Short answer: the Palmer STUDIMON 5, if you are buying new. The Kanto YU6 ranks higher than it (#41 vs #68 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers, 3.9/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Palmer STUDIMON 5 is still sold new at $599.98. The Kanto YU6’s replacement, the Kanto YU6 G2, is rated 3.9/5 at $549.99.
The Kanto YU6 is the more accurate pick. A powered bookshelf pair with a phono input, optical, Bluetooth and a remote, a simple multi source system. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.28 against 3.48 for the Palmer STUDIMON 5. The tradeoff: Local response variation remains despite the mild overall tilt: the midrange span is 3.8dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.419.
What the Palmer STUDIMON 5 does well: A plain compact studio monitor with balanced XLR and TRS inputs that fits easily into a home studio setup. The catch: The trace spans 4.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and estimates -3dB bass around 80Hz, with local irregularities despite the level overall trend.
Buy the Palmer STUDIMON 5 if you want one new; the Kanto YU6 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kanto YU6 | Palmer STUDIMON 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $380.00 per pair Discontinued | $599.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #41 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, MDF cabinet | 2-way active, rear-ported |
| Drivers | 1” silk dome tweeter, 5.25” Kevlar woofer | 0.75” soft-dome tweeter, 5” woofer |
| Dimensions | 6.9W x 8.1D x 10.7H in each | 10.6H x 7.5W x 8.5D in |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) (active), 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) (passive) | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 200W peak Class D (100W RMS total) | 60W each (30W LF, 30W HF) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth aptX, RCA phono preamp, 2x optical | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| Country | Canada (design) | Germany (design) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.28 | 3.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.89 | 6.37 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | - |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
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