Short answer: the Airpulse A100. It ranks #35 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $999.99; the ADAM Audio A4V ranks #67, rated 3.6/5, and costs $1,079.98, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the ADAM Audio A4V: Compact monitor with onboard DSP, placement controls and room-correction integration. The catch: A small average-deviation figure hides a major localized response irregularity: the selected measurement spans 10.8dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.547.
The Airpulse A100 is the more accurate pick. ASR’s Klippel data gives a 2.9dB midrange span and scores of 4.56 standalone and 7.08 with an ideal subwoofer. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.56 against 3.92 for the ADAM Audio A4V. It keeps a wired aux input, which the ADAM Audio A4V lacks. Watch for: Bass reaches -3dB around 63Hz, so lower notes need a subwoofer for full weight.
Buy the Airpulse A100. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ADAM Audio A4V and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Compact monitor with onboard DSP, placement controls and room-correction integration.
Amazon $539.99 B&H Photo Video $539.99 eBay
ASR’s Klippel data gives a 2.9dB midrange span and scores of 4.56 standalone and 7.08 with an ideal subwoofer.
Amazon $999.99 B&H Photo Video $999.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| ADAM Audio A4V | Airpulse A100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,079.98 per pair | $999.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #67 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #35 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, dual front ports | - |
| Drivers | X-ART folded-ribbon tweeter, 4” MLM woofer | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5” hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer |
| Dimensions | 10.6H x 6.2W x 8.7D in | 6.3” x 11.1” x 10” (160 x 283 x 255 mm) each |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) each | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 130W RMS each | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) |
| Inputs | XLR and RCA; Ethernet for control | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.92 | 4.56 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.33 | 7.08 |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | Yes |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes (SBC, aptX) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 41kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 52Hz - 40kHz |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| App | - | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX |
| EQ | - | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared.
Measurement data: ADAM Audio A4V (measured by Audio Science Review) and Airpulse A100 (measured by Audio Science Review), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Airpulse A100: