Short answer: the Audio First Cadentia 3 on measured sound quality, the XTZ Spirit 4 on price. The Audio First Cadentia 3 ranks #7 of 203 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.7/5, at $7,199. The XTZ Spirit 4 ranks #145, rated 3.4/5, at $477, $6,722 cheaper.
The Audio First Cadentia 3 is the more accurate 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 4.18 for the XTZ Spirit 4. Watch for: 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).
What the XTZ Spirit 4 does well: Substantial 6.5-inch stand-mount with a waveguided dome tweeter, adjustable treble level and port tuning. The catch: The third-party measurement is low confidence.
Buy the Audio First Cadentia 3 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the XTZ Spirit 4 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio First Cadentia 3 | XTZ Spirit 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7199 per pair | $477 per pair |
| Ranked | #7 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #145 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) | 13.8H x 7.5W x 10.6D in |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB |
| Drivers | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer | 1” dome tweeter, 6.5” woofer |
| Weight | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex | - |
| Country | United Kingdom (Cambridge) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.55 | 4.18 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.91 | 6.30 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way passive, rear-ported |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Audio First Cadentia 3:
- Perlisten S4b vs Audio First Cadentia 3
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- AsciLab C6B vs Audio First Cadentia 3
- March Audio Sointuva vs Audio First Cadentia 3
Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Audio First Cadentia 3: $7199 per pair Audio First Designs eBay
Pros: Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations. Extremely low distortion and compression, holding steady even at 102dB with barely any loss. Very wide, consistent horizontal dispersion (~70 degrees) gives a big, enveloping soundstage with strong image specificity outside the speaker boundaries. Strong bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 43Hz, F10 26Hz) with a punchy, guttural mid-bass. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.4dB.
Cons: 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). High-frequency dispersion narrows quickly above about 4kHz, so off-axis listeners lose some air and detail. Very high asking price for a bookshelf-class speaker, and the complete (finished) version has a long lead time; the loaner kit version ships as an unfinished cabinet you assemble and finish yourself.
Full Audio First Cadentia 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.91 |
| Weight | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs March Audio Sointuva
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs AsciLab C6B
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs KEF R3 Meta
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs Perlisten S4b
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- See all 45 comparisons
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 6.30 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 4.18 raw preference score.
Full XTZ Spirit 4 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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 | 4.18 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.30 |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons