Short answer: the March Audio Sointuva AWG. It ranks #5 of 214 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5) at $4,150 and is still sold new; the March Audio Sointuva ranks #8 (rated 4.6/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The March Audio Sointuva AWG is the deeper-bass choice. 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. Its bass reaches about 40Hz before falling 3dB, against 50Hz for the March Audio Sointuva. Watch for: 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.
The case for the March Audio Sointuva: The Purifi woofer and Satori waveguided tweeter combine class-leading distortion with unusually deep extension for a compact cabinet. Watch for: Erin measured a 3.8-ohm minimum and an average load near four ohms; combined with ~83dB sensitivity, this demands a powerful four-ohm-stable amplifier even though the drivers tolerate that power cleanly.
Buy the March Audio Sointuva AWG. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the March Audio Sointuva is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| March Audio Sointuva AWG | March Audio Sointuva | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4150 per pair | $3,995 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #8 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | ~50Hz (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) | 17.7”H x 9.4”W x 8.7”D (450 x 240 x 220 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | ~4 ohms average; 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | ~83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide | 6.5-inch Purifi woofer; Satori waveguided dome tweeter; dual passive radiators |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | - |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.95 | 6.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.45 | 8.45 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Dual passive radiator |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared.
Measurement data: March Audio Sointuva AWG (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) and March Audio Sointuva (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
March Audio Sointuva AWG: $4150 per pair March Audio eBay
Older model: the March Audio Sointuva (ranked lower, rated 4.6/5). See every March Audio Sointuva generation.
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 →
| Released | Nov 2023 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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 | 6.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.45 |
| 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 GR-Research NX-Studio
- 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 KEF R3
- March Audio Sointuva AWG vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
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March Audio Sointuva: $3,995 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the March Audio Sointuva AWG, ranked higher, rated 4.7/5, released Nov 2023. See every March Audio Sointuva generation.
Pros: The Purifi woofer and Satori waveguided tweeter combine class-leading distortion with unusually deep extension for a compact cabinet. Erin measured roughly 83dB sensitivity yet found the speaker could still sustain about 96dB/1m with 3% THD not crossed until ~60Hz; compression remains exceptionally low until the deepest bass at the highest sweep. Horizontal directivity is broad and smooth, the early-reflections trend is readily equalizable, and the passive radiators avoid port turbulence while reaching approximately 50Hz anechoic and lower in-room. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
Cons: Erin measured a 3.8-ohm minimum and an average load near four ohms; combined with ~83dB sensitivity, this demands a powerful four-ohm-stable amplifier even though the drivers tolerate that power cleanly. Vertical directivity shows the unavoidable woofer/tweeter crossover cancellation, so stand height matters. The original waveguide narrows somewhat in the upper treble compared with the later AWG revision, and the premium price is difficult to justify if low-level listening or an 80Hz sub crossover leaves the Purifi woofer’s excursion capability unused. Discontinued.
Full March Audio Sointuva review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2020 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | ~50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 17.7”H x 9.4”W x 8.7”D (450 x 240 x 220 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch Purifi woofer; Satori waveguided dome tweeter; dual passive radiators |
| Enclosure | Dual passive radiator |
| Impedance | ~4 ohms average; 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | ~83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.45 |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons