Short answer: the Kali Audio LP-6. It ranks #29 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $298; the Adam Audio S2V ranks #37 and costs $3500, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Kali Audio LP-6 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows generally flat on-axis response with excellent horizontal and vertical directivity. Watch for: Port resonance creates bumps around 900Hz-1kHz in the frequency response.
What the Adam Audio S2V gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows excellent driver blending through an imperceptible crossover between the 7” woofer and AMT tweeter, with distortion measured 70dB down at 1kHz. The catch: An intentional shelving curve creates a dip in the low bass response, roughly 200-500Hz.
Buy the Kali Audio LP-6. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Adam Audio S2V and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Adam Audio S2V. It ranks near the bottom of the 40 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio LP-6 | Adam Audio S2V | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298 Discontinued | $3500 |
| Ranked | #29 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #37 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 8.8"W x 10.3"D (358.8 x 222.3 x 260.4 mm) | not published by manufacturer |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 21kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 35Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each | not published by manufacturer |
| Drivers | 6.5" woofer, 1" textile dome tweeter | 7" woofer, S-ART AMT tweeter |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| DSP | No | Yes |
| Output Power | 80W total (40W LF, 40W HF) | 350W total (300W woofer Class D, 50W tweeter Class A/B) |
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- JBL 4305P vs Klipsch The Nines
- Klipsch The Nines vs Focal Twin6 Be
- JBL 4305P vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Adam Audio T7V vs Adam Audio S2V
- Adam Audio T8V vs Adam Audio S2V
The Two Speakers In Full
Kali Audio LP-6: $298 Discontinued Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows generally flat on-axis response with excellent horizontal and vertical directivity. Deep bass distortion stays below the fundamental tone throughout testing, and the noise floor is low enough that hiss isn’t audible at normal listening distance. Exceptional value at $298 per pair.
Cons: Port resonance creates bumps around 900Hz-1kHz in the frequency response. Distortion measurements are worse than the on-axis response alone would suggest. Diffraction causes a treble rise above 10kHz, and bass shelves down slightly in the low end. Discontinued.
Full Kali Audio LP-6 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 8.8"W x 10.3"D (358.8 x 222.3 x 260.4 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" woofer, 1" textile dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 21kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 80W total (40W LF, 40W HF) |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each |
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Adam Audio S2V: $3500 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows excellent driver blending through an imperceptible crossover between the 7” woofer and AMT tweeter, with distortion measured 70dB down at 1kHz. The 350W amplifier was the first the reviewer tested that didn’t run out of power on demand, delivering over 120dB SPL per pair.
Cons: An intentional shelving curve creates a dip in the low bass response, roughly 200-500Hz. The rotary-encoder control interface is non-intuitive, and the companion PC app requires serial-number registration with settings that only take effect after a manual “write” step that takes 5-10 seconds and produces audible ticks and pops. Expensive at $3,500 per pair.
Full Adam Audio S2V review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | not published by manufacturer |
| Drivers | 7" woofer, S-ART AMT tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 350W total (300W woofer Class D, 50W tweeter Class A/B) |
| Weight | not published by manufacturer |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons