Short answer: the Airpulse A100. It ranks #27 of 76 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $999.99 and is still sold new; the KRK Rokit 5 G4 ranks #46 (rated 3.7/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
What the Edifier Airpulse A100 offers: Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter (inherited from Airpulse’s flagship 7001 monitor, designed by Phil Jones) paired with a 5” hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer - a distinctive, low-mass driver combination rarely seen below $999.99. The tradeoff: On-axis deviation trails the pricier options in this group, and there’s no app-based EQ or DSP - bass/treble trim is limited to physical rear-panel knobs not reachable from the remote.
What the KRK Rokit 5 G4 gets right: Deeper bass than the HS5. Good horizontal directivity - the small woofer mates well with the waveguided tweeter. Set against that: Not quite as detailed as the HS5, not as good for mixing. A little more hifi sounding.
Buy the Airpulse A100. It is rated higher for sound quality; the KRK Rokit 5 G4 is no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Airpulse A100 | KRK Rokit 5 G4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 per pair | $337 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #27 of 76 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #46 of 76 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 44.4Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Inputs | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX | TRS/XLR |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5” hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| App | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes (SBC, aptX) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| EQ | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) | 55w Per Speaker |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 11.1” x 10” (160 x 283 x 255 mm) each | 11.2”H x 7.5”W x 9.5”D (284.5 x 190.5 x 241.3 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.56 | 3.92 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.08 | 6.29 |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | Yes | No |
| USB Input | Yes | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Airpulse A100:
- Airpulse A100 vs Genelec 8331A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Airpulse A100
- Genelec 8030C vs Airpulse A100
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Airpulse A100
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Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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
Airpulse A100: $999.99 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
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
KRK Rokit 5 G4: $337 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the KRK Rokit 5 G5, ranked higher, estimated 3.8/5.
Larger models: the KRK Rokit 7 G4 (rated 3.9/5) and the KRK Rokit 8 G4 (rated 3.9/5).
Pros: ASR’s data gives -3dB bass around 56Hz and scores of 3.92 standalone and 6.29 with an ideal subwoofer. The waveguide provides useful horizontal directivity control, while onboard adjustments help tailor broad balance. The existing review reports low distortion at 86dB and low audible hiss. Measured bass extension of 55.7Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 3.6dB midrange span and listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.502 show that native response is not reference-flat. A port-region resonance and other tonal irregularities remain. Its deeper bass does not establish greater detail or mixing accuracy than another monitor. EQ can help, but the unequalized measurements determine the starting recommendation. Discontinued.
Full KRK Rokit 5 G4 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 55w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.4Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.2”H x 7.5”W x 9.5”D (284.5 x 190.5 x 241.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS/XLR |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.92 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.29 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
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