Short answer: the Airpulse A60. It ranks #13 of 47 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $499.99; the Sovox MiniMax3 ranks #14, rated 3.7/5, and costs $650, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Airpulse A60: The smallest AirPulse active speaker, and the first to use a planar-diaphragm tweeter, paired with a 3.5” aluminum-cone woofer. The catch: 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 case for the Sovox MiniMax3: A coaxial midrange and tweeter give a wide, even sweet spot, and a listening-window smoothness of 0.78 lifts it to a 6.48 preference score with an ideal subwoofer, so tonal balance holds as you shift around a desk. The tradeoff: Output tops out around 86dB, with heavy compression and very high distortion as it gets there, so it only suits nearfield listening at modest volume.
Buy the Airpulse A60. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sovox MiniMax3 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Airpulse A60 | Sovox MiniMax3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 per pair | $650 per pair |
| Ranked | #13 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #14 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) | 7.7”H x 4.3”W x 7.9”D (195 x 110 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | Planar-diaphragm tweeter, 3.5” aluminum-cone woofer | 3 in. carbon fiber coaxial midrange with 1 in. silk dome tweeter, 3.5 in. carbon fiber woofer, 5 in. passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 80W total (2x 30W woofer + 2x 10W tweeter) | 68.6W total (44.3W LF + 17.95W MF + 6.32W HF Class D) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 66Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | - | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) each |
| Inputs | - | XLR, RCA |
| DSP | - | Yes |
| EQ | - | Yes (Free, Desk, Wall and Desk & Wall presets; treble and bass trims) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 97dB @ 1m short term (manufacturer specified) |
| Frequency Response | - | 49Hz - 20kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.48 |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Airpulse A60:
- Airpulse A60 vs Kanto ORA4
- Airpulse A60 vs Kanto ORA
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex
- ADAM Audio D3v vs Sovox MiniMax3
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
Sovox MiniMax3: $650 per pair Sovox eBay
Pros: A coaxial midrange and tweeter give a wide, even sweet spot, and a listening-window smoothness of 0.78 lifts it to a 6.48 preference score with an ideal subwoofer, so tonal balance holds as you shift around a desk. The 3.5-inch woofer and 5-inch passive radiator reach 66Hz at -3dB and about 53Hz at -12dB, deeper than most speakers this small. The unibody aluminum enclosure is solid and only 195mm tall, and Free, Desk, Wall and Desk & Wall presets plus treble and bass trims adapt it to its placement. Measured bass extension of 66Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Output tops out around 86dB, with heavy compression and very high distortion as it gets there, so it only suits nearfield listening at modest volume. Treble rises on axis (+0.35dB per octave), which holds its standalone preference score to 3.84; toeing it about 10 degrees away from your ears smooths the top end. Bass falls away quickly below 60Hz and there is no subwoofer output, and inputs are limited to balanced XLR and RCA.
Full Sovox MiniMax3 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2026 (8 months ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 68.6W total (44.3W LF + 17.95W MF + 6.32W HF Class D) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 66Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 7.7”H x 4.3”W x 7.9”D (195 x 110 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 3 in. carbon fiber coaxial midrange with 1 in. silk dome tweeter, 3.5 in. carbon fiber woofer, 5 in. passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes (Free, Desk, Wall and Desk & Wall presets; treble and bass trims) |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 20kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Maximum SPL | 97dB @ 1m short term (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.48 |
| Subwoofer Output | No |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Edifier MR3
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs HiVi Swan X3
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Audioengine A2+
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Edifier M60
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Monacor SOUND-4BT
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Kanto YU4
- Sovox MiniMax3 vs Cambridge Audio L/R S
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