Short answer: the GR-Research NX-Studio for a clean waterfall, the HiVi Swans mod for a smooth DIY three-way. The NX-Studio’s burst decay plot is ultra clean, but its sealed enclosure means bass is tight rather than deep. The HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod shows a mostly smooth on-axis response for a DIY three-way kit, with some directivity error appearing around 2.1kHz on-axis.
Buy the GR-Research NX-Studio when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research NX-Studio | HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3630 per pair | $364.99 per pair for the kit (assembly required) |
| Ranked | #4 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #97 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 18”H x 8.5”W x 15.5”D (457.2 x 215.9 x 393.7 mm) | 16.5”H x 8.5”W x 13”D (420.0 x 215.0 x 330.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 86.5dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | GR-Research M165NQ 6.5” paper cone, non-resonant polymer frame, copper shorting rings and aluminum phase plug sealed enclosure woofer, GR-Research Neo3 Planar Magnetic Ribbon open baffle tweeter | 6.5” Kevlar woofer, 2” Dome midrange, 1” Soft Dome tweeter |
| Weight | 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg) each | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | ported, rear |
| DIY Kit | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.8 (derived from ASR thread measurement data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.6 (derived from ASR thread measurement data) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to GR-Research NX-Studio: