Short answer: the Buchardt A10. It ranks #12 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $4,300. The Cambridge Audio L/R X ranks #76, rated 4.1/5, at $2,399, $1,901 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The A10 is the more accurate, deeper active speaker. A Purifi woofer and a waveguided aluminum tweeter reach 30Hz before falling 3dB, with a 1.9dB midrange span and a preference score of 7.28, and its DSP offers several tunings. Its treble rises on-axis, so toe-out may suit some rooms, and deep bass compresses before larger monitors do.
The L/R X is the full living-room hub. Each speaker has a tweeter, two 5-inch woofers and two side passive radiators on 400W, reaching 43Hz before falling 3dB, with HDMI eARC, phono, optical, USB, Wi-Fi streaming and a subwoofer output. A deliberate DSP notch causes a mild upper-midrange dip, and its vertical window is narrow.
Buy the Buchardt A10. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,901 you would save on the Cambridge Audio L/R X does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Active speakers with HDMI eARC, a phono input, Wi-Fi streaming, wide even dispersion, and solid bass.
Active stand-mount speakers with accurate sound, deep bass for their size, and selectable DSP tunings to suit your room.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Cambridge Audio L/R X | Buchardt A10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,399.00 per pair | $4300 per pair |
| Ranked | #76 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #12 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 21Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 28mm aluminum tweeter, 2x 5” mid-woofers, 2x 6” side-firing passive radiators | 6.5” PURIFI Extended Stroke Driver with Ultra Low Distortion, Custom made with triple Voice Coil woofer, 19 mm / 0.74” Resonance Free Aluminum dome with CDC aluminum waveguide tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 28Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 800W total (400W per speaker) | 200w Per Speaker |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, RCA aux, RCA phono (MM), optical digital, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi | XLR |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| App | Yes | No |
| DSP | Yes, room size, wall distance, and reflective surface correction | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” (200 mm) W x 330mm H x 260mm D (each) | 14.6”H x 7”W x 9.6”D (370.8 x 177.8 x 243.8 mm) |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs (10.4kg) each | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | No |
| HDMI Input | Yes | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | sealed |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 7.28 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.00 |
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