Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR (v1) if sound quality matters most, the XTZ Spirit 4 if price matters most. The Philharmonic BMR (v1) ranks #36 of 130 bookshelf speakers at $2200. The XTZ Spirit 4 ranks #92 at $477, $1723 cheaper.
What the XTZ Spirit 4 offers: Substantial 6.5-inch stand-mount with a waveguided dome tweeter, adjustable treble level and port tuning. Spinorama predicts 44Hz in-room extension, broad roughly +/-60-degree horizontal coverage and a 5.39 preference score with a subwoofer. Watch for: The third-party measurement is low confidence. On-axis smoothness is only 0.248, directivity-index consistency is middling at 3.21, and the mildly downward -0.29dB/octave tonal slope contributes to a modest 3.27 raw preference score.
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. 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. Watch for: 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.
Buy the XTZ Spirit 4 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Philharmonic BMR (v1) when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| XTZ Spirit 4 | Philharmonic BMR (v1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $477 per pair | $2,395 per pair |
| Ranked | #92 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way passive, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1" dome tweeter, 6.5" woofer | RAAL 64-10 ribbon; 2.5" BMR midrange; 7" Scan-Speak woofer |
| Dimensions | 13.8H x 7.5W x 10.6D in | - |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | - |
| Sensitivity | 86dB | Approximately 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | Approximately 4 ohms nominal (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.27 | 5.24 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.39 | 6.90 |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | Approximately 62Hz relative to mean (measured, Erin's Audio Corner website) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Port Tuning | - | Mid/low-30Hz range (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
XTZ Spirit 4: $477 per pair XTZ eBay
Pros: Substantial 6.5-inch stand-mount with a waveguided dome tweeter, adjustable treble level and port tuning. Spinorama predicts 44Hz in-room extension, broad roughly +/-60-degree horizontal coverage and a 5.39 preference score with a subwoofer.
Cons: The third-party measurement is low confidence. On-axis smoothness is only 0.248, directivity-index consistency is middling at 3.21, and the mildly downward -0.29dB/octave tonal slope contributes to a modest 3.27 raw preference score.
Full XTZ Spirit 4 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 13.8H x 7.5W x 10.6D in |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 1" dome tweeter, 6.5" woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way passive, rear-ported |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.39 |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs KEF Q3 Meta
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs SVS Prime Bookshelf
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs Polk R200
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs Dynaudio Special Forty
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs GR-Research X-LS Encore
- XTZ Spirit 4 vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
- See all 44 comparisons
Philharmonic BMR (v1): $2,395 per pair Philharmonic Audio eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
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 (-10dB) | 37.8Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.24 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.90 |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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