Short answer: the Focal Alpha Twin Evo. Both are rated 3.8/5 for sound quality (#106 and #105 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers), and the Focal Alpha Twin Evo costs $1,498 against $11,700 for the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
What the Focal Alpha Twin Evo does well: A dual woofer studio monitor with very deep bass and flexible analog inputs and controls for studio playback. The tradeoff: The measurements give a 6.01 ideal-subwoofer score and 3.5dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz, suggesting appreciable tonal unevenness.
What the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII does well: A high end active three way studio monitor with deep bass that can skip a subwoofer and digital and analog inputs. The tradeoff: Its 6.16 ideal-subwoofer score and uneven listening-window response do not support a top accuracy ranking.
Buy the Focal Alpha Twin Evo. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $10,202 less than the Ex Machina Pulsar MKII.
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A dual woofer studio monitor with very deep bass and flexible analog inputs and controls for studio playback.
A high end active three way studio monitor with deep bass that can skip a subwoofer and digital and analog inputs.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Alpha Twin Evo | Ex Machina Pulsar MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,498 per pair | $11,700 per pair |
| Ranked | #106 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #105 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2.5-way active, dual front ports | Powered sealed 3-way |
| Drivers | 1” inverted-dome tweeter, dual 6.5” Slatefiber woofers | 9-inch SEAS woofer, 7-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter |
| Dimensions | 10.2H x 21.7W x 11.4D in | 19” x 11.4” x 13.6” (483 x 289 x 345 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 26.5 lbs (12 kg) each | 50.7 lbs (23 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 210W each | 250W LF, 100W MF, 50W HF per speaker |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS and RCA | Analog and AES/EBU digital |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.86 | 5.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.01 | 6.16 |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 22kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 35Hz-32kHz (+/-1dB) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB continuous at 1m |
| Coverage | - | 90 degrees conical |
| DSP | - | SHARC, phase and magnitude correction |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Focal Alpha Twin Evo (measured by an independent reviewer) and Ex Machina Pulsar MKII (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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