Airpulse A80
Airpulse A80 brings mature, organic bass and a broad desktop presentation, wrapped in compact walnut cabinetry with a horn-loaded ribbon tweeter. Audio Appraisal praised its detailed, dynamic and neutral character, while What Hi-Fi? noted smooth, easy-listening treble. USB, optical, Bluetooth aptX, RCA and sub out make it a feature-rich active speaker for source-conscious setups.
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Just Okay
Sound Quality
78/100
Build Quality
88/100
Value for Money
75/100
Pros
Mature, organic bass with surprisingly substantial weight for such compact speakers.
Extensive connectivity includes analogue and digital inputs, USB, Bluetooth aptX and a subwoofer output.
Compact, attractive 18mm MDF walnut cabinets are well finished and desktop-friendly.
Cons
Timing, dynamics and frequency integration can sound disjointed, particularly with complex music.
Midrange and treble refinement varies by source; reviewers noted edgy or clinical upper frequencies and limited ribbon-tweeter finesse.
The lightweight remote is awkward to use, and the optical connection may be insecure with some third-party cables.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 78/100
The A80 delivers a broad, energetic presentation with particularly satisfying bass weight for a compact desktop speaker, but the reviews disagree sharply on its overall refinement. Audio Appraisal found it detailed, powerful and neutral, whereas What Hi-Fi? and The Audiophile Man heard disjointed timing, limited punch and a presentation that varies substantially with source and connection.
Bass
82/100
For its 4.5-inch mid-woofer, the A80 produces surprisingly substantial and mature bass. Audio Appraisal found it strong without sounding artificially boosted, while The Audiophile Man praised its organic, melodic bass character; What Hi-Fi?, however, found it tubby and insufficiently integrated with the rest of the range.
Mid
76/100
There is worthwhile vocal expression in favourable setups, with The Audiophile Man hearing an engaging emotional quality and Audio Appraisal retaining midrange detail even at low volume. But both What Hi-Fi? and The Audiophile Man reported an edgy or clinical upper midrange, limited insight, and a lack of cohesion with the treble.
Treble
78/100
The ribbon tweeter is generally free from obvious harshness through better wired sources, and Audio Appraisal noted preserved high-frequency detail plus strong off-axis behaviour. Still, What Hi-Fi? found the highs less rich than expected and detached from the mids, while The Audiophile Man felt the treble lacked finesse and could become thin or harsh over Bluetooth.
Soundstage Imaging
79/100
The A80 can cast a notably wide, spacious stage that The Audiophile Man described as grand and never crowded. Image control is less convincing than the width suggests, however, with that reviewer also finding the soundstage difficult to control and What Hi-Fi? hearing a detached, poorly organised presentation.
Dynamics
76/100
Audio Appraisal was impressed by the A80's dynamic, high-volume performance, and The Audiophile Man heard useful drive and rhythmic focus on piano. What Hi-Fi? came to the opposite conclusion, citing limited expression, little punch and uncertain handling of complex rhythms, so results appear programme- and source-dependent.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
The cabinets use 18mm MDF, walnut veneer and internal damping, and Audio Appraisal considered the speakers extremely well made for their appearance and price. The Audiophile Man also found the walnut finish presentable; the main weak point is the lightweight remote, which What Hi-Fi? found frustratingly awkward to open.
Value for Money
75/100
At roughly $599 in the US, the A80 offers extensive connectivity, amplification and an unusual ribbon-tweeter design, and Audio Appraisal felt the finish exceeded expectations for the money. Nevertheless, both What Hi-Fi? and The Audiophile Man explicitly judged it overpriced, arguing that cheaper speakers are more enjoyable or that its sonic strengths are too incomplete to justify the premium.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Tweeter
- Horn Loaded Ribbon Tweeter
- Amplifier System
- Digtal Amplifer With Xmos Processor
- Frequency Range
- 52Hz-40KHz
- Input Mode
- AUX, PC, USB, Optical, Bluetooth (The USB, Optical Inputs Support Up to 192KHz Input Sample Rate)
- Mains Voltag
- AC 100-240 V /50-60 Hz
- Net Weight
- 10Kg(22lbs)
- Gross Weight
- 11.6Kg(25.6lbs)
- Mid-Woofer
- 4.5 inch Aluminum Cone 30mm VC Mid-Woofer
- Power Output
- L/R(Treble):10W+10W, L/R(Woofer): 40W+40W
- Signal-Noise Ratio
- L/R:≥90dB(A)
- Input Sensitivity
- AUX:450±50mV PC:550±50mV, USB:400±50mFFs, Optical:400±50mFFs Bluetooth:500±50mFFs Sub Out:1200mV Max
- Cabinet Size (WxHxD)
- 140x255x238mm
- Packing Size(LxWxH)
- 455x312x339mm
Manufacturer's Description — Airpulse
A80 Active Speaker System
OVERVIEW
The A80 continues to use AIRPULSE's unique horn-loaded aluminum ribbon tweeter and a proprietarily-designed 4.5 inch aluminum cone mid-woofer driver. They arehoused in an 18mm thick high-strength MDF cabinet with beautiful walnut finish.The well-known American TRANSPARENT cable is used in A80 for internal connection to ensure minimum signal loss. The active speaker has a high efficiency Class D amplifier with digital signal processing (XMOS) system, powered by an also efficient power supply.The system in the A80 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.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Airpulse A80
- B&H Photo — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Salon One Audio — in-store — Ormond Beach, Florida, United States (website)
- WestCoast Hifi — online and in-store — Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia (website)
- Wilbrand Acoustics — in-store — Nordhorn, Niedersachsen, Germany (website)
- Yukimu — in-store — 41, Tokyo, Japan (website)