In this review, we will be comparing Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Aperion.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround | Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-30k Hz | 40-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 Watts watts | 20-100 Watts watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.90kg / 13lbs | 6.30kg / 13.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12" x 9.5" x 5.4"
304.8 x 241.3 x 137.2mm | 13.8" x 7.9" x 9.8"
350.5 x 200.7 x 248.9mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround |
Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar SurroundAperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround |
Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround features a 1" Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer. On the other hand, the Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf features a 1" Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer.
Frequency Response
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround has a frequency range of 60-30k Hz whereas Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround a more sensitive speaker compared to Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf have the same power range of 20-100 Watts watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround features Binding post type posts and Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround's and Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf's external dimensions. Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround has external dimensions of 304.8 x 241.3 x 137.2mm (12 x 9.5 x 5.4inch) whereas Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf has external dimensions of 350.5 x 200.7 x 248.9mm (13.8 x 7.9 x 9.8inch).
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is 45.7mm shorter and 111.7mm less deeper than Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf but it is also 40.6mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf needs about 51% more floor or shelf area. Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf is 112mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf is 46mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is approximately 331.1cm2 / 51.3inch2 and base area of the Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf is approximately 499.5cm2 / 77.4inch2. The Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround requires 34% less surface area than the Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround weighs 5.90kg / 13lbs and the Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf weighs 6.30kg / 13.9lbs. This makes the Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf 7% heavier than the Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround.
Here is a comparison of how Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround and Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround
Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
304mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
331cm2
vs
499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround |
Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Aperion |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 Watts watts |
20-100 Watts watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-30k Hz |
40-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
304.8mm (12") |
350.5mm (13.8") |
| Width |
241.3mm (9.5") |
200.7mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
137.2mm (5.4") |
248.9mm (9.8") |
| Weight |
5.90kg (13lbs) |
6.30kg (13.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
Both are Aperion, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf digs deeper - 40Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is easier to place; Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($949 vs $949 a pair). |
A Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround B Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Aperion Novus N6B 6.5" Bookshelf has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Aperion Novus N6SS 6.5" Tripolar Surround is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.