Short answer: the GR-Research NX-Studio for a clean waterfall, the March Audio Sointuva AWG for low distortion. The NX-Studio’s burst decay plot is ultra clean, but its sealed enclosure gives very tight bass that will not go as deep as others. The Sointuva’s Purifi drivers deliver exceptionally low midrange distortion the reviewer calls world class, though the correct listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter line.
On the GR-Research NX-Studio side: Ultra clean burst decay/waterfall plot. The tradeoff: Bass will be very tight but won’t be quite as deep as others due to the sealed woofer enclosure.
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 catch: Correct listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter line.
Buy the GR-Research NX-Studio. It ranks higher for sound quality than the March Audio Sointuva AWG and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research NX-Studio | March Audio Sointuva AWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3630 per pair | $4150 per pair |
| Ranked | #4 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 18"H x 8.5"W x 15.5"D (457.2 x 215.9 x 393.7 mm) | 17.7"H x 9.4"W x 8.7"D (449.6 x 238.8 x 221 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 82.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | GR-Research M165NQ 6.5" paper cone, non-resonant polymer frame, copper shorting rings and aluminum phase plug sealed enclosure woofer, GR-Research Neo3 Planar Magnetic Ribbon open baffle tweeter | 6.5" Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide |
| Weight | 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg) each | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed | passive radiator |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 30Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 6.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.99 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How GR-Research NX-Studio compares with other leading options:
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs Perlisten S4b
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- AsciLab C6B vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- KEF R3 Meta vs GR-Research NX-Studio
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The Two Speakers In Full
GR-Research NX-Studio: $3630 per pair Gr-research eBay
Pros: Ultra clean burst decay/waterfall plot. Amazingly open sounding due to the semi open baffle Neo3 ribbon tweeter, will image better than any other bookshelf speaker. Neo3 ribbon tweeter is one of the best ribbons around for detail. Bass will be very tight and fast due to the sealed enclosure, but may possibly need a sub.
Cons: Bass will be very tight but won’t be quite as deep as others due to the sealed woofer enclosure.
Full GR-Research NX-Studio review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 18"H x 8.5"W x 15.5"D (457.2 x 215.9 x 393.7 mm) |
|---|---|
| Drivers | GR-Research M165NQ 6.5" paper cone, non-resonant polymer frame, copper shorting rings and aluminum phase plug sealed enclosure woofer, GR-Research Neo3 Planar Magnetic Ribbon open baffle tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB |
| Weight | 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs Perlisten S4b
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs AsciLab C6B
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs Audio First Cadentia 3
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs KEF R3 Meta
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- GR-Research NX-Studio vs KEF R3
- See all 48 comparisons
March Audio Sointuva AWG: $4150 per pair Marchaudio eBay
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 $4150/pair, ranked among the reviewer’s top three bookshelf speakers in that price range. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82.4dB.
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.
Full March Audio Sointuva AWG review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| 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 | 82.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.99 |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs AsciLab C6B
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs KEF R3 Meta
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs GR-Research NX-Bravo
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- See all 10 comparisons