Short answer: the Cambridge Audio L/R S. Both are rated 4.4/5 for sound quality (#4 and #5 of 47 powered bookshelf speakers), and the Cambridge Audio L/R S costs $549 against $900 for the Genelec G One, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
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. The tradeoff: 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.
What the Genelec G One does well: The smallest model in Genelec’s home G Series, built on the same 3” woofer, metal-dome tweeter and Directivity Control Waveguide as the Genelec 8010A studio monitor, in a die-cast aluminum cabinet. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Genelec 8010A it is based on.
Buy the Cambridge Audio L/R S. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $351 less than the Genelec G One.
About the ratings: the Genelec G One’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 4.1 to 4.6, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Cambridge Audio L/R S | Genelec G One | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 per pair | $900 per pair |
| Ranked | #4 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Drivers | 21mm aluminum dome tweeter, 3” long-throw woofer | 3” (76mm) woofer, 0.75” (19mm) metal dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 74Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB), 67Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (50W to woofer, 50W to tweeter, per speaker) | 50W (25W woofer + 25W tweeter) |
| Inputs | RCA, optical digital, USB-C | RCA |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD | - |
| App | Yes | 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) | 7.7” (195 mm) H x 121mm W x 115mm D (with Iso-Pod) |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs (3.0kg) primary speaker, 5.7 lbs (2.6kg) secondary speaker | 3.7 lbs (1.7 kg) each |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer, wired speaker-to-speaker link | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB short-term @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | - | Yes (bass and treble room switches) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Cambridge Audio L/R S compares with other leading options:
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs Audio Smile Little British Monitor
- Genelec 8010A vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
- ADAM Audio D3v vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
- Edifier M60 vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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
- Cambridge Audio L/R S vs Sovox MiniMax3
- See all 18 comparisons
Genelec G One: $900 per pair Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Genelec G Two (larger bookshelf, rated 4.3/5), the Genelec G Three (larger bookshelf, estimated 4.5/5), the Genelec G Four (larger bookshelf, estimated 4.2/5) and the Genelec G Five (larger bookshelf, estimated 4.3/5).
Pros: The smallest model in Genelec’s home G Series, built on the same 3” woofer, metal-dome tweeter and Directivity Control Waveguide as the Genelec 8010A studio monitor, in a die-cast aluminum cabinet. The waveguide keeps the treble consistent off axis, so it sounds balanced on a desk even when you aren’t sitting dead center. Each speaker has its own 25W bass and 25W treble amplifiers, an RCA input, auto standby and an Iso-Pod stand that tilts it toward your ears.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Genelec 8010A it is based on. Bass stops at 74Hz (±2.5dB), so music and movies need a subwoofer for any real low end, and output is limited to 96dB short-term, enough for a desk but not a living room.
Full Genelec G One review and specifications →
| Released | 2013 (13 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W (25W woofer + 25W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.7” (195 mm) H x 121mm W x 115mm D (with Iso-Pod) |
| Drivers | 3” (76mm) woofer, 0.75” (19mm) metal dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (bass and treble room switches) |
| Frequency Response | 74Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB), 67Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB short-term @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.7 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs Presonus Eris E4.5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs iLoud Micro Monitor Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs Audioengine A2+ Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (G One) vs JBL LSR305 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs Yamaha HS5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- Head-to-Head Comparisons