Popular Post DuckToller Posted November 24, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 24, 2020 There had been members suggesting more reviews on active bookshelf speakers after the Airpulse vs Kanto reviews and when Airpulse asked me about reviewing the new A80s I felt it would make sense to report about them here in the forums. Last week I have received the fancy blue coated A80 active desktop speakers from Airpulse, they are the smaller sibling of the already reviewed A100 and sell for 699 USD. These two may have some smaller technical differences only, while using the same technical platform and design idea of the Airpulse series, however their smaller footprint 140x220 mm makes a tangible difference on my desk. And this color just makes me smile ... I'll test them during the coming 4 weeks, with some measurements included. The details may be found in this thread here. If I get lucky, I may have a pair of their new A300 pro active bookshelf monitors here as well before Xmas. I believe they will make a nice pairing with iFi NEO iDSD DAC/Pre/HP amp with balanced outputs. The A300 pro are the TOTL model in the Airpulse range for 1999 USD. They come with 130 watt Class D amplification per channel & can be driven wireless through the feed of the digital equipped active cabinet or hard wired via balanced or unbalanced inputs as both are active speakers. In principle they should have the best performance of the line, however they aren't any more desktop speakers and will substitute for a while the B&W 805s on the speaker stands in the main system. More to come ... cheers, Tom jcbenten and opus101 1 1 Link to comment
nocrapman Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 These look great. Where does one buy them in the US? Link to comment
DuckToller Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 Have a look at edifier.com Link to comment
nocrapman Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Thanks! I like the design/look. Not sure about the amp and electronics all crammed into one cabinet and a connecting wire design. Which of these have you heard? Link to comment
DuckToller Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 The white ones have been reviewed here: The blue ones just arrived and will get a review during the next weeks. First impression - sublime - not so differnent even they have a smaller cabinet, but bias rulez .. and that color helps her a lot ;-). The inside tech differs in the BT chip only. It is now BT 5.0, Plus the 4.5 woofer is reported to be overhang design vs the A100-300 pro are using underhang designs. Personally I did not evaluate that information for the moment. The horn loaded ribbon tweeter measures identical in size. cheers, Tom nocrapman 1 Link to comment
DuckToller Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 Airpulse has started its festive promotion in Europe & UK, up to 30% rebate on the older models ... https://eu.airpulsepro.com and https://gb.airpulsepro.com If I 'll get hands on US/CAN promotion (usually by edifier.com) it will occur here as well .. Best, Tom Link to comment
nocrapman Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 if they run that promo hear I might bite... and get that 100 Link to comment
DuckToller Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 18 hours ago, nocrapman said: if they run that promo hear I might bite... and get that 100 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EUq4wyaUwAIQVWd?format=jpg&name=small This was last April ... Link to comment
DuckToller Posted December 6, 2020 Author Share Posted December 6, 2020 Some more impressions from the photo session in the woods :-) She's a beauty 😍😍😍 Link to comment
nocrapman Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 Great pics in the wild! You must really like her!! Link to comment
DuckToller Posted December 7, 2020 Author Share Posted December 7, 2020 46 minutes ago, nocrapman said: Great pics in the wild! You must really like her!! Actually my first creative idea was about bringing her/them in a cabriolet to the French Atlantic coast (Bretagne or Ile de Ré), but neither the weather nor the lockdown in France (in Nov 1km/1h - now 30km/3h) would have allowed me to exercise that, so I went for some scenery in the local turf I am walking during weektimes with my dogs. However, that is obviously purely aesthetics. From the audio perfomance perspective I am as well taken into sweet enjoyable custody by these speakers. I plan to report more during this week. I am very curious if the measurements - I have planned for the next weekend to proceed them- will prove me right or wrong. Cheers, Tom Link to comment
nocrapman Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 Hey Tom, I love your passion... What are your reference speakers that u use to compare/measure these beauties to? Link to comment
DuckToller Posted December 7, 2020 Author Share Posted December 7, 2020 The reference in the nearfield will be the A100 which I measured in May & July together with the Kanto TUK The same conditions will be applied to the A80 measurements. Link to comment
DuckToller Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 The A300 pro have arrived! They are driven in "balanced input" mode by the iFi NEO iDSD balanced outputs and opening up in the low end & for details quite nicely over the first listening period this evening. These active speakers that are driven independently by 130w per channel can be used with different digital entries (USB/BT/COAX/TOSLINK) and balanced/unbalanced inputs. Small caveat, the smart and elegant remote control does not work when using analog inputs. Tomorrow I will change their "souterrain" (basement): I got lucky and received - obviously as one of the last parcels from the UK before the borders were shut down, nine other parcels were re-shipped to the manufacturer - some Custom Design FS-106 speaker stands from Newcastle-upon-Tyne provenance. I was eying these purpose made stands for a long time and made contact with the manufacturer first in 2014 but decided for another solution. When I re-designed my listening space this summer, my listening position came about 75 cm closer to my speakers and I found the height of my listening chair not any longer sufficient for the 80 cm stands I have in use. Consequently, I've built a platform of 15 cm height for compensation but have found this solution less and less comfortable during time. With a height of just 610 mm the FS-106 may allow me to perfectly align standard standmounts like the A300 pro with my ears (Thumbs pressed!) Here are the first images of the A300 pro (more to follow) ... Porsche 356 B (1961) courtesy of Burago and especially chosen for the usual suspects falling for red sports car and German manufacturing. A healthy and enchanting festive season to all of you !!! Link to comment
DuckToller Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 I should have mentioned: The A300 pro and the A80 are designs by Phil Jones! Link to comment
Rexp Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 1 hour ago, DuckToller said: I should have mentioned: The A300 pro and the A80 are designs by Phil Jones! Nice! Do they have a grill? Link to comment
DuckToller Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 I am afraid not! Rexp 1 Link to comment
DuckToller Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 Just posted my mini review about the A80 in the blog enjoy reading ... Tom Link to comment
Mick13 Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Just got my a80s and they sound great ! I was hoping to get some tips on where to get a longer speaker connecting cable and was also wondering if anyone could recommend a powered subwoofer to pair with them. Thanks! DuckToller 1 Link to comment
Noah H. Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 On 11/26/2020 at 1:06 PM, DuckToller said: Airpulse has started its festive promotion in Europe & UK, up to 30% rebate on the older models ... https://eu.airpulsepro.com and https://gb.airpulsepro.com If I 'll get hands on US/CAN promotion (usually by edifier.com) it will occur here as well .. Best, Tom Any update on a promotion for the US? I held off getting the A100 during the promo last year because I knew the A80 was coming. After reading your review it sounds like I made the right choice. I was hoping they would sound just as good in a smaller package. Link to comment
DuckToller Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 Salut Noah, last year's biggest promotion had been around Easter, you may want to look here: https://www.edifier.com/us/en/airpulse or you may send a request about US distribution & upcoming promotions to their E-mail: [email protected] I'd guess readers will be happy if you share your information here. Good luck! Link to comment
DuckToller Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 On 1/30/2021 at 1:54 AM, Mick13 said: Just got my a80s and they sound great ! I was hoping to get some tips on where to get a longer speaker connecting cable and was also wondering if anyone could recommend a powered subwoofer to pair with them. Thanks! Very happy that you share my experience!!! Don't be disappointed if the soundstage crashes if you have them too widely separated. For the xtra long speaker cables I'd tend to advise you to enquire with Airpulsepro, too. For a sub, you may want to look at REL T/5i Link to comment
kowallosu Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 Hey, thoughts about A300 pro? I have sent you a private message. Please check it :) Link to comment
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