Short answer: the Airpulse A100 if sound quality matters most, the M-Audio BX5 D3 if price matters most. The Airpulse A100 ranks #25 of 65 powered bookshelf speakers at $999.99. The M-Audio BX5 D3 ranks #30 at $149.50, $850.49 cheaper.
What the Airpulse A100 offers: ASR’s Klippel data gives a 2.9dB midrange span and scores of 3.66 standalone and 6.18 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. Watch for: 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.
What the M-Audio BX5 D3 offers: The third-party measurements suggest scores of 3.34 standalone and 5.94 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 2.4dB midrange span. Balanced inputs and acoustic-space adjustment are useful for a basic studio setup. The measured -3dB estimate is about 64Hz. Watch for: The response slopes downward by about 0.65dB per octave, potentially softening treble relative to the midrange. There is no digital input or automatic calibration, and the preference estimate does not verify distortion or output headroom.
Buy the Airpulse A100 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the M-Audio BX5 D3 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Airpulse A100 | M-Audio BX5 D3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 per pair | $299 per pair |
| Ranked | #25 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #30 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | - |
| Inputs | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX | XLR and TRS |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5" hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| App | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes (SBC, aptX) | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| EQ | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs | - |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) | 100W each |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 11.1" x 10" (160 x 283 x 255 mm) each | 10H x 6.9W x 7.8D in |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz | 52Hz-35kHz |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.66 | 3.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.18 | 5.94 |
| Enclosure | - | Active 2-way, rear-ported |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Airpulse A100 compares with other leading options:
- Airpulse A100 vs Genelec 8331A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Airpulse A100
- Genelec 8030C vs Airpulse A100
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Airpulse A100
- Dynaudio LYD 5 vs Airpulse A100
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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
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 3.66 standalone and 6.18 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.
Full Airpulse A100 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| 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 |
| Inputs | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.18 |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
M-Audio BX5 D3: $299 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: The third-party measurements suggest scores of 3.34 standalone and 5.94 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 2.4dB midrange span. Balanced inputs and acoustic-space adjustment are useful for a basic studio setup. The measured -3dB estimate is about 64Hz.
Cons: The response slopes downward by about 0.65dB per octave, potentially softening treble relative to the midrange. There is no digital input or automatic calibration, and the preference estimate does not verify distortion or output headroom.
Full M-Audio BX5 D3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W each |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10H x 6.9W x 7.8D in |
| Drivers | 1-inch silk tweeter, 5-inch Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | Active 2-way, rear-ported |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz-35kHz |
| Inputs | XLR and TRS |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.94 |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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