Amplifier Power | 60w Per Speaker | 85w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.04 | 4.71 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.70 | 6.59 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | - | No |
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