GR-Research X-LS Encore vs Philharmonic BMR Monitor

Last updated: September 16, 2026

Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor if sound quality matters most, the GR-Research X-LS Encore if price matters most. The Philharmonic BMR Monitor ranks #76 of 130 bookshelf speakers at $2200. The GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #83 at $1300, $900 cheaper.

GR-Research X-LS Encore vs Philharmonic BMR Monitor

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 Philharmonic BMR Monitor offers: Three-way design combining a 6” SB Acoustics mid-woofer, a 2.5” Tectonic balanced-mode radiator (BMR) for the midrange, and a ribbon tweeter - premium component choices relative to the asking price. A clear improvement over the V1: the earlier version’s overly hot, plateauing treble has been resolved, leaving a genuinely good in-room response outside of one specific area. Extremely wide horizontal radiation of about ±70-80°, creating an enveloping, wide soundstage that illuminates the sidewalls. Well-built, attractive cabinet. Midrange and tweeter show no stress or elevated distortion even at higher output - all the compression and distortion issues trace back to the mid-woofer alone. Watch for: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks. The extremely wide radiation trades off against imaging precision - instrument placement became noticeably more diffuse and harder to pinpoint in a narrower, more reflective room, though it improved substantially in a larger, more open room with less sidewall interaction. A suspected resonance around 500Hz shows up as an imbalance in sound power and horizontal directivity measurements, loosely correlating with a vague sense of resonance the reviewer heard subjectively. Moderate sensitivity (about 84.1dB anechoic) and a mid-woofer that runs out of steam under real stress - distortion exceeds 3% even at 100Hz at 96dB, and the reviewer notes SB Acoustics’ published excursion specs tend to overstate real-world linear excursion by nearly 2x. Significant compression appears at 102dB: the woofer audibly unloads around 120Hz, and the ribbon tweeter also compresses heavily at high output - not well suited to very loud two-channel listening (above about 90dB at 4 meters). In-room bass rolls off around 50Hz, so a subwoofer is recommended for most music. Benefits noticeably from a few bands of EQ if available.

Buy the GR-Research X-LS Encore if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Philharmonic BMR Monitor if sound quality matters more than the price.

Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.

Buy the Philharmonic BMR Monitor at Philharmonicaudio →Buy the GR-Research X-LS Encore at Gr-research →

Specifications Side By Side

GR-Research X-LS Encore Philharmonic BMR Monitor
Price$1300 per pair$2200 per pair
Ranked#83 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers#76 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers
Bass Extension (-10dB)44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)32Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)47Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm)20"H x 8"W x 12.5"D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm)
Impedance8 ohms4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified)84dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Drivers6.5" Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1" Peerless India T26SG tweeter6" Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5" midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter
Weight17 lbs (7.7 kg) each32 lbs (14.5 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetportedported, rear
Buy the Philharmonic BMR Monitor at Philharmonicaudio →Buy the GR-Research X-LS Encore at Gr-research →

More worthwhile head-to-heads for Philharmonic BMR Monitor:

Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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

GR-Research X-LS Encore: $1300 per pair Gr-research eBay

GR-Research X-LS Encore ranking card

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)
Dimensions13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm)
Drivers6.5" Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1" Peerless India T26SG tweeter
Impedance8 ohms
Sensitivity84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified)
Weight17 lbs (7.7 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetported
Check current price at Gr-research →Search eBay for GR-Research X-LS Encore →

Philharmonic BMR Monitor: $2200 per pair Philharmonicaudio eBay

Philharmonic BMR Monitor ranking card

Pros: Three-way design combining a 6” SB Acoustics mid-woofer, a 2.5” Tectonic balanced-mode radiator (BMR) for the midrange, and a ribbon tweeter - premium component choices relative to the asking price. A clear improvement over the V1: the earlier version’s overly hot, plateauing treble has been resolved, leaving a genuinely good in-room response outside of one specific area. Extremely wide horizontal radiation of about ±70-80°, creating an enveloping, wide soundstage that illuminates the sidewalls. Well-built, attractive cabinet. Midrange and tweeter show no stress or elevated distortion even at higher output - all the compression and distortion issues trace back to the mid-woofer alone. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84dB.

Cons: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks. The extremely wide radiation trades off against imaging precision - instrument placement became noticeably more diffuse and harder to pinpoint in a narrower, more reflective room, though it improved substantially in a larger, more open room with less sidewall interaction. A suspected resonance around 500Hz shows up as an imbalance in sound power and horizontal directivity measurements, loosely correlating with a vague sense of resonance the reviewer heard subjectively. Moderate sensitivity (about 84.1dB anechoic) and a mid-woofer that runs out of steam under real stress - distortion exceeds 3% even at 100Hz at 96dB, and the reviewer notes SB Acoustics’ published excursion specs tend to overstate real-world linear excursion by nearly 2x. Significant compression appears at 102dB: the woofer audibly unloads around 120Hz, and the ribbon tweeter also compresses heavily at high output - not well suited to very loud two-channel listening (above about 90dB at 4 meters). In-room bass rolls off around 50Hz, so a subwoofer is recommended for most music. Benefits noticeably from a few bands of EQ if available.

Full Philharmonic BMR Monitor review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)32Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)47Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions20"H x 8"W x 12.5"D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm)
Drivers6" Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5" midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter
Impedance4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity84dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Weight32 lbs (14.5 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetported, rear
Check current price at Philharmonicaudio →Search eBay for Philharmonic BMR Monitor →