Short answer: the Selah Audio Purezza. It ranks #25 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks #30.
What the Selah Audio Purezza offers: Premium two-way built around Purifi’s exceptionally linear 6.5-inch woofer and a tall RAAL ribbon. Watch for: The ribbon’s tall aperture creates deliberately narrow vertical radiation—roughly 20-30 degrees around 7kHz—so stand height and listening elevation are critical.
What the Philharmonic BMR (v1) offers: Large three-way combining a Scan-Speak 7-inch paper/carbon woofer, 2.5-inch Tectonic balanced-mode midrange and RAAL 64-10 ribbon. Watch for: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification.
Buy the Selah Audio Purezza if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Philharmonic BMR (v1) if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Selah Audio Purezza | Philharmonic BMR (v1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Contact manufacturer | Current version: $2,200/pair |
| Ranked | #25 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #30 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension | Subwoofer crossover near 80Hz recommended by Erin’s Audio Corner | - |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | RAAL ribbon tweeter; 6.5" Purifi woofer | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5" BMR midrange; 7" Scan-Speak woofer |
| Max SPL | Approximately 103dB at 1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner website) |
| Port Tuning | - | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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- KEF R3 Meta vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs JTR Noesis 210HT
- Philharmonic BMR (v1) vs Buchardt S400 MKII
- KEF R3 Meta vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
The Two Speakers In Full
Selah Audio Purezza: Contact manufacturer Selah Audio
Pros: Premium two-way built around Purifi’s exceptionally linear 6.5-inch woofer and a tall RAAL ribbon. Erin measured about 85dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity, a 4.7-ohm minimum and the lowest midrange nonlinear distortion he had measured at the time. It reached roughly 103dB at 1m with little audible strain; horizontal response is smooth and broad, and Erin’s 200Hz low shelf (+3.5dB, Q 0.7) flattened the lower-mid/bass balance effectively.
Cons: The ribbon’s tall aperture creates deliberately narrow vertical radiation—roughly 20-30 degrees around 7kHz—so stand height and listening elevation are critical. Erin found a directivity change around 1-2kHz, a feature near 4kHz, and insufficient baffle-step compensation below 200-300Hz in his sample. The 4.7-ohm minimum and modest sensitivity favor a separate amplifier. A subwoofer crossed near 80Hz is recommended for distance and output.
Full Selah Audio Purezza review and specifications →
| Bass Extension | Subwoofer crossover near 80Hz recommended by Erin's Audio Corner |
|---|---|
| Drivers | RAAL ribbon tweeter; 6.5" Purifi woofer |
| Impedance | 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Max SPL | Approximately 103dB at 1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 85dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Philharmonic BMR (v1): Current version: $2,200/pair Philharmonic Audio
Pros: Large three-way combining a Scan-Speak 7-inch paper/carbon woofer, 2.5-inch Tectonic balanced-mode midrange and RAAL 64-10 ribbon. Erin measured approximately +/-1.5dB linearity from 80Hz upward, very broad +/-40-degree-or-better horizontal coverage and about 83dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity. The port is tuned in the mid/low-30Hz region without audible chuffing, the midrange provides unusually expansive staging, and distortion remained subjectively unobtrusive.
Cons: The measured 83dB sensitivity and roughly 4-ohm load demand meaningful external amplification. A 1-2dB shelf below about 300Hz reduces warmth unless corrected, while a response/impedance feature near 250-300Hz corresponded with Erin’s sense of resonance. The ribbon produces narrower vertical than horizontal radiation, and second-order high-frequency distortion plus dynamic enhancement near 3kHz appeared in testing. This was an earlier cabinet/version, not the current v2.
Full Philharmonic BMR (v1) review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin's Audio Corner website) |
|---|---|
| Drivers | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5" BMR midrange; 7" Scan-Speak woofer |
| Impedance | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Port Tuning | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons