Short answer: the StarkSound Beta 5 for better sound quality, the Monolith Encore B6 for the lower price. The StarkSound Beta 5 ranks #35 of 84 bookshelf speakers at $499. The Monolith Encore B6 ranks #46 at $360, $139 cheaper.
What the StarkSound Beta 5 offers: Impressive bass extension for the price - F3 at 52Hz, F10 at 37Hz, reaching down to 40-50Hz in-room with solid kick-drum impact. Watch for: Sensitivity undershoots its own spec - rated 86dB, measured closer to 83dB.
What the Monolith Encore B6 offers: For its budget price, the B6 delivers useful midbass punch and a long reflex tail: Erin measured F3 at 68Hz and F10 near 37Hz. Watch for: Erin measured 85.3dB sensitivity and a 3.4-ohm minimum, so this is not an easy load despite its modest output ceiling.
Buy the StarkSound Beta 5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Monolith Encore B6 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| StarkSound Beta 5 | Monolith Encore B6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499 | $360/pair |
| Ranked | #35 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #46 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.9" x 7.2" x 13" (302 x 182 x 330 mm) | 15.7H x 7.9W x 9.9D inches |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 4 ohms nominal; 3.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.3dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1.15" tweeter, 5.25" dry-carbon woofer | 6.5-inch pulp woofer; 25mm waveguided silk dome |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported | - |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 23kHz (-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2200Hz | - |
| Max Volume | 108dB (1m, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Monolith Encore C6
- ELAC DB63 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- Revel M106 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs Monolith Encore B6
- StarkSound Beta 5 vs Monolith Encore C6
The Two Speakers In Full
StarkSound Beta 5: $499
Pros: Impressive bass extension for the price - F3 at 52Hz, F10 at 37Hz, reaching down to 40-50Hz in-room with solid kick-drum impact. Good harmonic distortion control at both moderate and loud listening levels. Solid build with a thick polycarbonate baffle meant to reduce cabinet resonance.
Cons: Sensitivity undershoots its own spec - rated 86dB, measured closer to 83dB. A resonance artifact shows up independently in the on-axis response, burst decay, and impedance measurements, hurting directivity. Multitone distortion spikes to about 10% in the 800Hz-1kHz range, tied to woofer excursion - a subwoofer crossover helps. Needs to sit close to the wall (about 10 inches) or be EQ’d if placed further out, since the midrange sounds thin and the treble boosted otherwise.
Full StarkSound Beta 5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2200Hz |
| Dimensions | 11.9" x 7.2" x 13" (302 x 182 x 330 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.15" tweeter, 5.25" dry-carbon woofer |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 23kHz (-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Max Volume | 108dB (1m, Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 30W - 150W |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, rear ported |
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Monolith Encore B6: $360/pair Amazon Monoprice
Pros: For its budget price, the B6 delivers useful midbass punch and a long reflex tail: Erin measured F3 at 68Hz and F10 near 37Hz. The revised tweeter assembly yields broadly smooth horizontal directivity and an early-reflections trend that accepts EQ well. At sane levels, its 6.5-inch pulp woofer provides satisfying attack, and gloss top/bottom panels plus a braced MDF cabinet are unusually substantial for the class.
Cons: Erin measured 85.3dB sensitivity and a 3.4-ohm minimum, so this is not an easy load despite its modest output ceiling. Low-frequency compression reaches about 2dB and distortion rises rapidly when driven full-range; use an 80Hz subwoofer crossover. Response variation is roughly +2.7/-3.7dB, with residual crossover/treble irregularities that keep it from true neutrality without EQ. The listening window tightens vertically, so ear height matters.
Full Monolith Encore B6 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.7H x 7.9W x 9.9D inches |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch pulp woofer; 25mm waveguided silk dome |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; 3.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.3dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons