Short answer: the Parts Express Samba MT, if you are buying new. The Monolith Encore B6 ranks higher than it (#99 vs #141 of 222 bookshelf speakers, 3.9/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Parts Express Samba MT is still sold new at $329.96.
What the Monolith Encore B6 does well: Budget bookshelf speakers with punchy midbass, smooth wide dispersion and an unusually solid braced cabinet for the price. The tradeoff: Erin measured 85.3dB sensitivity and a 3.4-ohm minimum, so this is not an easy load despite its modest output ceiling.
The Parts Express Samba MT is the deeper-bass option. An affordable two-way speaker kit with Dayton Reference drivers, deep bass for a bookshelf and wide dispersion. Its bass reaches about 45.4Hz before falling 3dB, against 68Hz for the Monolith Encore B6. The catch: The listening window spans 6.0dB between 300Hz and 5kHz in Erin’s Audio Corner’s measurements, less even than the best speakers here, and the preference score only reaches 6.27 with an ideal subwoofer.
Buy the Parts Express Samba MT, since the Monolith Encore B6 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Monolith Encore B6 scores 6.9 against 6.3 for the Parts Express Samba MT on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (37 Hz vs 33.7 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Monolith Encore B6 | Parts Express Samba MT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $360 per pair Discontinued | $329.96 per pair |
| Ranked | #99 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #141 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 45.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 33.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.3dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB 1W/1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; 3.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch pulp woofer; 25mm waveguided silk dome | Dayton Audio RS180P-4 7” paper woofer, RST28F-4 1-1/8” fabric dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 15.7H x 7.9W x 9.9D inches | 15”H x 8.5”W x 11.7”D (381 x 216 x 298 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.67 | 4.46 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.93 | 6.27 |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7.0 kg) each | - |
| DIY Kit | No | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz-20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 70W RMS, 140W max (manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Monolith Encore B6: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner video.
- Parts Express Samba MT: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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