Short answer: the Dynaudio Emit 20. It ranks #133 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $1,049; the GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #146, rated 3.5/5, and costs $1,300, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The GR-Research X-LS Encore is the more accurate pick. Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.05 against 4.22 for the Dynaudio Emit 20. The tradeoff: 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.
The Dynaudio Emit 20 is the deeper-bass pick. Bookshelf speakers with unusually deep, low distortion bass for a two-way design and wide, consistent dispersion. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 3dB, against 64Hz for the GR-Research X-LS Encore. Watch for: A resonance around 600-800Hz gives snares and similar percussion a muffled, flat quality lacking impact: confirmed as originating in the woofer itself (isolated via measurements of the raw driver out of the cabinet), and attempts at constrained-layer damping didn’t resolve it.
Buy the Dynaudio Emit 20. It is rated higher for sound quality than the GR-Research X-LS Encore and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them.
Bookshelf speakers with unusually deep, low distortion bass for a two-way design and wide, consistent dispersion.
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Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research X-LS Encore | Dynaudio Emit 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1300 per pair | $1,049.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #146 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #133 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.5”H x 8.5”W x 12.1”D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm) | 14.6”H x 8.1”W x 12.3”D (370.0 x 205.0 x 312.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms nominal (5.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review on the kit; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1” Peerless India T26SG tweeter | 7.1” Magnesium Silicate Polymer woofer, 1.1” Cerotar soft dome with Hexis tweeter |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.05 (measured, spinorama.org) | 4.22 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.42 (measured, spinorama.org) | 5.92 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
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