Short answer: the Focal Alpha 50 EVO. It ranks #53 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $658. The Palmer STUDIMON 5 ranks #68, rated 3.6/5, at $599.98, $58.02 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Focal Alpha 50 EVO: A 5 inch studio monitor with XLR, TRS and RCA inputs and rear shelving controls for placement. The tradeoff: Basic shelving controls are less flexible than parametric room correction.
The Palmer STUDIMON 5 is the more accurate pick. A plain compact studio monitor with balanced XLR and TRS inputs that fits easily into a home studio setup. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.48 against 1.04 for the Focal Alpha 50 EVO. Watch for: The trace spans 4.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and estimates -3dB bass around 80Hz, with local irregularities despite the level overall trend.
Buy the Focal Alpha 50 EVO. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $58.02 with the Palmer STUDIMON 5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Alpha 50 EVO | Palmer STUDIMON 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $658 per pair | $599.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #53 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 12.2”H x 9”W x 9.4”D (309.9 x 228.6 x 238.8 mm) | 10.6H x 7.5W x 8.5D in |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz - 22 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) each | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 0.75” soft-dome tweeter, 5” woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60w Per Speaker | 60W each (30W LF, 30W HF) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.04 | 3.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.70 | 6.37 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| 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 |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way active, rear-ported |
| Country | - | Germany (design) |
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