Short answer: the Kali Audio IN-5. It ranks #26 of 100 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.2/5) at $898 and is still sold new; the NHT Pro M-00 ranks #98 (rated 1.7/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Kali Audio IN-5 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. The active three-way layout separates bass duties from the coaxial mid/tweeter, giving flexible listening geometry. Its bass reaches about 45Hz before falling 3dB, against 83.3Hz for the NHT Pro M-00. Watch for: Local listening-window irregularities remain despite the small overall midrange span.
What the NHT Pro M-00 does well: A sturdy metal enclosure, analog studio/consumer connections and selectable nearfield/farfield voicing give it practical features as an older powered monitor. The catch: The review identifies a pronounced upper-bass cancellation, treble peaks and problematic vertical response, and strongly prefers the JBL 305P MKII in direct listening.
Buy the Kali Audio IN-5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the NHT Pro M-00 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio IN-5 | NHT Pro M-00 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $898 per pair | $498 per pair (used market; originally $249 each), Discontinued |
| Ranked | #26 of 100 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #98 of 100 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter coaxial with 4” midrange; 5” woofer | 1” ferrofluid-cooled fabric dome tweeter, 4.5” treated paper-cone woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 80W LF + 40W mid + 40W HF | 75W RMS continuous, 150W peak (per speaker) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.12 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.13 | - |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | RCA, XLR/TRS |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Dimensions | 15” x 8.1” x 11.1” (382 x 206 x 282 mm) (H x W x D) | 9H x 5.7W x 7.3D in |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 98Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.6 lbs (8.43 kg) each | 14 lbs (6.35 kg) each |
| App | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Kali Audio IN-5 compares with other leading options:
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs Genelec 8331A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kali Audio IN-5
- Genelec 8030C vs Kali Audio IN-5
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Kali Audio IN-5
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs Reflector Audio Square Two
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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
Kali Audio IN-5: $898 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Kali Audio IN-8 V2 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.4/5) and the Kali Audio IN-UNF (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: The active three-way layout separates bass duties from the coaxial mid/tweeter, giving flexible listening geometry. Erin’s data shows a 1.8dB midrange response span and -3dB bass around 45Hz, with scores of 5.12 standalone and 7.13 with an ideal subwoofer. Placement switches and balanced inputs help integrate it into a studio; moderate-level distortion is well controlled in the existing review. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Local listening-window irregularities remain despite the small overall midrange span. The review reports midrange distortion rising above 3% at 96dB and a brighter perceived balance at closer distances. Limiting makes it unsuitable for demanding farfield playback. Coaxial construction improves geometry but does not remove response errors or guarantee unlimited output.
Full Kali Audio IN-5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W LF + 40W mid + 40W HF |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15” x 8.1” x 11.1” (382 x 206 x 282 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter coaxial with 4” midrange; 5” woofer |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.12 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.13 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 18.6 lbs (8.43 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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NHT Pro M-00: $498 per pair (used market; originally $249 each) Discontinued eBay
Pros: A sturdy metal enclosure, analog studio/consumer connections and selectable nearfield/farfield voicing give it practical features as an older powered monitor. Measured bass extension of 83.3Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The review identifies a pronounced upper-bass cancellation, treble peaks and problematic vertical response, and strongly prefers the JBL 305P MKII in direct listening. Discontinued.
Full NHT Pro M-00 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 75W RMS continuous, 150W peak (per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 9H x 5.7W x 7.3D in |
| Drivers | 1” ferrofluid-cooled fabric dome tweeter, 4.5” treated paper-cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 98Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA, XLR/TRS |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14 lbs (6.35 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons