Potato score: 89.5

90%

Airpulse A100 #1
Airpulse A100 variant 1
Airpulse A100 variant 2
Airpulse A100 variant 3
Airpulse A100 variant 4
Airpulse A100 variant 5

Airpulse A100

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Built-in DAC
Bluetooth
USB Audio
Hi-Res Audio

Active Speaker System

OVERVIEW

Following the successful launch of the A200 and A300, the all new A100 miniature bookshelf speakers with a 5” woofer now joins the AIRPULSE active speaker famliy. The perfect combination of Hi-Res digital audio processing technology and an aesthetic of understated elegance creates a High-Fidelity audio system with intoxicating sound quality and visual appeal.


The A100 has an exquisite piano lacquer appearance, inheriting the appearance and sound characters of our flagship model 7001 near-field monitor speakers designed by Phil Jones. Using the same XMOS core as its bigger brother A300, this unassumingly small cabinet delivers outstanding performance beyond your expectation.


The A100 continues to use AIRPULSE’s unique horn-loaded aluminum ribbon tweeter and a proprietarily-designed 5” aluminum chassis low-distortion bass and mid-range driver. They are housed in an 18-mm thick high-strength MDF cabinet finished with attractive piano black(or red) lacquer.


The well-known AmericanTRANSPARENT cable is used in A100 for internal connection to ensure minimum signal loss. The active speaker has a high efficiency Class D amplifier with digital signal processing (DSP) system, powered by an also efficient power supply.


The system in the A100 supports multiple inputs, including Bluetooth, AUX, PC, USB and fiber optic. Frequency response ranges from 52Hz to 40KHz. It supports Hi-Res high-quality audio playback, and has obtained a Hi-Res official certification.


Available in black, white or red

Be Bold

Stand out with the design of our speakers that speak to the modern-day sensibilities with its clean sleek angles. Choose from the striking black or stand out red and elegant white. The bold highlighted cabinet from AirPulse adds a modern day feel to the décor of the room.


SOUND

Cabinet Construction

The A100 cabinet is built WITH 18-mm thick high-strength MDF finished with attractive piano lacquer. To further reduce coloration, the cabinet interior is fully lined with professional waved sound absorption material.


The oval shaped vent tube in the A100 is carefully designed to minimize wind noise.


Horn Loaded Ribbon Tweeter

The A100 horn loaded ribbon tweeter inherits the mechanism of the tweeter in our flagship 7001 near-field monitor speaker. The thin aluminum ribbon diaphragm has high sensitivity, superb transient response, extended frequency range and well-defined resolution.


The meticulously formulated horn shape produces directional and optimized high frequencies from the ribbon tweeter, so they are aimed at the listeners, minimizing unwanted effect from room reflection. This also leads to a superior imaging of the speaker. The result is full and three dimensional sound with each detail well defined.


5” Aluminum cone Low-Distortion Mid-woofer

The Mid-woofer is a 5” unit with a hard anodized aluminum alloy cone suspended in a heavy, ultra rigid cast magnesium alloy frame.


The Proprietary Aluminum Alloy Cone (PAAC) of mid-woofer was designed from painstaking analysis of all types of cone geometry and materials using a Klippel Laser Doppler Interferometer.


The 35mm diameter voice coil is unusually larger than most loudspeakers of this size. It has been shown that larger voice coils have less power compression because they run at a cooler operating temperature. Sonically this means a more realistic dynamic representation of the music. It is dynamics in music that gives it emotion and exhilaration. The cooler running temperature of the voice coil also has the side benefit of a more reliable loudspeaker since cooler voice coil means much less chance of speaker failure.


Most loudspeakers use round copper wire in the voice coil but we use a far better single layer edge-wound copper clad aluminum ribbon. Ribbon voice-coil wire gives more electrical conductor in the magnet gap and increases efficiency, power handling and lowers distortion.


It features with a under-hung motor structure, a high power neodymium motor to provide a high magnetic flux to cover the whole voice coil of the loudspeaker. This type of magnet structure completely energizes the whole voice coil with allowance for extreme cone excursion giving far better bass and considerably less inter-modulation distortion.


For uncompromised performance, the A100 woofer uses a hyper-rigid cast-magnesium alloy frame. Its rigidity greatly reduces speaker coloration; and its material helps to dissipate heat efficiently from the voice coil much faster than a typical steel speaker frame, which all in combination leads to increased dynamics and power handling and ultimately, a satisfying musical experience rarely gained from a system of this size price range.


Internal Wiring Made By TRANSPARENT

The A100 cabinet is built WITH 18-mm thick high-strength MDF finished with attractive piano lacquer. To further reduce coloration, the cabinet interior is fully lined with professional waved sound absorption material.


The oval shaped vent tube in the A100 is carefully designed to minimize wind noise.


Full Digital Amplifier

The power amplification part is built with 2 pieces of TAS5754 Class-D amplifier from Texas Instrument. This component is one of a handful of Class-D amplifiers in the market which combines high input sample rate support and high output PWM carrier frequency. These two characters are essential to achieve low background noise and low distortion. The up-to 192 KHz input sample rate support guarantees the entire link of digital processing run without any change of sample rate of signal. Its 768 KHz output PWM carrier frequency, twice to 384 KHz of traditional Class-D amplifier, is even more suitable to drive the high sensitivity ribbon tweeter. One TAS5754 is connected in bridge mode for left and right channel woofer and the other amp is connected in bridge mode for left and right channel ribbon tweeters.


