Short answer: the Buchardt A10. It ranks #12 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5); the Pitt & Giblin Flare ranks #15 (rated 4.6/5).
The case for the Pitt & Giblin Flare: Active speakers with a natural, even vocal balance and useful standalone bass, a specialist system for a dedicated listening room. The catch: This is a substantial specialist system rather than an uncomplicated desktop purchase.
Why pick the Buchardt A10: Active stand-mount speakers with accurate sound, deep bass for their size, and selectable DSP tunings to suit your room. The catch: The rising treble balance can sound brighter on axis; toe-out or a different tuning may suit some rooms.
Buy the Buchardt A10. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Pitt & Giblin Flare.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Active speakers with a natural, even vocal balance and useful standalone bass, a specialist system for a dedicated listening room.
Active stand-mount speakers with accurate sound, deep bass for their size, and selectable DSP tunings to suit your room.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Pitt & Giblin Flare | Buchardt A10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A$12,760 per pair | $4300 per pair |
| Ranked | #15 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #12 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, rear-ported reflex | - |
| Drivers | 8” (200mm) paper-cone mid-bass driver, 25mm polymer compression driver on a cast-bronze circular waveguide | 6.5” PURIFI Extended Stroke Driver with Ultra Low Distortion, Custom made with triple Voice Coil woofer, 19 mm / 0.74” Resonance Free Aluminum dome with CDC aluminum waveguide tweeter |
| Dimensions | 11.6”W x 17.3”H x 11.4”D (295 x 440 x 290 mm) (cabinet); waveguide adds 110mm to total height | 14.6”H x 7”W x 9.6”D (370.8 x 177.8 x 243.8 mm) |
| Weight | 37.5 lbs (17 kg) each | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 250W per speaker, bi-amplified (Pascal Class-D) | 200w Per Speaker |
| Frequency Response | 36Hz-25kHz +/-1.5dB | 28Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Analogue XLR/RCA, S/PDIF coaxial digital | XLR |
| Country | Hand-built in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.12 | 7.28 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.51 | 8.00 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | Yes | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 21Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | sealed |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | - | No |
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. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Pitt & Giblin Flare (measured by the manufacturer) and Buchardt A10 (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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