Short answer: the Mission LX-3 MKII, if you are buying new. The Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks higher than it (#40 vs #138 of 222 bookshelf speakers, 4.3/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Mission LX-3 MKII is still sold new. The Philharmonic BMR (v1)’s replacement, the Philharmonic BMR Monitor, is rated 3.6/5 at $2,200.
The Philharmonic BMR (v1) is the more accurate pick. A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.86 against 4.17 for the Mission LX-3 MKII. The catch: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification.
What the Mission LX-3 MKII does well: Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity. The tradeoff: On-axis smoothness of 0.217 and predicted in-room smoothness of 0.344 reveal clear response unevenness, with a -0.46dB-per-octave downward tilt.
Buy the Mission LX-3 MKII, since the Philharmonic BMR (v1) is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A large three way bookshelf speaker with a ribbon tweeter, flat response, broad coverage, and an unusually expansive midrange.
Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Philharmonic BMR (v1) | Mission LX-3 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,395 per pair Discontinued | £249 per pair |
| Ranked | #40 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #138 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner website) | 67.4Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42.5Hz (derived from ASR on-axis curve, spinorama.org) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88dB |
| Impedance | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum |
| Drivers | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5” BMR midrange; 7” Scan-Speak woofer | 1” microfiber-dome tweeter, 6.5” composite-fiber woofer |
| Port Tuning | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.86 | 4.17 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.17 | 6.42 |
| Dimensions | 22H x 9W x 13.5D in | 13.6H x 8.9W x 12.1D in |
| Weight | 37.9 lbs (17.2 kg) each | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, bass-reflex |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (design) |
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