Short answer: the March Audio Sointuva AWG for the higher ranking, the GR-Research NX-Bravo for the lower price. The March Audio Sointuva AWG ranks #3 of 47 bookshelf speakers at $4150. The GR-Research NX-Bravo ranks #5 at $1540, $2610 cheaper.
On the GR-Research NX-Bravo side: Vertical dispersion is unusually wide for a two-way bookshelf: tonal matching holds from about 50° above the tweeter axis down to 20° below. The tradeoff: Pointed straight on-axis there’s a deliberate ~5dB high-frequency bump meant to compensate for narrowing dispersion off-axis.
The case for the March Audio Sointuva AWG: Purifi drivers deliver exceptionally low midrange distortion - the reviewer calls them “world class” - paired with bass extension unusually. The tradeoff: Correct listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter line.
Buy the GR-Research NX-Bravo if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the March Audio Sointuva AWG if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research NX-Bravo | March Audio Sointuva AWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1540 kit with finished cabinets (assembly required) | $4150 |
| Ranked | #5 of 47 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #3 of 47 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz | 30Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz | 40Hz |
| Dimensions | 14"H x 7.5"W x 11.5"D (355.6 x 190.5 x 292.1 mm) | 17.7"H x 9.4"W x 8.7"D (449.6 x 238.8 x 221 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 82dB |
| Drivers | GR-Research M165 6.5" paper cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, GR-Research Neo3 Planar Magnetic Ribbon deep rear cup tweeter | 6.5" Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each | 11 lbs / 5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Ported | Passive Radiators |
The Two Speakers In Full
GR-Research NX-Bravo: $1540 kit with finished cabinets (assembly required) Gr-research
Pros: Vertical dispersion is unusually wide for a two-way bookshelf: tonal matching holds from about 50° above the tweeter axis down to 20° below it, well beyond the roughly ±10-20° typical of most two-ways. Horizontal dispersion is also wide at about ±70° through the midrange, widening further when toed out, so sidewall acoustic treatment isn’t really necessary. Burst decay is extremely clean with essentially no ringing - the reviewer compared it favorably to a $13,000/pair speaker that showed significant ringing at 120Hz and 500Hz. A deliberate dip around 7kHz reduces sibilance while the 1-4kHz upper-midrange stays neutral, so the sound doesn’t come across as laid-back or recessed. Easy to drive electrically, with a 5-ohm minimum impedance and 2.5-ohm minimum EPDR. Available from $700 as a kit up to about $2,500 fully finished, with the option of the designer’s flush-mount tube/banana-plug terminals for a cleaner look.
Cons: Pointed straight on-axis there’s a deliberate ~5dB high-frequency bump meant to compensate for narrowing dispersion off-axis; it needs about 15° of toe-out (aimed to cross behind the listener) to sound balanced, which won’t suit every room layout. Higher-than-normal high-frequency distortion becomes audible in sine-sweep testing at higher output, and multitone distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 96dB, making roughly 88dB the safer output ceiling. SPL-limited by the manufacturer’s own admission - not intended for loud, full-range playback and best paired with a subwoofer, as with most two-way bookshelf designs. F3 of 77Hz and F10 of 45Hz mean bass only reaches about 50-60Hz in-room. A minor enclosure or port resonance shows up in the frequency response (though not in burst decay), likely a non-issue but visible in measurements. Adding a subwoofer reduces midrange distortion but doesn’t address the elevated high-frequency distortion.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz |
| Dimensions | 14"H x 7.5"W x 11.5"D (355.6 x 190.5 x 292.1 mm) |
| Drivers | GR-Research M165 6.5" paper cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, GR-Research Neo3 Planar Magnetic Ribbon deep rear cup tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
March Audio Sointuva AWG: $4150 Marchaudio
Pros: Purifi drivers deliver exceptionally low midrange distortion - the reviewer calls them “world class” - paired with bass extension unusually deep for a bookshelf (F3 40Hz, F10 30Hz), reaching down to about 30Hz in-room with some boundary reinforcement. Sensitivity tolerance band measured extremely tight at 1.6-1.73dB, indicating excellent build consistency. Estimated in-room response is exceptionally smooth and neutral - one of the flattest the reviewer has measured, with none of the usual coloration descriptors (bright, boomy, nasal, shouty) needed to describe it. Distortion stays so low even at loud volumes that there’s no audible warning cue before you’re playing dangerously loud - a backhanded compliment to how clean it sounds. At $4,150/pair, ranked among the reviewer’s top three bookshelf speakers in that price range.
Cons: Correct listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter line, which means shorter stands (around 24”) than typical bookshelf stands are sold at - get the height wrong and the sound scoops out in the mid/high frequencies. Moderate-low sensitivity (~82dB) is roughly 3dB below a typical bookshelf speaker, meaning close to double the amplifier power is needed for the same output; low impedance also calls for a 4-ohm capable amp. Horizontal radiation holds a wide ±60° only up to about 3kHz before narrowing - tighter top-end dispersion than the reviewer’s preferred ±60-70° through the treble, and the reason he left the previous generation off his all-time top-five list. Multitone distortion rises above the reviewer’s personal 3% threshold in the 1-2kHz region, though it wasn’t audible in his listening. Not intended to be crossed over with a subwoofer at 80Hz - designed to play full-range down to 40-50Hz, so pairing it with a sub and cutting it off early wastes its bass capability. Best positioned about 3 feet from the rear wall, requiring more floor space than many bookshelf speakers.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz |
| Dimensions | 17.7"H x 9.4"W x 8.7"D (449.6 x 238.8 x 221 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 82dB |
| Weight | 11 lbs / 5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive Radiators |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.