Short answer: the Linkwitz Lab LXmini. Both are rated 4.2/5 for sound quality (#86 and #85 of 228 floorstanding speakers), and the Linkwitz Lab LXmini costs $505 against $1,398 for the Polk Reserve R500, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
The Polk Reserve R500 is the more accurate pick. Affordable floorstanding speakers with fairly neutral sound for a small to medium room, easy to improve further with simple EQ. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.86 against 3.89 for the Linkwitz Lab LXmini. The catch: A bump around 4-6kHz gives a “shouty,” mildly sibilant quality in the lower treble.
The case for the Linkwitz Lab LXmini: A build it yourself DSP speaker with a huge, open soundstage, little cabinet sound and surprising bass for its narrow size. Watch for: This is not a conventional passive pair: it requires a construction-plan license, assembly, miniDSP, four matched amplifier channels and careful gain/setup work, so the apparent kit price is not the complete system cost.
Buy the Linkwitz Lab LXmini. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $893 less than the Polk Reserve R500.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (33 Hz vs 33 Hz, 10 dB down).
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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
| Polk Reserve R500 | Linkwitz Lab LXmini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,398 per pair | $505.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #85 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #86 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.3”H x 6.8”W x 12.4”D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) | - |
| Impedance | 4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 8 ohms nominal per manufacturer) | 4 ohms upper driver / 8 ohms woofer nominal (separate actively bi-amplified loads; manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB upper driver / 87dB woofer @ 1W/1m (individual driver specifications; complete active-DSP system sensitivity is not directly specified) |
| Drivers | Two 5.25” Turbine Cone woofer, 1” Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter | 6.5” SEAS woofer in sealed tube, 4” SEAS full-range dipole driver |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) each | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | sealed cylindrical enclosure; open-baffle upper driver |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.86 | 3.89 (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.44 | 5.77 (measured, spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | Yes |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 700Hz LR2, active DSP |
| Amplifier Power | - | Four channels, 50W/channel minimum with identical voltage gain |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Polk Reserve R500: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Linkwitz Lab LXmini: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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