Airpulse A100 Lively Speaker Overview Ranking
Abstract
I just like the Airpulse A100 audio system loads. They’re my favorite Airpulse speaker thus far, and they’re arguably higher audio system than the Edifier S3000 Professional for those who worth the additional element within the larger ranges that the horned tweet offers.
Professionals
- Superior bass to A80 and very good total sound high quality having the ability to produce detailed highs will nonetheless having a lot of low finish.
- Enticing design and nicely proportioned
Cons
Not a lot at this worth, however to be choosy:
- Wired speaker connectivity with dated DIN connector
- Lacks trendy Bluetooth and newer aptX codecs
I’ve labored my approach by many of the glorious Edifier lively audio system, and extra not too long ago, I’ve been testing the premium Airpulse vary.
Much like Klipsch, the defining function of those audio system is the horn-loaded tweeters which helps the speaker produce a large dynamic vary producing detailed highs and low distortion.
Once I reviewed the Airpulse A80, I loved the general expertise, however the bass was a little bit subdued for my preferences. The Airpulse A100 I’m reviewing in the present day is an enormous enchancment for me and has been rather more fulfilling to make use of.
The traditional audio system that I exploit every day are the Edifier S3000 Professional which I believe are very good and are one of many logical alternate options to the Airpulse A100.
Airpulse A80 vs A100 vs A200 vs A300 vs Edifier S3000 Professional Specs
I apologise for the massive desk comparability, however I believe it’s price all the audio system. There may be not an enormous soar in worth between every mannequin. I do know if I used to be keen to spend £550 on the Edifier S3000 Professional, it wouldn’t take a lot psychological gymnastics to persuade myself to spend £900 on the Airpulse A300. I ignored the Airpulse A300 Professional as a result of they’ve an enormous worth distinction from all of the others.
| Airpulse A80 | Airpulse A100 | Airpulse A200 | Airpulse A300 | Edifier S3000 Professional | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tweeter | Horn Loaded Ribbon Tweeter | Horn Loaded Ribbon Tweeter | Section Correction Horn Loaded Ribbon Tweeter | Horn Loaded Ribbon Tweeter | 107 x 107mm Planar silk diaphragm |
| Mid Wooder | 4.5 inch Aluminum Cone 30mm VC Mid-Woofer | 5 inch Aluminum Cone Underhung Design Neo. Energy Mid-Woofer |
5.5″ Aluminum Cone Neo Energy Mid-Woofer | 6.5inch Aluminum Cone Underhung Design Neo Energy Mid-Woofer |
6.5” (179mm) aluminum alloy diaphragm |
| Amplifier System: | Digtal Amplifer With Xmos Processor | Digtal Amplifer With Xmos Processor | Digtal Amplifer With Xmos Processor | Digtal Amplifer With Xmos Processor | |
| Energy Output: | L/R(Treble):10W+10W L/R(Woofer): 40W+40W |
L/R(Treble)10W+10W L/R(Woofer): 40W+40W |
L/R(Treble)10W + 10W L/R(Min-Vary and Woofer) : 55W + 55W |
L/R(Treble):10W+10W L/R(Woofer): 70W+70W |
R/L (Treble): 8W+8W RMS R/L (Mid-range and bass): 120W+120W RMS |
| Frequency Rang: | 52Hz-40KHz | 52Hz-40KHz | 46Hz-20KHz | 40Hz-40KHz | 38HZ ~ 40kHZ |
| Sign-Noise Ratio: | L/R:≥90dB(A) | L/R:≥90dB(A) | L/R:≥90dB(A) | L/R:≥90dB(A) | ≥85dB(A) |
| Pattern Price Enter Sensitivity: | AUX:450±50mV PC:550±50mV USB:400±50mFFs Optical:400±50mFFs Bluetooth:500±50mFFs |
AUX:450±50mV PC:550±50mV USB:400±50mFFs Optical:400±50mFFs Bluetooth:500±50mFFs |
Steadiness Enter 1000±50mV，AUX Enter 550±50mV，Bluetooth Enter 1000±50mFFs，Optical Enter 350±50mFFs，Coaxial Enter 350±50mFFs | AUX:450±50mV PC:550±50mV USB:400±50mFFs Optical:400±50mFFs Bluetooth:500±50mFFs |
Line in: 600 ± 50mV | Steadiness: 1000 ± 50mV | OPT/COAX: 400 ± 50mFFs | Bluetooth: 450 ± 50mFFs | USB: 400 ± 50mFFs |
| Sub Out: | Sure | 1200mV(max) | Sure | Sure | No |
| Enter | AUX, PC, USB, Optical, Bluetooth | AUX, PC, USB, Optical, Bluetooth. | AUX, Steadiness Enter, Optical, Coaxial, Bluetooth | AUX, PC, USB, Optical, Bluetooth | Line In/Steadiness/Bluetooth/Optical/Coaxial/USB |
| Speaker Connectivity | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | KleerNet Wi-fi |
| Cupboard Measurement (WxHxD): | 140x255x238mm | 160x288x273mm | 570x400x469mm | 225x384x358mm | 232*368*356 mm |
| Web Weight: | 10Kg(22lbs) | 11Kg(24.2lbs) | 22.7Kg(50lbs) | 24kg (53lbs) | 21.1 KG |
| Value | £629 | £659 | £779 | £899.99 | £545.22 |
Design
I used to be despatched the audio system in a shiny white color. I’d say they appear extra enticing than the Edifier S3000 Professional, definitely a extra trendy aesthetic. Whereas they don’t seem to be small, they’re significantly smaller than the Edifier audio system, which makes them a bit extra handy to position.
Other than the color and bodily dimensions, the general design is principally the identical because the Airpulse A80.
Identical to the Airpulse A80, the best speaker connects to the left with a cable utilizing a DIN port. The Edifier S3000 Professional makes use of KleerNet wi-fi which has labored flawlessly for me and makes setting the audio system up and retaining the set up tidy a lot simpler.
There may be some management over the bass and treble through the knobs on the rear. I discovered that this solely offers a refined quantity of variations.
An identical to the A80, you get loads of equipment within the field, together with all of the cables you want. The included distant is primary however practical. It consists of fewer options than the distant on my cheaper Edifier, which has primary sound profile choices and music management.
There may be additionally the froth wedge which is used for those who place the speaker in your desk, permitting you to angle the audio system up in direction of you and scale back distortion from exhausting surfaces.
Connectivity
Like all the lively audio system from Edifier/Airpulse, you’ve a variety of connectivity choices, together with:
- USB
- Aux
- Optical
- Bluetooth with aptX
This speaker additionally has a subwoofer output. Airpulse don’t appear to checklist this within the specs for all of the audio system, however so far as I can inform, all of them have it.
Sound High quality
The vast majority of my testing was finished both with the built-in DAC and USB connectivity or my FiiO K5 Professional Desktop DAC. The Airpulse goes as much as 24bit 192Khz, whereas the FiiO can do 32bit and 384KHz. I can’t say I seen a lot distinction in high quality switching between the 2, and there appears to be little advantage of 32bit for listeners.
I briefly examined the opposite connectivity choices. Optical and Bluetooth efficiency was good. You’ve got aptX for Bluetooth, which offers higher high quality than SBC/AAC, however extra trendy codecs are lacking, corresponding to LDAC or aptX Adaptive (or HD).
On paper, there doesn’t appear to be a lot distinction between the A80 and A100. They’re rated for a similar energy output, they’ve the identical horn-loaded tweeter, and there’s not a large distinction in dimensions or weight.
The principle distinction appears to be the woofer design, and this has made an enormous distinction.
I used to be instantly impressed with the sound of the Airpulse A100. Whereas I favored the sound of the A80, I discovered the bass a bit subdued to my tastes. These have a a lot richer low finish whereas producing a extra detailed larger than my S3000 Professional.
This then permits the audio system to be a bit extra versatile than my Edifier audio system. They carry out nicely throughout all genres going from dance music and hip hop to harsher tones of punk. I additionally fairly just like the violin, and a few trendy violin music, like Black Violin, will be difficult for some audio system with the excessive notes of the violin and lows of the hip hop beats, however these dealt with the tracks with ease.
Mids are very good, and these excel with vocals no matter pitch and style. Female and male vocals all come by with glorious readability with out being overwhelmed by devices on the low or excessive finish.
With a number of audio system and earbuds, I discover that I’m fairly delicate to high-pitched frequencies and, most of the time, discover them fairly harsh. I do maybe discover these a little bit extra fatiguing to take heed to over a number of hours than my Edifier audio system. Nonetheless, plainly I can tolerate highs a lot better when the general high quality is great, like on these.
I additionally used these for TV, motion pictures and gaming. They carried out nicely throughout, and I might say film efficiency was glorious. Many audio system wrestle with motion pictures these days, having issue with dialogue and altering volumes. I discovered that I didn’t, or hardly ever, needed to modify the amount on these as scenes modified.
So far as quantity goes, I’ve a reasonably giant workplace. Utilizing USB connectivity and with the amount knob within the center, I sometimes have home windows set to twenty% for informal listening. Dialling as much as 50%, and I can nearly tolerate it sitting at my desk. I’ve had these dialled up louder when I’m pottering round upstairs, they usually present room-filling audio with out distortion.
Value and Different Choices
If you’re pleased with the white or purple colourway, then the Airpulse A100 is on the market for £660 on Amazon.
As I highlighted within the comparability above, the massive situation for me could be that it’s simple to persuade your self to spend an additional £100 or so on the subsequent mannequin up. I’d possible repeat this course of till I find yourself with the A300.
The Edifier S3000 Professional is a wonderful, extra reasonably priced possibility. They’re larger and extra highly effective audio system however much less detailed within the highs. These even have wi-fi connectivity, which has been vastly useful with my workplace set-up.
The extremely fashionable KEF LSX has been as little as £799 and advantages from wi-fi speaker connectivity and WiFi/Ethernet for streaming. Whereas I might love to do this speaker, I’ve learn many studies that it’s underwhelming with out a sub.
Klipsch has The Fives for £899, these have a horned tweeter for these detailed highs, they usually have superior connectivity, together with HDMI. A extra reasonably priced possibility is the Klipsch R-41PM for round £310.
Kanto seems to be a preferred powered bookshelf possibility. They’ve the YU6 at round £490 or the TUK for £729.
Total
I just like the Airpulse A100 audio system loads. It is among the uncommon occasions I’ve been in a position to recognize a bit extra emphasis on larger frequencies with out battling harshness.
I personally suppose these are considerably higher than the A80 and nicely price the additional cash.
It’s a powerful name to say if I desire these over my current Edifier S3000 Professional, it’s a shut name. If you’re somebody that may recognize the superior detailed highs that the horned tweeter can obtain, then I might strongly suggest contemplating this over the Edifier.
Final replace on 2022-10-18 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
