Short answer: the AsciLab C6B. Both are rated 4.7/5 for sound quality (#6 and #7 of 222 bookshelf speakers), and the AsciLab C6B costs $1,145 against $7,199 for the Audio First Cadentia 3, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
The case for the AsciLab C6B: Two-way design pairing a 1” aluminum ceramic dome tweeter on a large waveguide with a 6” aluminum ceramic cone woofer, crossed over at 1.1kHz, plus a rear passive radiator. The catch: Bass rolls off around 50Hz in-room (F3 54Hz, F10 35Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real extension below that.
The Audio First Cadentia 3 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.55 against 6.33 for the AsciLab C6B. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 3dB, against 54Hz for the AsciLab C6B. The catch: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1).
Buy the AsciLab C6B. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $6,054 less than the Audio First Cadentia 3.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Two-way design pairing a 1” aluminum ceramic dome tweeter on a large waveguide with a 6” aluminum ceramic cone woofer, crossed over at 1.1kHz, plus a rear passive radiator.
Ascilab $1145 eBay
Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations.
Audio First Designs $7199 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 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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Specifications Side By Side
| AsciLab C6B | Audio First Cadentia 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1145 per pair | $7199 per pair |
| Ranked | #6 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #7 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.7”H x 8”W x 10.4”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 264.2 mm) | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6” Aluminium Ceramic Cone with cast Aluminium Chassis woofer, 1” Aluminium Ceramic Dome tweeter | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | 3-way, bass reflex |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.33 | 7.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.28 | 8.91 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
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. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: AsciLab C6B (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) and Audio First Cadentia 3 (measured by the manufacturer), via spinorama.org.
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