Short answer: the Cambridge Audio L/R S. It ranks #4 of 47 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $549; the Cambridge Audio L/R X ranks #76, rated 4.1/5, and costs $2,399, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Cambridge Audio L/R S: A 2-way active bookshelf pair built for near-field desktop use, with a 21mm aluminum tweeter and a 3-inch long-throw woofer on each speaker. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Cambridge Audio L/R X lacks. The catch: Maximum clean output is limited: Erin’s Audio Corner measured about 86dB before the onboard limiter engages around 96dB to protect the drivers, so this is a near-field or small-room speaker rather than one built to fill a living room.
The Cambridge Audio L/R X is the deeper-bass option. A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 3dB, against 57Hz for the Cambridge Audio L/R S. Watch for: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison.
Buy the Cambridge Audio L/R S. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Cambridge Audio L/R X and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Cambridge Audio L/R S | Cambridge Audio L/R X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 per pair | $2,399.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #4 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #76 of 118 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 21mm aluminum dome tweeter, 3” long-throw woofer | 28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5” mid-woofers, 2x 6” side-firing passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (50W to woofer, 50W to tweeter, per speaker) | 800W total (400W per speaker) |
| Inputs | RCA, optical digital, USB-C | HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD | SBC, AAC |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| DSP | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction; desktop-placement and near-wall/free-space switches | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction |
| Dimensions | 5.3” (134 mm) W x 226mm H x 180mm D (each) | 7.9” (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each) |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3.0kg) primary speaker, 5.7 lbs (2.6kg) secondary speaker | 22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | Yes |
| Outputs | Subwoofer, wired speaker-to-speaker link | Subwoofer |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | Yes | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | Yes |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
Cambridge Audio L/R S: $549.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Cambridge Audio L/R M (larger bookshelf, estimated 4.2/5) and the Cambridge Audio L/R X (larger bookshelf, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: A 2-way active bookshelf pair built for near-field desktop use, with a 21mm aluminum tweeter and a 3-inch long-throw woofer on each speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner measured a very neutral on-axis response with good directivity control up through the 2-3kHz handoff to the tweeter, an F3 of about 57Hz and F10 of about 50Hz, and output held within roughly plus or minus 2.5dB from 80Hz to 20kHz. Horizontal dispersion of about plus or minus 60 degrees and a vertical window of about plus 30 to minus 20 degrees make it forgiving of off-center desktop seating. Two rear switches (a desktop-placement compensation switch and a near-wall/free-space switch) plus in-app DSP for room size, wall distance, and reflective surface type let you tune the in-room response rather than just hoping placement works out, and the reviewer noted an audible tightening of the bass moving between room-size settings. Rear connectivity includes RCA, optical digital, USB-C, and a dedicated subwoofer output. Measured bass extension of 57Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Maximum clean output is limited: Erin’s Audio Corner measured about 86dB before the onboard limiter engages around 96dB to protect the drivers, so this is a near-field or small-room speaker rather than one built to fill a living room. Each speaker’s Class D amplifier splits only 50W to the woofer and 50W to the tweeter, modest for the class. The DSP room-correction options are preset-based rather than a true microphone-measured calibration at the listening position, so results depend on picking settings that match your actual room.
Full Cambridge Audio L/R S review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2026 (6 months ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (50W to woofer, 50W to tweeter, per speaker) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction; desktop-placement and near-wall/free-space switches |
| Dimensions | 5.3” (134 mm) W x 226mm H x 180mm D (each) |
| Drivers | 21mm aluminum dome tweeter, 3” long-throw woofer |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA, optical digital, USB-C |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Outputs | Subwoofer, wired speaker-to-speaker link |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3.0kg) primary speaker, 5.7 lbs (2.6kg) secondary speaker |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs ADAM Audio D3v
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs Genelec 8010A
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs Audio Smile Little British Monitor
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs Edifier M60
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs HiVi Swan X3
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs Edifier MR3
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Cambridge Audio L/R X: $2,399.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Cambridge Audio L/R S (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.4/5) and the Cambridge Audio L/R M (smaller bookshelf, estimated 4.2/5).
Pros: A 2.5-way active design with a 28mm aluminum tweeter, a front-facing 5-inch mid-woofer, a second 5-inch woofer at the base whose passband overlaps the first (the source of the “.5”), and dual 6-inch side-firing passive radiators per speaker. Erin’s Audio Corner measured wide, even horizontal dispersion (a broad flare out to about the -6dB point around 1.5 to 3kHz) and deeper extension than the smaller L/R S, with an F3 of about 43Hz and F10 of about 37Hz. In-app DSP for room size, speaker distance from the front wall, and reflective surface type gave an audible change in bass tightness in testing. Connectivity covers HDMI eARC, RCA aux, a moving-magnet phono input, optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Wi-Fi streaming, and a subwoofer output, making it a full living-room hub rather than just a stereo pair. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB).
Cons: On-axis response is less linear than the L/R S, with dips in the bass, a peak around 1-2kHz, and a dip spanning the upper mid-range into the lower treble; Cambridge confirmed the dip is a deliberate DSP notch for a tweeter breakup resonance rather than a driver flaw, but it was audible as a mild suck-out in an AB pink-noise comparison. Vertical dispersion is narrower and asymmetric than the L/R S, at about plus 20 to minus 10 degrees, because the greater distance between the tweeter and mid-woofer creates more lobing, so listening height and stand placement matter more. Multitone distortion rides close to the 3% threshold at 96dB measured at 1 meter in the far field, limiting headroom for loud, wide-band material. Output falls off quickly below about 50Hz, so home-theater use with deep bass content benefits from an added subwoofer.
Full Cambridge Audio L/R X review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2026 (3 months ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 800W total (400W per speaker) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction |
| Dimensions | 7.9” (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each) |
| Drivers | 28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5” mid-woofers, 2x 6” side-firing passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Outputs | Subwoofer |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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