Short answer: the Focal Alpha 65 EVO, if you are buying new. The Emotiva Airmotiv 6s measures as well as it (#77 vs #79 of 113 powered bookshelf speakers, 4.0/5 vs 4.0/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Focal Alpha 65 EVO is still sold new at $998.
What the Focal Alpha 65 EVO does well: ASR measured 42.5Hz -3dB extension, providing useful low-end reach for music. The catch: The measured 2.7dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and listening-window variation do not support a claim of reference-level neutrality.
What the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s does well: ASR measured 49.1Hz -3dB bass extension and a 5.75 ideal-subwoofer score. Watch for: The 3.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes lower-midrange unevenness that can change vocal weight.
Buy the Focal Alpha 65 EVO, since the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Alpha 65 EVO | Emotiva Airmotiv 6s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $998 per pair | $800 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #79 of 113 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #77 of 113 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 49.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 10.3”W x 11.4”D (340.4 x 261.6 x 289.6 mm) | 13.5” x 8.5” x 12.8” (343 x 216 x 324 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 22kHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | XLR, RCA |
| Weight | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) each |
| Drivers | 6.5” (165mm) woofer | 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (built-in presets) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 85w Per Speaker | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.71 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.59 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Emotiva Airmotiv 6s compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8341A vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
- Adam Audio S2V vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
- Yamaha HS8 vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
- Kali Audio LP-6 V2 vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
- Kali Audio IN-8 V2 vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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
Focal Alpha 65 EVO: $998 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Focal Alpha 50 EVO (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.8/5), the Focal Alpha 80 Evo (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, estimated 4/5) and the Focal Alpha Twin Evo (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: ASR measured 42.5Hz -3dB extension, providing useful low-end reach for music. Analog input options and tonal controls make it straightforward to integrate into a studio, with a 6.59 ideal-subwoofer score indicating respectable but not leading tonality. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The measured 2.7dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and listening-window variation do not support a claim of reference-level neutrality. Placement and external correction may help. An anomalous distortion result from an individual sample should not be treated as a proven defect in every unit.
Full Focal Alpha 65 EVO review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 85w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 10.3”W x 11.4”D (340.4 x 261.6 x 289.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (165mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 22kHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.71 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.59 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Focal Alpha 65 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Kali Audio IN-5 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Adam Audio A7X sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
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Emotiva Airmotiv 6s: $800 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: ASR measured 49.1Hz -3dB bass extension and a 5.75 ideal-subwoofer score. The review found useful output capability, making it a credible option for ordinary nearfield playback with additional bass support when needed. Measured bass extension of 49.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 3.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes lower-midrange unevenness that can change vocal weight. Treble peaks also prevent a fully neutral balance. Equalization may help, but the substantially higher EQ-optimized score is not its native performance. A suckout between 300 and 600Hz in the listening window is followed by a peak from 600Hz up. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv 6s review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5” x 8.5” x 12.8” (343 x 216 x 324 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (built-in presets) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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