The analog front end uses top-of-the-line components from Texas Instrument. With special configuration, the chipset work at 96 KHz to offer a frequency response up to 40 KHz. The wide range input frequency response guarantees thorough signal acquisition with very low distortion. To avoid cross-talk between the two analog ports, A100 uses relay instead of semiconductor switch.


The SPDIF receiver PCM9211 is also from Texas Instrument, which supports input sample rate up to 216 KHz. With very low output jitter, the unpacked audio signal can be delivered to XMOS processor with zero loss.


The power amplification part is built with 2 pieces of TAS5754 Class-D amplifier from Texas Instrument. This component is one of a handful of Class-D amplifiers in the market which combines high input sample rate support and high output PWM carrier frequency. These two characters are essential to achieve low background noise and low distortion. The up-to 192 KHz input sample rate support guarantees the entire link of digital processing run without any change of sample rate of signal. Its 768 KHz output PWM carrier frequency, twice to 384 KHz of traditional Class-D amplifier, is even more suitable to drive the high sensitivity ribbon tweeter. One TAS5754 is connected in bridge mode for left and right channel woofer and the other amp is connected in bridge mode for left and right channel ribbon tweeters.


The Bluetooth audio receiver is built on Qualcomm’s Bluetooth chipset, which supports APT-X decoder, and offers a far better audio playback quality than what a traditional Bluetooth SBC codec can present.


The system reserves a sub woofer signal output in case of situation that needs low frequency rendering with strong bass. Volume of the subwoofer can be adjusted by the master volume control


AIRPULSE A100 Active Bookshelf Speakersystemis a perfect combination of uniquely designedconventional loudspeaker and digital systemofXMOS.Meticulous tuning work enables theA100to accurately reproduce any type of music. Its XMOS integrated USB functionmakes life much easier, you can play high-quality sound sources without compression andthenenjoy lossless music by simply downloading and installingthesoftware packages.


A100’s independent trebleand bass adjustment function can help the user to easily set thebrightness ofhighs-frequency andtheamount of bassaccording to size of the listening environment.


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Overall Score 90/100

Rating for [object Object]

Nicely Roasted

The A100’s most striking trait is an extraordinarily open, detailed top end driven by its horn-loaded ribbon tweeter, pairing airy, extended treble clarity with very good midrange resolution. ecoustics praises its precise imaging and taut mid‑bass, noting the sub out for listeners who want deeper low end—ideal for refined desktop systems under $1,000.

ecoustics

"The treble is the real star of the show with the A100"

Pros

  • Airy, extended treble from the horn-loaded ribbon tweeter gives an open, highly detailed top end.
  • Very good midrange resolution and precise imaging — vocals and instruments remain timbrally accurate and well-paced.
  • Refined build and desktop-friendly design with multiple digital/analog inputs (USB‑B, optical, RCA) and aptX Bluetooth for flexible connectivity.

&

Cons

  • Limited low-frequency extension below ~50 Hz — a subwoofer is recommended for full sub-bass impact.
  • Convenience limitations: remote cannot adjust bass/treble and the active speaker is fixed (cannot be set as left), which may restrict setup options.

Sound Quality

90/100

Bass

87/100

5" woofer measured to ~52 Hz; reviewers note taut, well-defined mid-bass and good speed above ~50 Hz but limited extension below 50 Hz (sub out provided). For its 5" driver/cabinet the low end is very good though those wanting deep sub-bass will need a sub.

Mid

91/100

Reviewers praise very good midrange resolution, neutral tonal balance, and strong timbral accuracy for both male and female vocals; vocals have presence without forwardness and instruments like piano and strings show clarity and pacing.

Treble

92/100

Horn‑loaded ribbon tweeter repeatedly called the 'star'—extends cleanly, open and airy with lots of detail and little fatigue; some listeners may find the top end slightly aggressive, but overall refinement and spaciousness are highlighted.

Soundstage Imaging

91/100

Reviewers describe an extraordinarily open and spacious top end, convincing width and depth, and precise imaging where instrument movement is easy to track; on-desktop presentation places musicians between the speakers as expected.

Dynamics

90/100

Noted for fast transient response, high sensitivity, and strong detail/speed—punchy mid-bass and lively top end give the A100 a dynamic, immediate presentation within its form factor.

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Build Quality

90/100

0.75" MDF cabinets with anti-resonance film and piano-lacquer finishes; substantial weight (~12 lb each) and refined finishes lead reviewers to call the fit/finish sophisticated and justified at the asking price.

Features Connectivity

80/100

Passive baseline applied. Review evidence (active device) shows USB‑B, optical, two RCA inputs, aptX Bluetooth, and a subwoofer output; remote limitations noted (no bass/treble control from remote) and active speaker handedness fixed.

Value for Money

89/100

Reviewers state there are few desktop options under $1,000 that match the A100's open presentation and mid/tweeter performance; described as a compelling option versus peers, though price is described as 'high asking price'.

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