Short answer: the Kali Audio IN-5. It ranks #15 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $349; the Edifier Airpulse A100 ranks #17 and costs $999.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Kali Audio IN-5: Compact active three-way with a 4-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter above a dedicated 5-inch woofer, reducing intermodulation and maintaining strong horizontal/vertical pattern consistency. Set against that: At 96dB the midrange rises above 3% THD, largely second order, and the built-in limiter/compression shows the system is not designed for farfield theater levels.
On the Edifier Airpulse A100 side: Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter (inherited from Airpulse’s flagship 7001 monitor, designed by Phil Jones) paired with a 5” hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer - a distinctive, low-mass driver combination rarely seen below $1,000. Watch for: On-axis deviation trails the pricier options in this group, and there’s no app-based EQ or DSP - bass/treble trim is limited to physical rear-panel knobs not reachable from the remote.
Buy the Kali Audio IN-5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Edifier Airpulse A100 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio IN-5 | Edifier Airpulse A100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349 each | $999.99 |
| Ranked | #15 of 48 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #17 of 48 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active three-way monitor) | - |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter coaxial with 4" midrange; 5" woofer | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5" hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer |
| Amplification | 80W LF + 40W mid + 40W HF | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | - |
| Inputs | - | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX |
| App | - | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes (SBC, aptX) |
| EQ | - | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs |
| Weight | - | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.2 lb) each |
| Output Power | - | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) |
| Dimensions | - | 6.3" x 11.1" x 10" (160 x 283 x 255 mm) (6.3 x 11.1 x 10.0 in) each |
| Frequency Response | - | 52Hz - 40kHz |
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- Yamaha HS5 vs Edifier Airpulse A100
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The Two Speakers In Full
Kali Audio IN-5: $349 each Amazon
Pros: Compact active three-way with a 4-inch coaxial midrange/tweeter above a dedicated 5-inch woofer, reducing intermodulation and maintaining strong horizontal/vertical pattern consistency. Erin measured F3 near 45Hz, low 86dB distortion and useful output for near/midfield listening. Boundary DIP presets and tonal trims make placement correction practical; balanced inputs, front porting, low audible hiss at one meter and cool-running amplification improve studio usability.
Cons: At 96dB the midrange rises above 3% THD, largely second order, and the built-in limiter/compression shows the system is not designed for farfield theater levels. Erin heard the high frequencies become roughly 2dB brighter when moving from 2.5m to 1.5m, so distance and aiming matter. Noise is audible with an ear at the cabinet, though not at his seat. As an active monitor, impedance and passive sensitivity do not apply.
Full Kali Audio IN-5 review and specifications →
| Amplification | 80W LF + 40W mid + 40W HF |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.0Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter coaxial with 4" midrange; 5" woofer |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active three-way monitor) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs Yamaha HS5
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs Adam Audio T5V
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs JBL 305P MKII
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII
- See all 27 comparisons
Edifier Airpulse A100: $999.99 B&H Photo Airpulse
Pros: Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter (inherited from Airpulse’s flagship 7001 monitor, designed by Phil Jones) paired with a 5” hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer - a distinctive, low-mass driver combination rarely seen below $1,000. Directivity spread is the widest and most controlled of this batch (directivity_spdi_stddev 4.26). A full input set for a desktop system: RCA, USB, optical, coaxial, and Bluetooth, plus a dedicated subwoofer output and an included IR remote.
Cons: On-axis deviation (aad_on_axis 0.498) trails the pricier options in this group, and there’s no app-based EQ or DSP - bass/treble trim is limited to physical rear-panel knobs not reachable from the remote. The compact 5” woofer caps sub-bass extension at 63.0Hz (-3dB) / 53.2Hz (-10dB), the second-shallowest in this batch, effectively expecting an external subwoofer for full-range use. No Wi-Fi streaming (AirPlay/Chromecast) - Bluetooth only.
Full Edifier Airpulse A100 review and specifications →
| App | None (physical bass/treble knobs, IR remote) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (SBC, aptX) |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 11.1" x 10" (160 x 283 x 255 mm) (6.3 x 11.1 x 10.0 in) each |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, 5" hard-anodized aluminum cone woofer |
| EQ | Yes, rear-panel bass/treble trim knobs |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 40kHz |
| Inputs | RCA (aux), USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth aptX |
| Output Power | 100W total (40W+40W woofer, 10W+10W tweeter) |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (24.2 lb) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Edifier Airpulse A100 vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
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- Edifier Airpulse A100 vs Yamaha HS5
- Edifier Airpulse A100 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- Edifier Airpulse A100 vs Adam Audio T5V
- Edifier Airpulse A100 vs JBL 705P
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