Short answer: the Neumi BS5. It ranks #11 of 34 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $110; the Neumi Silk 4 ranks #15 and costs $199.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Neumi BS5 offers: Exceptional budget value: Erin measured approximately +/-1.5dB on-axis linearity through most of the mid/treble, 84dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and a manageable 4.6-ohm minimum. Watch for: Erin measured F3 at 64Hz, so kick-drum punch should not be mistaken for deep-bass extension.
What the Neumi Silk 4 offers: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover, achieving an impressively high preference score of 4.4 for the price. Watch for: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume.
Buy the Neumi BS5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Neumi Silk 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Neumi BS5 | Neumi Silk 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110/pair | $199.99 |
| Ranked | #11 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #15 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 84dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4.6 ohms minimum; approximately 6 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1" silk-dome tweeter; 5" fiberglass woofer | 4" treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1" silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | - | 8.9"H x 5.5"W x 8.2"D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Weight | - | 6.2 lbs / 2.8 kg each |
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- Neumi BS5 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- Emotiva B1+ vs Neumi BS5
The Two Speakers In Full
Neumi BS5: $110/pair Amazon
Pros: Exceptional budget value: Erin measured approximately +/-1.5dB on-axis linearity through most of the mid/treble, 84dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and a manageable 4.6-ohm minimum. The 5-inch fiberglass woofer and 1-inch silk dome provide good horizontal directivity for the price; a mild upper-bass rise adds punch, and ordinary modern AVRs can generally drive the mostly six-ohm load at sensible levels.
Cons: Erin measured F3 at 64Hz, so kick-drum punch should not be mistaken for deep-bass extension. Output around 90dB began to reveal distortion and compression, limiting farfield/high-volume use. A narrow dip near 800Hz, port/cabinet resonances and imperfect crossover directivity remain visible; the tweeter itself is approximately four ohms even though the system is sold as nominal six ohms. A subwoofer is strongly preferred.
Full Neumi BS5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 1" silk-dome tweeter; 5" fiberglass woofer |
| Impedance | 4.6 ohms minimum; approximately 6 ohms nominal (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 84dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
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Neumi Silk 4: $199.99 Amazon
Pros: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover, achieving an impressively high preference score of 4.4 for the price. Distortion stays below 1% up to about 120Hz and below 3% above roughly 50-60Hz at 86dB. High-frequency compression is surprisingly good - better than some speakers costing 2-3x as much - and at 96dB/1m for a pair, output still reaches about 93dB at 3 meters, plenty loud for most listeners. F3 of 83Hz and F10 of 55Hz with in-room extension to about 70Hz. Takes very well to EQ correction, and the reviewer provides a specific fix (a notch around 650Hz, Q of about 6) that cleans up its main resonance.
Cons: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume. A resonance around 650Hz (likely port- or cabinet-related) creates an audible 1-2dB midrange thickness/boxiness on certain tracks, tied to a probable baffle-step compensation shortfall - about 1dB more energy in the midrange from the factory would likely have resolved it. Multitone distortion becomes audible around the same 600Hz-1kHz region at 96dB. Horizontal radiation narrows to about ±50° with the waveguide, on the narrower side of what the reviewer prefers. A diffraction-related dip around 5kHz at 5° below the tweeter axis creates a small hole in the response if placed on a desk below ear level. Nominal impedance of about 6 ohms with a low sensitivity means it benefits from a subwoofer pairing (the reviewer suggests an 80Hz crossover) for a complete small-room or surround setup.
Full Neumi Silk 4 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 8.9"H x 5.5"W x 8.2"D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1" silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82.6dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs / 2.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons