Short answer: the Dynaudio LYD 5. It ranks #6 of 100 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $998; the Airpulse A100 ranks #34, rated 4.0/5, and costs $999.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Dynaudio LYD 5 is the better-sounding choice. ASR’s Klippel data is substantially stronger than a low ranking suggests: 4.72 standalone and 7.38 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 1.9dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz. Watch for: Bass reaches -3dB around 72Hz, so it gives up low-frequency weight to deeper-reaching monitors.
The case for the Airpulse A100: ASR’s Klippel data gives a 2.9dB midrange span and scores of 4.56 standalone and 7.08 with an ideal subwoofer. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Dynaudio LYD 5 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Dynaudio LYD 5 lacks. The catch: Bass reaches -3dB around 63Hz, so lower notes need a subwoofer for full weight.
Buy the Dynaudio LYD 5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Airpulse A100 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio LYD 5 | Airpulse A100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $998 per pair | $999.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #6 of 100 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #34 of 100 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 10.2”H x 6.7”W x 8.3”D (260 x 170 x 211 mm) | 6.3” x 11.1” x 10” (160 x 283 x 255 mm) each |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 52Hz - 40kHz |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) each | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5” woofer, 28mm soft dome tweeter | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5” hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer |
| App | No | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) |
| EQ | No | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs |
| DSP | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF) | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | Yes |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes (SBC, aptX) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.56 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.08 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Dynaudio LYD 5 vs Genelec 8330A
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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
Dynaudio LYD 5: $998 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: ASR’s Klippel data is substantially stronger than a low ranking suggests: 4.72 standalone and 7.38 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 1.9dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz. Low listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.242 supports relatively uncolored midrange reproduction. It is particularly competitive when used with a subwoofer rather than judged only by bass reach. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass reaches -3dB around 72Hz, so it gives up low-frequency weight to deeper-reaching monitors. The existing review identifies a dip near 1.6kHz, upper-bass emphasis and uneven crossover-region dispersion. These issues and limited deep-bass capability keep it below the leading all-rounders despite its strong bass-normalized score. A subwoofer does not correct upper-frequency directivity errors.
Full Dynaudio LYD 5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2”H x 6.7”W x 8.3”D (260 x 170 x 211 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” woofer, 28mm soft dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Airpulse A100: $999.99 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Airpulse A60 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.8/5), the Airpulse A80 (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, estimated 3.9/5) and the Airpulse A200T (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, estimated 4/5).
Pros: ASR’s Klippel data gives a 2.9dB midrange span and scores of 4.56 standalone and 7.08 with an ideal subwoofer. The ribbon tweeter and five-inch woofer provide a distinctive compact powered system, with remote control and a subwoofer output simplifying everyday use. Measured bass extension of 63.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass reaches -3dB around 63Hz, so lower notes need a subwoofer for full weight. Listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.419 shows more local tonal variation than the leading monitors. Rear tone controls are less flexible than parametric EQ or room correction. Neither the ribbon tweeter nor a directivity-index summary establishes uniquely wide or perfectly controlled dispersion. The remote cannot reach the rear bass and treble knobs, and there is no app EQ.
Full Airpulse A100 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) |
| App | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (SBC, aptX) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Coaxial Input | Yes |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 11.1” x 10” (160 x 283 x 255 mm) each |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5” hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer |
| EQ | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.56 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.08 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons