Short answer: the Audio First Cadentia 3. It ranks #7 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5) at $7,199 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’s replacement, the March Audio Sointuva AWG, is rated 4.7/5 at $4,150.
Why pick the March Audio Sointuva: A compact bookshelf speaker with Purifi drivers, extremely low distortion, and deep bass from passive radiators, now discontinued but worth buying used. The catch: 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.
The Audio First Cadentia 3 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. A large three way bookshelf speaker with near textbook accuracy, a big enveloping soundstage, and deep, punchy bass that stays clean when loud. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.55 against 6.80 for the March Audio Sointuva. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 3dB, against 50Hz for the March Audio Sointuva. The tradeoff: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1).
Buy the Audio First Cadentia 3. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the March Audio Sointuva is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Audio First Cadentia 3 reaches 26 Hz (10 dB down) against 32.7 Hz for the March Audio Sointuva, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Audio First Cadentia 3 scores 8.9 against 8.4 for the March Audio Sointuva on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Efficiency: the Audio First Cadentia 3 is rated at 86.4 dB sensitivity against 83 dB for the March Audio Sointuva, so it plays as loud with roughly half the amplifier power.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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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Specifications Side By Side
| March Audio Sointuva | Audio First Cadentia 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,995 per pair Discontinued | $7199 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #7 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | ~50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | ~83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | ~4 ohms average; 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5-inch Purifi woofer; Satori waveguided dome tweeter; dual passive radiators | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer |
| Enclosure | Dual passive radiator | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.80 | 7.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.45 | 8.91 |
| Dimensions | 17.7”H x 9.4”W x 8.7”D (450 x 240 x 220 mm) | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) each | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | 3-way, bass reflex |
| Country | - | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- March Audio Sointuva: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner video.
- Audio First Cadentia 3: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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