Short answer: the XMechanik Mechano23 DIY. It ranks #6 of 89 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $96; the Neumi BS5 ranks #22, rated 3.8/5, and costs $110, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the XMechanik Mechano23 DIY does well: The bass alignment is unusually well damped, with a measured Q of 0.336, among the lowest of any speaker in this catalog, so the -3dB point at 77.6Hz rolls off cleanly instead of building into a resonant bump the way many small ported designs do. The tradeoff: This is a true DIY project.
What the Neumi BS5 does well: Exceptional budget value: Erin measured approximately +/-1.5dB on-axis linearity through most of the mid/treble, 84dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and a manageable 4.6-ohm minimum. The catch: Erin measured F3 at 64Hz, so kick-drum punch should not be mistaken for deep-bass extension.
Buy the XMechanik Mechano23 DIY. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Neumi BS5 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| XMechanik Mechano23 DIY | Neumi BS5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 per pair DIY parts | $110 per pair |
| Ranked | #6 of 89 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #22 of 89 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | Scan-Speak Discovery H2606/9200 1” horn loaded textile dome tweeter, SB Acoustics SB13PFCR25-4 5” fiber cone woofer | 1” silk-dome tweeter; 5” fiberglass woofer |
| Dimensions | 11.4”H x 6.9”W x 10.4”D (290 x 174 x 263 mm) | 10.6”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (269.2 x 182.9 x 215.9 mm) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB @ 2.83V/1m (measured, Audio Science Review) | Approximately 84dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Port Tuning | Approximately 45Hz | - |
| Cabinet Material | 18mm Baltic birch plywood | - |
| Country | Design origin: United States (ASR forum); assembled by buyer | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.42 | 3.60 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.88 | 6.12 |
| Impedance | 4.1 ohms nominal (measured, ASR) | 4.6 ohms minimum; approximately 6 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, front |
| Weight | - | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How XMechanik Mechano23 DIY compares with other leading options:
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Audio First Fidelia
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs XMechanik Mechano23 DIY
- KEF LS50 Meta vs XMechanik Mechano23 DIY
- Ascend Acoustics HTM-200SE2 vs XMechanik Mechano23 DIY
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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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The Two Speakers In Full
XMechanik Mechano23 DIY: $200 per pair DIY parts Madisound (Tweeter) Madisound (Woofer) eBay
Pros: The bass alignment is unusually well damped, with a measured Q of 0.336, among the lowest of any speaker in this catalog, so the -3dB point at 77.6Hz rolls off cleanly instead of building into a resonant bump the way many small ported designs do. On axis deviation measures a tight 0.195dB average, and Audio Science Review’s independent Klippel NFS review called the predicted in room response nearly perfect, with directivity matching that beats some commercial designs costing many times more, all from about $48 in parts. Measured bass extension of 77.6Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.1dB.
Cons: This is a true DIY project. There is no assembled unit to buy, drivers come from Madisound, the crossover kit comes separately from EZ Speaker Solutions, and the birch plywood cabinet has to be built and finished by hand. Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.47 and the sound power directivity index has more variation (standard deviation 4.02) than the tightest speakers in this catalog, so off axis energy isn’t quite as evenly controlled as the excellent on axis figures suggest.
Full XMechanik Mechano23 DIY review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Cabinet Material | 18mm Baltic birch plywood |
| Country | Design origin: United States (ASR forum); assembled by buyer |
| DIY Kit | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11.4”H x 6.9”W x 10.4”D (290 x 174 x 263 mm) |
| Drivers | Scan-Speak Discovery H2606/9200 1” horn loaded textile dome tweeter, SB Acoustics SB13PFCR25-4 5” fiber cone woofer |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Impedance | 4.1 ohms nominal (measured, ASR) |
| Port Tuning | Approximately 45Hz |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB @ 2.83V/1m (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.42 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.88 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Ascend Acoustics HTM-200SE2
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs KEF LS50 Meta
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 1 EVO
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs Audio First Fidelia
- See all 21 comparisons
Neumi BS5: $110 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Exceptional budget value: Erin measured approximately +/-1.5dB on-axis linearity through most of the mid/treble, 84dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and a manageable 4.6-ohm minimum. The 5-inch fiberglass woofer and 1-inch silk dome provide good horizontal directivity for the price; a mild upper-bass rise adds punch, and ordinary modern AVRs can generally drive the mostly six-ohm load at sensible levels. Measured bass extension of 64Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84dB.
Cons: Erin measured F3 at 64Hz, so kick-drum punch should not be mistaken for deep-bass extension. Output around 90dB began to reveal distortion and compression, limiting farfield/high-volume use. A narrow dip near 800Hz, port/cabinet resonances and imperfect crossover directivity remain visible; the tweeter itself is approximately four ohms even though the system is sold as nominal six ohms. A subwoofer is strongly preferred.
Full Neumi BS5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6”H x 7.2”W x 8.5”D (269.2 x 182.9 x 215.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” silk-dome tweeter; 5” fiberglass woofer |
| Impedance | 4.6 ohms minimum; approximately 6 ohms nominal (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 84dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.60 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.12 |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons