Short answer: the Kanto ORA4. Both are rated 3.8/5 for sound quality (#12 and #13 of 47 powered bookshelf speakers), and the Kanto ORA4 costs $449.99 against $499.99 for the Airpulse A60, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the Airpulse A60 does well: The smallest AirPulse active speaker, and the first to use a planar-diaphragm tweeter, paired with a 3.5” aluminum-cone woofer. 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.
What the Kanto ORA4 does well: Compact powered desktop speakers with 4-inch aluminum-cone woofers and 3/4-inch silk-dome tweeters in waveguides, bi-amplified with 70W RMS in total. The catch: Its score here is our estimate: spinorama.org hasn’t published numeric data for it yet, so we traced Erin’s Audio Corner’s published charts, which put its preference score with an ideal subwoofer at roughly 6.9, level with the better small powered speakers but short of the best.
Buy the Kanto ORA4. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $50 less than the Airpulse A60.
About the ratings: the Airpulse A60’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.4 to 4.1, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Airpulse A60 | Kanto ORA4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 per pair | $449.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #13 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #12 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 9.2”H x 5”W x 8.5”D (233 x 126 x 216 mm) | 8.3”H x 4.7”W x 6.7”D (211 x 120 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | Planar-diaphragm tweeter, 3.5” aluminum-cone woofer | 3/4” silk dome tweeter, 4” aluminum cone woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 80W total (2x 30W woofer + 2x 10W tweeter) | 70W RMS total (140W peak) per pair |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | Yes (automatic 80Hz crossover) |
| Weight | - | 4.4 lbs (2 kg) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | - | RCA, USB-C, Bluetooth |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| USB Input | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner charts) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner charts) |
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- Airpulse A60 vs Kanto ORA
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 A60: $499.99 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Airpulse A80 (larger bookshelf, estimated 3.9/5), the Airpulse A100 (larger bookshelf, rated 4/5) and the Airpulse A200T (larger bookshelf, estimated 4/5).
Pros: The smallest AirPulse active speaker, and the first to use a planar-diaphragm tweeter, paired with a 3.5” aluminum-cone woofer. A DSP crossover and Texas Instruments Class D amplifiers deliver 30W per woofer and 10W per tweeter. It suits a desk, with aptX HD Bluetooth, several wired inputs, 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 3.5” woofer limits bass depth and loudness, so a subwoofer is needed for full-range music.
Full Airpulse A60 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W total (2x 30W woofer + 2x 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Dimensions | 9.2”H x 5”W x 8.5”D (233 x 126 x 216 mm) |
| Drivers | Planar-diaphragm tweeter, 3.5” 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
Kanto ORA4: $449.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Kanto ORA (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.7/5).
Pros: Compact powered desktop speakers with 4-inch aluminum-cone woofers and 3/4-inch silk-dome tweeters in waveguides, bi-amplified with 70W RMS in total. Erin’s Audio Corner’s Klippel measurements show a well-behaved design for the size: the listening window stays within about a 4.5dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz and tracks the on-axis response closely, and the predicted in-room response is smooth. Bass goes deeper than most desktop speakers, to about 54Hz at -3dB and 43Hz at -10dB, and a subwoofer output with an automatic 80Hz crossover makes adding one easy. Inputs cover RCA, USB-C audio and Bluetooth 5.0. Measured bass extension of 54Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Its score here is our estimate: spinorama.org hasn’t published numeric data for it yet, so we traced Erin’s Audio Corner’s published charts, which put its preference score with an ideal subwoofer at roughly 6.9, level with the better small powered speakers but short of the best. Treble sits slightly above the midrange, and there is no optical input. Kanto’s own rating stops at 60Hz, so a subwoofer still helps for deep bass at higher volumes.
Full Kanto ORA4 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 70W RMS total (140W peak) per pair |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner charts) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner charts) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3”H x 4.7”W x 6.7”D (211 x 120 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 3/4” silk dome tweeter, 4” aluminum cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA, USB-C, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes (automatic 80Hz crossover) |
| USB Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs (2 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons