Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It ranks #48 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $549; the Polk R200 ranks #178, rated 3.2/5, and costs $799, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Polk R200: A Polk bookshelf speaker with a 6.5 inch woofer and a ring radiator tweeter, sized for a medium room. The catch: A resonance and associated distortion increase around 800Hz-1kHz creates a “tinny,” occasionally glaring quality on certain instruments and vocals, confirmed both by ear and in the frequency-response and distortion measurements.
The Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.65 against 5.09 for the Polk R200. Its bass reaches about 62Hz before falling 3dB, against 74Hz for the Polk R200. The tradeoff: Slight recessed upper-midrange around 2kHz from the tweeter-to-woofer handoff.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Polk R200 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
A Polk bookshelf speaker with a 6.5 inch woofer and a ring radiator tweeter, sized for a medium room.
A great value bookshelf speaker with neutral sound, an AMT ribbon tweeter, and decent bass for its size.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Polk R200 | Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.00 per pair | $549 per pair |
| Ranked | #178 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #48 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (safe with 8-ohm rated amps) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 86dB (2.83V/1m, Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 25mm soft dome + 165mm woofer | 1x 6” woven cone woofer, 1x 25x32mm AMT folded ribbon tweeter |
| Weight | 31.3 lbs (14.2 kg) | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.5”W x 13.9”D (359.0 x 190.0 x 353.8 mm) | 12.8” x 8.5” x 11.5” (325 x 216 x 292 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Bass reflex, rear ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.09 | 5.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.61 | 7.93 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 48Hz - 27kHz (+3/-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.6kHz |
| Power Handling | - | 125W continuous, 200W peak |
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