AirPulse A100 Review - Active Speaker System
Active speakers the long hated words in audiophile circles. But perhaps that’s not true lately because instead of repurposing existing speakers and cramming in an amp we are getting some lovely bespoke designs. Today we are reviewing the Airpulse A100 the little brother of the Airpulse A200 and 300 models. With a lower price but with the promise of big sound, let’s see how they perform.
The Concept
The Airpulse A100 is an active speaker meaning it has almost everything you need to get going out of the box. The speakers have their own internal amplification which means no messing around with external components. Effectively everything is bundled together. In that box, you will also find s rather heavy-duty and good-looking interconnect along with a power brick and various other connection cables.
The speaker design is a little bit unusual. As I mentioned in the intro active speakers were, for a long time, not taken seriously by companies who preferred to put their best efforts into passive models. Therefore it was usually the same bundled crap with different labels. Silk dome tweeter check, bio-cellulose woofer check, rinse and repeat.
Airpulse is taking things a little more seriously and bringing more premium architecture. The tweeter for example is a horn-loaded ribbon driver, the same one used in the Airpulse 7000 flagship speaker. The 5inch cone is thin and lightweight aluminum to cut down on distortion through stiffness. The whole thing is then put inside a dense 18mm thick MDF cabinet with a high gloss lacquer finish.
Specifications
Highs: Horn Loaded Ribbon Tweeter
Mid-Woofer: 5-inch Aluminum Cone Underhung Design Neo. Power Mid-Woofer
Amplifier System: Digital Amplifier With Xmos Processor
Power Output: L/R(Treble)10W+10W, L/R(Woofer): 40W+40W
Frequency Range: 52Hz-40KHz
Input Mode: AUX, PC, USB, Optical, Bluetooth.
Sub Out: 1200mV(max)
Mains Voltage: 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz
Cabinet Size (WxHxD): 160x283x255mm
Net Weight: 11 Kg(24.2lbs)
Gross Weight: 13.4 Kg(29.5lbs)
Aesthetic and Build Impressions
The A100 is one of the prettiest speakers I had come through the office in recent months. The small enclosure size is very well finished and to a standard that makes them stand out as a luxury product as opposed to the budget garbage I usually find on active speakers.
The cabinets are finished in high gloss that does attract fingerprints and show dust but it looks different and classy. The red version is the one I would pick but I liked the black of my review unit as well.
The front does look quite special with the horn of the tweeter catching the eye immediately. The proportions and symmetry make them look great as a set which is something edifier fails to get right with their IR receivers on their active speakers.
Connectivity
The Airpulse A100 has excellent connectivity with Blutooth support for APTX so you can play music at higher bitrates. The standard auxiliary inputs were there as were PC and USB ports to connect your computer but we also have fiber optic.
The Bluetooth strength was optimal to about 50ft but that would degrade as expected due to environmental factors.
The back panel of the speaker is where you will find all the connectors but also where you find three adjustable pots. There is one for treble another for bass and then you get volume control. I would still advise using a full eq system on your input device but in a pinch, these are good for dialing in the level of bass.
Sound
I think the sound on active speakers is where people who just “like to have a go” at something get tripped up. It’s so easy to categorize audio equipment and too often people will compare something like this with every other speaker at the same price. But are you forgetting this is fully loaded? That it comes with an amp, receiver, and cables all in one go. That it’s a plug-and-play solution. So where do we place the performance? Well for me a set of Emotiva B1s will handily outperform them and cost a third of the price. But then I’m messing about with amps and other factors.
Realistically there’s only one other speaker I’m going to put them up against and that is the Kanto TUK, we reviewed the TUK a few weeks ago and it’s an exceptional performer. I’m sorry to say that the A100 just don’t keep up, nor do they look as good as those Kantos. However, it’s very marginal that the difference and the way the A100 presents using a horn may better suit some people’s tastes. For me, the low-end performance of the TUK was a bit deeper and therefore more enjoyable with my music library.
Looking at the A100 alone the result is impressive there is something special about horns and ribbon tweeters. it creates a sound that is open and spacious and very capable of producing high notes with a clean sparkle. Despite that they are not overly bright, I would instead just call them clean.
The midrange is very clear and uncolored almost reference-like. The sound is accurate and true to your sound and it’s very free from distortion. Moving into rock tracks from the likes of Dire Straits and Deep Purple guitars sounded amazing. The definition and weight of the notes created distinct separation from other instruments in this band making them easy to place
Lows are of course limited by the size of the speaker. There is only so much a 5-inch driver, especially one made of aluminum, can deliver in regards to sub-bass. The bass overall is very clear and when the volume is pushed in retains composure. It’s tight and punchy with very good speed. The quality of the mid-bass is a high point and that makes me think it’s very well worth spending a little extra to get a dedicated subwoofer to provide that extra layer of depth.
Negatives
Bass lacks impact in sub-bass region
Expensive compared to passive speakers
Positives
A high end all in one audio solution
Low distortion at high levels
Crystalline and detailed treble
Stunning finish and great build quality
Final Thoughts
To round out my impressions, I like them, I rate them but I would buy the Kanto TUK instead. The TUK is a truly beautiful piece that looks great in any environment and for me, the sound is marginally better due to the deeper response in the sub-bass region. The A100 are no less a great speaker, especially when we are talking about active models but for me, while they get my recommendation I find myself in love with something else.
Official Website of the Airpulse A100: www.airpulseaudio.com
