Short answer: the Neumi BS5. It ranks #22 of 88 medium bookshelf speakers at $139.99, the Silk 4 ranks #32 at $199.99, and Erin’s Audio Corner measurements back up the gap.
The cheaper BS5 actually measures the deeper, more efficient speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner put its bass rolloff at F3 64Hz and F10 41Hz, ahead of the Silk 4’s F3 83Hz and F10 55Hz, and its sensitivity measured around 84dB against the Silk 4’s 82.6dB, which Erin’s review flags as too low for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume. The BS5 also holds on-axis linearity to roughly plus or minus 1.5dB through most of the mid and treble.
The Silk 4 does have real strengths that don’t show up in the ranking. Its distortion stays below 1% up to about 120Hz and below 3% above roughly 50 to 60Hz at 86dB, and Erin’s review calls its high-frequency compression surprisingly good, better than some speakers costing two to three times as much. It also earns a specific reviewer-provided EQ fix, a notch around 650Hz with a Q of about 6, that cleans up its main resonance. But it carries its own tradeoffs: a resonance around 650Hz that adds audible midrange thickness, horizontal radiation narrowed to about plus or minus 50 degrees by its waveguide, and a diffraction dip around 5kHz if placed on a desk below ear level.
Buy the Neumi BS5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Neumi Silk 4, measures deeper bass and higher sensitivity, and costs less, so the Silk 4 has little left to offer at its price.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Neumi BS5 | Neumi Silk 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 per pair | $199.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #22 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #32 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (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 |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.60 | 4.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.12 | 7.10 |
| Dimensions | 10.6”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (269.2 x 182.9 x 215.9 mm) | 8.9”H x 5.5”W x 8.2”D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Neumi BS5 compares with other leading options:
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Neumi BS5
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Neumi BS5
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Neumi BS5
- Emotiva B1+ vs Neumi BS5
- KEF Q150 vs Neumi BS5
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Neumi BS5: $139.99 per pair Amazon eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 64Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84dB.
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 (-10dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (269.2 x 182.9 x 215.9 mm) |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.60 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.12 |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Neumi BS5 vs KEF Q150
- Neumi BS5 vs Emotiva B1+
- Neumi BS5 vs Polk Audio XT15
- Neumi BS5 vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Neumi BS5 vs XMechanik Mechano23 DIY
- Neumi BS5 vs KEF LS50 Meta
- Neumi BS5 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- Neumi BS5 vs Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit
- See all 9 comparisons
Neumi Silk 4: $199.99 per pair Amazon eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 83Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82.6dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.10 |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons