Ten bookshelf speakers, whose published sensitivity figures use three different measurement conventions. Converted to a common basis, the printed order does not survive.
Last verified: 2026-08-09
What this ranks
We hold 16 bookshelf speakers in the database, of which 13 are passive and 3 are powered. Only the passive ones can be ranked this way, for a reason set out below. Their manufacturers publish sensitivity using 4 different measurement conventions, so the printed figures are not comparable to each other. Converting them to a common basis of 1 watt at 1 metre in full space is arithmetic, not opinion, and the conversion is shown below so you can check it.
9 of the 16 can be put on that basis. 4 cannot, and they are listed as gaps rather than estimated. Across the ranked set the corrected figures span 7.5 dB.
Sensitivity is not a quality judgement. It tells you how much level a speaker produces for a given amount of power, which decides how much amplifier you need and how loud the system will play at your seat. It says nothing about how anything sounds, and we do not.
How big these actually are
Every cabinet below is drawn to the same scale from the dimensions its manufacturer publishes, front elevation, standing on a common floor line. The 300 mm bar underneath is the reference.
We draw these rather than reproduce product photographs, because the photographs belong to the manufacturers and we have no licence to republish them. The drawing also answers a question a press shot does not: whether the thing fits where you intend to put it. 6 of the 16 are missing from the drawing. Edifier R1280T does not publish cabinet dimensions at all. For SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf, Klipsch RP-600M II, ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, Edifier S1000MKII, Edifier S2000MKIII we have not yet read a manufacturer source for the dimensions, which is our gap rather than theirs, and we would rather say so than measure a photograph.
Every bookshelf speaker in detail
Each entry below lists what the manufacturer publishes, then what those figures favour and what to check. Both lists are worked out from the published data, not from listening: we have not heard any of these.
Klipsch RP-600M II
- Published sensitivity
- 94.5 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, half space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 44 Hz – 25 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 91.5 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 44 Hz – 25 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
What to check before buying
- The headline 94.5 dB is a half-space figure. On the full-space basis everyone else here uses it is 91.5 dB — 3 dB lower than the box suggests.
What reviewers report 6 published reviews read
The RP-600M II is the most polarising speaker on this page and the reviews make the reason explicit: it is horn-loaded, and horn loading has consequences that people either want or do not. Every source praises its dynamics and efficiency. Every source also raises the treble. Notably, the split is not about whether the treble is forward — reviewers broadly agree that it is — but about whether that reads as excitement or as fatigue.
Consistently praised
- Dynamics and volume capability are the most repeated praise, and this page’s arithmetic explains why: at 91.5 dB corrected it tops the ranked set, meaning it produces more level per watt than anything else here. Reviewers report it staying composed at volumes where similarly priced speakers compress, and describe it as easy to drive from modest amplification.
- The enlarged Tractrix horn is credited with spreading high frequencies more evenly across the room. Several reviewers frame this as a practical benefit rather than a specification: the usable listening area is wider, so the speaker suits a sofa rather than a single chair.
- Reviewers comparing it against the original RP-600M consistently report better detail retrieval, more articulate bass and a wider soundstage, so the II is treated as a real revision rather than a cosmetic one. The titanium tweeter is repeatedly credited with resolution on cymbals and string harmonics that soft-dome rivals at the price do not match.
Consistently criticised
- Treble character is the single most consistent criticism across all six sources. Reviewers describe the horn-loaded tweeter as forward, and several report listening fatigue over long sessions — particularly on bright or poorly mastered recordings, and particularly when paired with an amplifier that is already lean or bright. If your library is heavy on older rock and pop masters, reviewers suggest auditioning first.
- Several reviewers note the bass and treble do not integrate as seamlessly as point-source designs, with one describing the character as closer to a live PA rig than a domestic hi-fi speaker. Whether that is a criticism depends entirely on what you are after, and reviewers say so.
- The published 94.5 dB sensitivity is measured in half space. On the full-space basis every other speaker on this page uses, it is 91.5 dB — still the highest here, but three decibels less than the box implies.
Reviewers point to it suiting
Larger rooms, home cinema, modest amplifiers, and listeners who want dynamics and excitement over neutrality.
Reviewers suggest looking elsewhere if
You listen for long sessions at volume, your recordings are bright, or you are coming from a warm or neutral speaker and want the same character.
Sources: StereoNET · ecoustics · Future Audiophile · Erin’s Audio Corner (measurements). These are other reviewers’ findings, not ours — we have not heard this speaker.
Triangle Borea BR03
- Published sensitivity
- 90 dB, 1 W at 1 m
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 4.2 ohms
- Frequency response
- 46 Hz – 22 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 90.0 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Minimum impedance stays at 4.2 ohms, so it is an easier load than most of this set.
- Frequency response published as 46 Hz – 22 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 80–500 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 380 × 206 × 314 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- Nothing in the published data raises a flag.
What reviewers report 5 published reviews read
Reviews of the Borea BR03 are warm about the sound and unusually specific about the practical problems, which makes them more useful than most. The recurring theme is that this speaker rewards being given room, and punishes being shoved on a shelf — a point that matters more than usual because at 380 mm it is the tallest cabinet on this page.
Consistently praised
- Scale and separation are the consistent praise. Reviewers repeatedly report a soundstage larger than the cabinet implies, with instruments placed distinctly rather than smeared together. Multiple sources describe this as the speaker’s defining quality at the price.
- The midrange is described as natural and organic, and the treble as sweet rather than aggressive, by several independent reviewers. The overall character is repeatedly called laid-back, which reviewers contrast explicitly with more forward designs at similar money.
- It is the only speaker on this page whose manufacturer publishes sensitivity already at 1 W and 1 m, so its 90 dB figure needs no correction — and reviewers’ reports that it drives easily are consistent with that.
Consistently criticised
- Placement is the dominant practical warning and it comes up in nearly every review. Although the port fires forward, which usually means a speaker tolerates being near a wall, Triangle asks for roughly 40 cm of clearance behind it and reviewers confirm the speaker needs that space to perform. On a bookshelf pushed against a wall, reviewers report it does not deliver what they heard on stands.
- The 380 mm height is flagged repeatedly as awkward. It is taller than every other cabinet here and will not fit many standard shelves.
- A slight peakiness in the treble is noted by more than one reviewer, and the styling is repeatedly described as divisive. Reviewers also caution it may not have the output for genuinely large rooms without a capable amplifier.
Reviewers point to it suiting
Stand-mounted use in a small or medium room, with space behind the speakers, for a listener who prefers a relaxed presentation.
Reviewers suggest looking elsewhere if
It has to sit on a shelf against a wall, your shelf is under 400 mm tall, or you need to fill a large room.
Sources: What Hi-Fi · 7Review · iiWi reviews. These are other reviewers’ findings, not ours — we have not heard this speaker.
product listing
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3
- Published sensitivity
- 88 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3.7 ohms
- Frequency response
- 52 Hz – 28 kHz ±3dB from reference axis
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 88.0 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 52 Hz – 28 kHz at ±3dB from reference axis. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 30–120 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 344 × 189 × 300 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- Impedance drops to 3.7 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
What reviewers report 5 published reviews read
Reviews of the 606 S3 converge on a single characteristic and then split on whether it is a strength or a warning: it is revealing. Every source agrees it shows you what is upstream of it. Whether that is what you want depends less on the speaker than on the rest of your system, and reviewers are unusually direct about saying so.
Consistently praised
- Detail retrieval and tonal balance are the consistent praise. Reviewers note the detail does not come across as etched or artificially sharpened, which is the usual failure mode of a revealing speaker at this price.
- Bass is described as controlled and well defined with genuine weight for the cabinet size, and reviewers report it holding together on dense material rather than congesting.
- Build quality is repeatedly called out, and reviewers describe it as competent across genres rather than specialised to one.
Consistently criticised
- The revealing character is also the recurring warning. Reviewers state plainly that a mediocre source or amplifier will be audible through it: it reproduces upstream weaknesses faithfully rather than smoothing them. Several advise budgeting for electronics before buying.
- Some reviewers report the texture of instruments and the physical impact of percussion falling short of what they expected at the price, even while praising the detail. That is a real distinction — detail and body are not the same thing, and reviewers are saying this speaker prioritises the first.
- Anyone wanting warmth, forgiveness, or a speaker that hides rough edges in a recording is repeatedly told to look elsewhere.
Reviewers point to it suiting
A system with decent electronics, and a listener who wants accuracy and imaging and has well-recorded material.
Reviewers suggest looking elsewhere if
Your source is compressed streaming or a budget receiver, or you want a forgiving speaker that flatters imperfect recordings.
Sources: AVForums · Future Audiophile · Sound Advice. These are other reviewers’ findings, not ours — we have not heard this speaker.
Q Acoustics 5020
- Published sensitivity
- 87.9 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 6 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3.3 ohms
- Frequency response
- 53 Hz – 30 kHz -6dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 86.6 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 53 Hz – 30 kHz at -6dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 25–100 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 284 × 180 × 293 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- Published at 2.83 V into 6 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 86.6 dB.
- Impedance drops to 3.3 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
What reviewers report 5 published reviews read
Reviews of the 5020 divide into two consistent observations: it throws a soundstage far larger than a 180 mm cabinet suggests, and the 5000 series is less tolerant of poor partnering equipment than the Q Acoustics models that came before it. The second point is the one worth acting on, because it changes what else you need to buy.
Consistently praised
- Soundstage scale is the recurring headline. Reviewers repeatedly use the word ‘disappear’ — meaning the speakers stop sounding like two boxes and the image detaches from them. Several note this at normal listening distances rather than only in a treated room.
- Bass is described as taut and controlled rather than inflated, and reviewers credit the C³ driver construction. The distinction matters: reviewers are saying it produces less bass than some rivals but keeps it tidier, which is a deliberate trade rather than a shortfall.
- Cabinet construction and finish are called out as beyond the price by multiple sources, and the 5000 series is positioned as inheriting engineering from the more expensive Concept line.
Consistently criticised
- System matching is the consistent warning. More than one reviewer states that the 5000 series is less forgiving than earlier Q Acoustics models, which were known for being easy-going with cheap electronics. In practice reviewers are saying a bright or coarse amplifier will be audible through these where it might not have been through a 3000i.
- At a 6 ohm nominal impedance the corrected sensitivity on this page falls to 86.6 dB from a published 87.9 dB, which puts it mid-pack rather than at the easy-to-drive end. Reviewers who tried modest amplification report it wanting more.
Reviewers point to it suiting
Someone building a system around decent electronics who wants imaging and a large soundstage from a compact, well-finished cabinet.
Reviewers suggest looking elsewhere if
This is going on the end of a budget receiver you do not plan to upgrade, or you want maximum bass weight for the money.
Sources: The Absolute Sound · Trusted Reviews · HiFi Daydreaming. These are other reviewers’ findings, not ours — we have not heard this speaker.
product listing
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2
- Published sensitivity
- 86.5 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3.7 ohms
- Frequency response
- 50 Hz – 20 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 86.5 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 50 Hz – 20 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 20–120 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 330 × 200 × 312 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- Impedance drops to 3.7 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
What reviewers report 5 published reviews read
The Diamond 12.2 produces the clearest disagreement between sources of anything on this page, and we are not going to resolve it for you. Reviewers agree the bass is strong for the money and the build is beyond the price. They do not agree about the top end, and one measured review raises a specific concern in the vocal band that the subjective reviews do not mention. Both positions are recorded below.
Consistently praised
- Bass weight and extension are the most repeated praise. One measured review found the real response bettered Wharfedale’s own 50 Hz claim, and reviewers describe the speaker as weighty and hard-hitting rather than merely adequate — unusual at this price and in this cabinet size.
- Reviewers consistently describe it as engaging and propulsive on faster material, with several framing the speaker as fun rather than analytical.
- Build quality, finish and styling are called out by multiple sources as beyond what the price would suggest.
Consistently criticised
- The top end splits opinion. Some reviewers describe the mids and highs as sharp or harsh; others do not raise it at all. This is the clearest source disagreement on this page and we record it as unresolved rather than picking a side.
- One measured review reports distortion peaks of roughly 1.8% around 190 Hz and about 3% around 560 Hz. The second figure is the one worth knowing: 560 Hz sits in the vocal range, where the ear is least forgiving. No subjective review we read raises it, which is itself worth noting — measurement and listening are disagreeing here.
- The same review describes the bass as occasionally loose, which sits directly against the praise for bass weight elsewhere. Reviewers appear to be trading extension against control.
Reviewers point to it suiting
Someone who wants bass weight and cabinet quality for the money, and listens more for engagement than for neutrality.
Reviewers suggest looking elsewhere if
You are sensitive to forward treble, or you want measured performance in the vocal band to be beyond question.
Sources: Alpha Audio (measurements) · Hi-Fi Choice · HIFI Trends. These are other reviewers’ findings, not ours — we have not heard this speaker.
SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf
- Published sensitivity
- 87 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 6 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 40 Hz – 40 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 40 Hz – 40 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 20–150 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 85.7 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Published at 2.83 V into 6 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 85.7 dB.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- Published sensitivity
- 87 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 6 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 44 Hz – 35 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Nothing stands out in the published data.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 85.7 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Published at 2.83 V into 6 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 85.7 dB.
- Frequency response published as 44 Hz – 35 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
KEF LS50 Meta
- Published sensitivity
- 85 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3.5 ohms
- Frequency response
- 79 Hz – 28 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 79 Hz – 28 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 40–100 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 302 × 200 × 281 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 85.0 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Impedance drops to 3.5 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
What reviewers report 6 published reviews read
The LS50 Meta is the most reviewed speaker on this page, and the reviews are unusually consistent with each other. The praise clusters almost entirely around one engineering decision — the Uni-Q coaxial driver, which puts the tweeter at the acoustic centre of the mid-bass cone — and the criticism clusters around the physical consequence of a 200 mm cabinet. Almost nobody disputes either. What reviewers disagree about is whether the bass limitation matters, and that turns out to depend on what you listen to and whether you will add a subwoofer.
Consistently praised
- Imaging is the most repeated praise across every source read. Reviewers attribute it directly to the Uni-Q driver: because the tweeter sits at the centre of the mid-bass cone, the two drivers behave more like a single point source. Several reviewers specifically note the stereo image holds together when you move off the central seat, which is unusual — most bookshelf speakers collapse into the nearer speaker once you shift a seat along.
- Tonal neutrality draws comparisons to studio monitors rather than domestic speakers. More than one reviewer describes the speaker as adding little of its own character, and frames that as the point rather than as coldness. If you want a speaker that flatters recordings, several reviewers say plainly this is not it.
- Detail retrieval and low-level resolution come up repeatedly, with reviewers noting quiet material and reverb tails staying audible rather than being buried. Build and finish are also called out as beyond the class norm, which matters on a speaker this visible.
Consistently criticised
- Low-frequency extension is the one consistent limitation, and every source raises it. Reviewers report useful output down to roughly the 40 Hz region and only when the speaker is not far from a wall. For acoustic and vocal material reviewers consider this a non-issue; for electronic music, film, or anything with sustained low bass, the recommendation to add a subwoofer is close to unanimous.
- Amplification is the second recurring caveat, and it is the one this page’s arithmetic predicts. At 85 dB the LS50 Meta has the lowest corrected sensitivity of the entire ranked set here, and one measured review puts the on-axis mean nearer 83 dB. Reviewers translate that into a practical warning: a modest AV receiver will run out of headroom before the speaker does, so budget for the amplifier as well.
- A minority of reviewers report a slight softening in the upper midrange that they describe as costing some attack on percussive material. This is not universal and is the least agreed-upon point in the set.
Reviewers point to it suiting
Listeners who value imaging and accuracy above scale, in a small-to-medium room, with a decent amplifier and ideally a subwoofer.
Reviewers suggest looking elsewhere if
You want deep bass from the speaker alone, you are driving it from an entry-level receiver, or you want a speaker that smooths over rough recordings.
Sources: The Absolute Sound · AVForums · Erin’s Audio Corner (measurements). These are other reviewers’ findings, not ours — we have not heard this speaker.
KEF Q3 Meta
- Published sensitivity
- 87 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 4 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3.2 ohms
- Frequency response
- 49 Hz – 20 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 49 Hz – 20 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 15–150 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 357 × 210 × 305 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 84.0 dB against a median of 86.5 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Published at 2.83 V into 4 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 84.0 dB.
- Impedance drops to 3.2 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
Polk Audio Reserve R200
- Published sensitivity
- 86 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- 3.8 ohms
- Frequency response
- 51 Hz – 38 kHz -3dB limits
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 51 Hz – 38 kHz at -3dB limits. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 30–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 354 × 190 × 354 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- Impedance drops to 3.8 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
product listing
Edifier P12
- Published sensitivity
- not published
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 55 Hz – 20 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Cabinet dimensions published: 248 × 146 × 178 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
- Frequency response published as 55 Hz – 20 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
Polk Audio Monitor XT15
- Published sensitivity
- 86 dB, 2.83V/1m
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- 4.1 ohms
- Frequency response
- 48 Hz – 40 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Minimum impedance stays at 4.1 ohms, so it is an easier load than most of this set.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 30–150 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 269 × 165 × 182 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
- Frequency response published as 48 Hz – 40 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
Polk Audio Monitor XT20
- Published sensitivity
- 87 dB, 2.83V/1m
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- 4.3 ohms
- Frequency response
- 38 Hz – 40 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Minimum impedance stays at 4.3 ohms, so it is an easier load than most of this set.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 30–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 330 × 191 × 279 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
- Frequency response published as 38 Hz – 40 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
Edifier S2000MKIII
- Published sensitivity
- not published
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 45 Hz – 40 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- powered — amplifier built in
What the published figures favour
- Needs no separate amplifier: the manufacturer publishes 15W x2 treble + 50W x2 mid/bass totalling 130 W RMS, so the amplifier is matched to the drivers by design.
- Signal-to-noise published at ≥ 85 dB(A), a figure most passive speakers cannot quote because they have no electronics.
What to check before buying
- No upgrade path. The amplifier is inside the cabinet, so it cannot be replaced or improved later.
- No sensitivity or impedance figure exists for it, so it cannot be compared with passive speakers on the arithmetic this page uses.
- Frequency response published as 45 Hz – 40 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
Edifier S1000MKII
- Published sensitivity
- not published
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 45 Hz – 40 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- powered — amplifier built in
What the published figures favour
- Needs no separate amplifier: the manufacturer publishes 35W x2 mid/bass + 25W x2 treble totalling 120 W RMS, so the amplifier is matched to the drivers by design.
- Signal-to-noise published at ≥ 90 dB(A), a figure most passive speakers cannot quote because they have no electronics.
What to check before buying
- No upgrade path. The amplifier is inside the cabinet, so it cannot be replaced or improved later.
- No sensitivity or impedance figure exists for it, so it cannot be compared with passive speakers on the arithmetic this page uses.
- Frequency response published as 45 Hz – 40 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
Edifier R1280T
- Published sensitivity
- not published
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 52 Hz – 20 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- powered — amplifier built in
What the published figures favour
- Needs no separate amplifier: the manufacturer publishes 21W + 21W totalling 42 W RMS, so the amplifier is matched to the drivers by design.
- Signal-to-noise published at ≥ 85 dB(A), a figure most passive speakers cannot quote because they have no electronics.
What to check before buying
- No upgrade path. The amplifier is inside the cabinet, so it cannot be replaced or improved later.
- No sensitivity or impedance figure exists for it, so it cannot be compared with passive speakers on the arithmetic this page uses.
- Frequency response published as 52 Hz – 20 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
- No cabinet dimensions published, so you cannot confirm it fits your shelf from the manufacturer’s own page.
The arithmetic
A figure published at 2.83 V is converted to 1 watt by subtracting 10·log₁₀(8.0089 ÷ nominal impedance). At 8 ohms that is nothing at all; at 4 ohms it is 3 dB, because 2.83 V into 4 ohms is 2 watts, not 1. A half-space figure has a further 3 dB subtracted, because half space is a measurement against a boundary and full space is not. A figure already published at 1 W and 1 m needs no conversion.
The full explanation, including the 26-speaker set where 22 of 300 pairwise comparisons reverse once corrected, is in Two speakers, both “87 dB”, three decibels apart.
The whole set at a glance
The same figures in table form, for scanning rather than reading.
Ranked by comparable sensitivity
| # | Photo | Speaker | Published | As published on | Comparable, 1 W / 1 m full space | Nominal impedance | Source | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Klipsch RP-600M II | 94.5 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, half space | 91.5 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 2 | | Triangle Borea BR03 | 90 dB | 1 W at 1 m | 90.0 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 3 | — | Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 | 88 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 88.0 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 4 | | Q Acoustics 5020 | 87.9 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 86.6 dB | 6 ohms | source | Check price |
| 5 | — | Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 | 86.5 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 86.5 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 6 | | SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf | 87 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 85.7 dB | 6 ohms | source | Check price |
| 7 | | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 | 87 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 85.7 dB | 6 ohms | source | Check price |
| 8 | | KEF LS50 Meta | 85 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 85.0 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 9 | | KEF Q3 Meta | 87 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 84.0 dB | 4 ohms | source | Check price |
We do not print prices. A price typed into a page is wrong the week after it is typed, and a speaker its maker lists per pair is often listed per speaker by a retailer, which is a 100 per cent error. The link goes to the live listing, where the price is whatever it actually is today.
What we could not rank, and why
| Photo | Speaker | Published | Why it is not on the list above | Source | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Audio Reserve R200 | 86 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | no nominal impedance published, so the 2.83 V figure cannot be converted | source | Check price |
| — | Edifier P12 | not published | Edifier publishes no sensitivity figure for this passive speaker on its own product page | source | Check price |
| Polk Audio Monitor XT15 | 86 dB, 2.83V/1m | no nominal impedance published, so the 2.83 V figure cannot be converted | source | Check price |
| Polk Audio Monitor XT20 | 87 dB, 2.83V/1m | no nominal impedance published, so the 2.83 V figure cannot be converted | source | Check price |
We could put a number in those rows by assuming a nominal impedance. We do not, because the assumption would be ours and the figure would look like the manufacturer’s.
Powered speakers, and why they are not in that table
A sensitivity figure answers one question: how much level does this speaker produce for one watt from your amplifier? A powered speaker has the amplifier inside the cabinet, so the question has no meaning for it and the manufacturers correctly do not answer it. Ranking a powered speaker against a passive one on sensitivity would not be a close comparison; it would be a category error.
What a powered speaker publishes instead is its own amplifier’s output.
| Photo | Speaker | Amplifier output, RMS | Frequency response | Signal-to-noise | Source | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edifier S2000MKIII | 15W x2 treble + 50W x2 mid/bass (130 W total) | 45 Hz – 40 kHz | ≥ 85 dB(A) | source | Check price |
| Edifier S1000MKII | 35W x2 mid/bass + 25W x2 treble (120 W total) | 45 Hz – 40 kHz | ≥ 90 dB(A) | source | Check price |
| Edifier R1280T | 21W + 21W (42 W total) | 52 Hz – 20 kHz | ≥ 85 dB(A) | source | Check price |
None of these frequency-response figures carries a tolerance. A range quoted without a ±3 dB or ±6 dB window does not tell you how far the response deviates inside it, so “45 Hz – 40 kHz” and “52 Hz – 20 kHz” are not the comparison they appear to be. We record the figures as published and note the omission rather than assuming a window.
Related
- Two speakers, both “87 dB”, three decibels apart — why the published figures are not comparable
- System Headroom Calculator — what these figures mean for level at your listening seat
- Which AV receivers actually publish a 4-ohm rating — the amplifier side of the same question
- The gear database — every figure above, with its source
- How we work — the method, and where it breaks