Short answer: the Buchardt Audio E50. It ranks #16 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $4,600. The Philharmonic BMR Monitor ranks #134, rated 3.6/5, at $2,200, $2,400 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Philharmonic BMR Monitor: Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage. The tradeoff: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks.
The Buchardt Audio E50 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall. Its bass reaches about 40Hz before falling 3dB, against 47Hz for the Philharmonic BMR Monitor. The catch: A roughly 3dB dip in the upper midrange/lower treble softens attack and dialogue clarity: the reviewer’s main complaint, and it’s baked into the crossover rather than a directivity artifact, so it’s audible both on and off axis.
Buy the Buchardt Audio E50. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $2,400 saving on the Philharmonic BMR Monitor is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage.
A bookshelf speaker with remarkably deep bass for its size, a very neutral midrange, and low distortion, with no need to sit near a wall.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Philharmonic BMR Monitor | Buchardt Audio E50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2200 per pair | $4600 per pair |
| Ranked | #134 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #16 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 20”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) | 15.6” x 7.5” x 11.2” (395 x 190 x 284 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal |
| Drivers | 6” Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5” midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter | 1” Scanspeak dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” Purifi extended-stroke woofer, dual 6.5” passive radiators |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.1dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Passive radiator loaded |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.02 (spinorama.org) | 5.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.67 (spinorama.org) | 7.61 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2000Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 36Hz - 30kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 60W - 200W |
| Country | - | Denmark |
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