Short answer: the Airpulse A200T. It ranks #39 of 105 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $999.99; the JBL 705P ranks #43, rated 3.9/5, and costs $2,198, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Airpulse A200T does well: A step up from the Airpulse A100 in the AirPulse range, with a horn-loaded aluminum ribbon tweeter and a 5.5” aluminum-cone woofer, amplified separately with 55W per woofer and 10W per tweeter (130W total). The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the Airpulse A100.
Why pick the JBL 705P: ASR’s data gives bass reaching -3dB around 48Hz and a 6.71 ideal-subwoofer preference score. Watch for: The standalone score is 4.70, and a localized cancellation near 750Hz contributes to the large 7.8dB midrange response span.
Buy the Airpulse A200T. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL 705P and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
About the ratings: the Airpulse A200T’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.6 to 4.3, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Airpulse A200T | JBL 705P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 per pair | $2,198 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 105 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #43 of 105 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded aluminum ribbon tweeter, 5.5” aluminum-cone woofer | 5” woofer, 2409H 1” compression driver |
| Amplifier Power | 130W total (2x 55W woofer + 2x 10W tweeter) | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 47.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 38.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Dimensions | - | 10.6”H x 5.9”W x 10.8”D (268 x 151 x 274 mm) |
| Frequency Response | - | 39Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 12.6 lbs (5.7 kg) each |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.70 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.71 |
| Inputs | - | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | Yes |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | Yes |
| Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Airpulse A200T:
- Airpulse A100 vs Airpulse A200T
- Airpulse A200T vs KEF Coda W
- Airpulse A100 vs JBL 705P
- JBL 705P vs KEF Coda W
- JBL 705P vs Audioengine HD6
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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 A200T: $999.99 per pair Estimated Amazon 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 A100 (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4/5).
Pros: A step up from the Airpulse A100 in the AirPulse range, with a horn-loaded aluminum ribbon tweeter and a 5.5” aluminum-cone woofer, amplified separately with 55W per woofer and 10W per tweeter (130W total). It adds a phono input for a turntable alongside aptX HD Bluetooth and other wired inputs, plus a subwoofer output and a remote.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the Airpulse A100. The horn tweeter can narrow vertical dispersion, so it sounds best with the tweeters near ear height.
Full Airpulse A200T review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 130W total (2x 55W woofer + 2x 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded aluminum ribbon tweeter, 5.5” aluminum-cone woofer |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL 705P: $2,198 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the JBL 708P (larger bookshelf, rated 4.2/5) and the JBL 708i (larger bookshelf, rated 3.7/5). See every JBL 7 Series generation.
Pros: ASR’s data gives bass reaching -3dB around 48Hz and a 6.71 ideal-subwoofer preference score. Its waveguided compression driver and dedicated amplification are suited to studio use, and the broad response trend is close to level. It has useful low-frequency reach for a five-inch monitor. Measured bass extension of 47.6Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The standalone score is 4.70, and a localized cancellation near 750Hz contributes to the large 7.8dB midrange response span. A crossover-region rise also prevents reference-flat reproduction. An average flat trend does not erase these features, and amplifier wattage is not a measured clean-SPL rating. The data does not support calling it uniformly flat simply because it shares technology with larger JBL models.
Full JBL 705P review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6”H x 5.9”W x 10.8”D (268 x 151 x 274 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” woofer, 2409H 1” compression driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.70 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.71 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 12.6 lbs (5.7 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons