Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s for output and bass, the Kali LP-6 for smoothness. The Emotiva shows lots of bass energy below 300Hz and plays louder than a JBL 305P MKII, but its listening window has a suckout between 300-600Hz followed by a peak from 600Hz up. The LP-6 has excellent horizontal and vertical directivity, with port-resonance bumps around 900Hz-1kHz.
Buy the Kali Audio LP-6 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the JBL 308P MKII instead.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio LP-6 | Emotiva Airmotiv 6s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298 per pair Discontinued | $800 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #32 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #49 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 49.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39.1Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.8”W x 10.3”D (358.8 x 222.3 x 260.4 mm) | 13.5” x 8.5” x 12.8” (343 x 216 x 324 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 21kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) each | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) each |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer, 1” textile dome tweeter | 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (built-in presets) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 80W total (40W LF, 40W HF) | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | XLR, RCA |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Kali Audio LP-6: $298 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Kali Audio LP-6 V2, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5.
Pros: The original LP-6 measures 43.9Hz at -3dB and scores 6.33 with an ideal subwoofer. Its waveguide and placement controls make it a credible budget studio monitor, with useful bass for ordinary music listening. Measured bass extension of 43.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The measured 2.9dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz is less even than the newer LP-6 V2. First-generation amplifier hiss can be distracting at short distances. Do not assume the V2’s noise improvements or measurements apply to this model. A port resonance adds bumps around 900Hz to 1kHz. Discontinued.
Full Kali Audio LP-6 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W total (40W LF, 40W HF) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39.1Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.8”W x 10.3”D (358.8 x 222.3 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer, 1” textile dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 21kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Emotiva Airmotiv 6s: $800 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: ASR measured 49.1Hz -3dB bass extension and a 5.75 ideal-subwoofer score. The review found useful output capability, making it a credible option for ordinary nearfield playback with additional bass support when needed. Measured bass extension of 49.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 3.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes lower-midrange unevenness that can change vocal weight. Treble peaks also prevent a fully neutral balance. Equalization may help, but the substantially higher EQ-optimized score is not its native performance. A suckout between 300 and 600Hz in the listening window is followed by a peak from 600Hz up. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv 6s review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5” x 8.5” x 12.8” (343 x 216 x 324 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (built-in presets) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
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