Short answer: the Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive. It ranks #45 of 130 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #83.
What the GR-Research X-LS Encore offers: An amazing value, especially if you managed to snag one of these built by AV123 in the early 2000s for $200-300. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response, especially in the listening window. Predicted in-room response is generally smooth and on-target. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is pretty clean above 200Hz. Watch for: A slight depression in the upper bass and some peaking in the lower bass shows up on-axis, along with directivity error in the crossover region. Vertical directivity requires staying within about 20 degrees of the tweeter axis. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion becomes “rather unhappy,” with bass distortion, a possible woofer issue around 2kHz, and a tweeter problem above 7kHz. As a DIY kit, it requires building the cabinet and crossover yourself.
What the Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive offers: The passive version of the same cabinet as Aalto’s Active Pro model, sharing its 26mm aluminum tweeter and 6.5” bass-midrange driver but without the built-in amp module, for buyers who already have their own amplification. Measures a -3dB extension of 56.6Hz with an on-axis deviation of 0.192dB, close to tonally neutral, a well-damped bass-alignment Q of 0.64, and reaches a deeper 34Hz Harman in-room extension estimate. Watch for: Requires an external amplifier (50-250W recommended) that the Active Pro doesn’t, and shares the same review gap: no independent editorial coverage found, only manufacturer-supplied specs, with factory-direct-only sales from Finland.
Buy the GR-Research X-LS Encore if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive if sound quality matters more than the price.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research X-LS Encore | Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1300 per pair | €3,490 per pair |
| Ranked | #83 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #45 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm) | 9.4"W x 15.7"H x 9.8"D (240 x 400 x 250 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal (min 4 ohms @ 18kHz) |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 83.5dB @ 2.83V/1m |
| Drivers | 6.5" Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1" Peerless India T26SG tweeter | 26mm aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5" long-throw bass-midrange, 8" passive radiator |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each | 20.7 lbs (9.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, passive-radiator loaded, MDF |
| Power Handling | - | 50-250W RMS recommended amplifier power |
| Country | - | Finland |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 6.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.74 |
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How Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive compares with other leading options:
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The Two Speakers In Full
GR-Research X-LS Encore: $1300 per pair Gr-research eBay
Pros: An amazing value, especially if you managed to snag one of these built by AV123 in the early 2000s for $200-300. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response, especially in the listening window. Predicted in-room response is generally smooth and on-target. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is pretty clean above 200Hz. Measured bass extension of 64Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.4dB.
Cons: A slight depression in the upper bass and some peaking in the lower bass shows up on-axis, along with directivity error in the crossover region. Vertical directivity requires staying within about 20 degrees of the tweeter axis. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion becomes “rather unhappy,” with bass distortion, a possible woofer issue around 2kHz, and a tweeter problem above 7kHz. As a DIY kit, it requires building the cabinet and crossover yourself.
Full GR-Research X-LS Encore review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1" Peerless India T26SG tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive: €3,490 per pair Aalto Speakers eBay
Pros: The passive version of the same cabinet as Aalto’s Active Pro model, sharing its 26mm aluminum tweeter and 6.5” bass-midrange driver but without the built-in amp module, for buyers who already have their own amplification. Measures a -3dB extension of 56.6Hz with an on-axis deviation of 0.192dB, close to tonally neutral, a well-damped bass-alignment Q of 0.64, and reaches a deeper 34Hz Harman in-room extension estimate.
Cons: Requires an external amplifier (50-250W recommended) that the Active Pro doesn’t, and shares the same review gap: no independent editorial coverage found, only manufacturer-supplied specs, with factory-direct-only sales from Finland.
Full Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive review and specifications →
| Country | Finland |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9.4"W x 15.7"H x 9.8"D (240 x 400 x 250 mm) |
| Drivers | 26mm aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5" long-throw bass-midrange, 8" passive radiator |
| Enclosure | 2-way, passive-radiator loaded, MDF |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (min 4 ohms @ 18kHz) |
| Power Handling | 50-250W RMS recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB @ 2.83V/1m |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.74 |
| Weight | 20.7 lbs (9.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive vs JBL HDI-1600
- Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive vs Perlisten A3m
- Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Passive vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63
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