Short answer: the Edifier Airpulse A100 for better sound quality, the KRK Rokit 5 G4 for the lower price. The Edifier Airpulse A100 ranks #17 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers at $999.99. The KRK Rokit 5 G4 ranks #18 at $337, $662.99 cheaper.
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 $1,000. 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 Edifier Airpulse A100 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the KRK Rokit 5 G4 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier Airpulse A100 | KRK Rokit 5 G4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 | $337 |
| Ranked | #17 of 48 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 48 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 78Hz (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 |
| EQ | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.2 lb) each | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg each |
| Output 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) (6.3 x 11.1 x 10.0 in) 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) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier Airpulse A100: $999.99 B&H Photo Airpulse
Pros: 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 $1,000. Directivity spread is the widest and most controlled of this batch (directivity_spdi_stddev 4.26). A full input set for a desktop system: RCA, USB, optical, coaxial, and Bluetooth, plus a dedicated subwoofer output and an included IR remote.
Cons: On-axis deviation (aad_on_axis 0.498) 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. The compact 5” woofer caps sub-bass extension at 63.0Hz (-3dB) / 53.2Hz (-10dB), the second-shallowest in this batch, effectively expecting an external subwoofer for full-range use. No Wi-Fi streaming (AirPlay/Chromecast) - Bluetooth only.
Full Edifier Airpulse A100 review and specifications →
| App | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (SBC, aptX) |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 11.1" x 10" (160 x 283 x 255 mm) (6.3 x 11.1 x 10.0 in) each |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5" hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer |
| EQ | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz |
| Inputs | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX |
| Output Power | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.2 lb) each |
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- Links
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KRK Rokit 5 G4: $337 Amazon
Pros: Deeper bass than the HS5. Good horizontal directivity - the small woofer mates well with the waveguided tweeter. Distortion is quite low at 86dB SPL and scales gradually with volume rather than breaking up suddenly, tweeter hiss is nearly inaudible, and the onboard DSP/app lets you dial in EQ, including for the 680Hz port resonance.
Cons: Not quite as detailed as the HS5, not as good for mixing. A little more hifi sounding
Full KRK Rokit 5 G4 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | 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) |
| Inputs | TRS/XLR |
| Output Power | 55w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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