Airpulse A80 A compact Hi-Res active stereo speaker system with horn-loaded ribbon tweeters, 4.5-inch aluminium mid-woofers, 100W RMS amplification, digital inputs, Bluetooth 5.0 and a subwoofer output. The Airpulse A80 is designed as a complete small-room or desktop hi-fi system rather than a conventional passive speaker. Amplification, digital processing and source switching are built into the active speaker, with the second speaker connected by the supplied speaker cable. That removes the need for a separate integrated amplifier while keeping a proper left/right stereo layout. Airpulse positions the A80 as its compact entry into plug-and-play hi-fi. The engineering is more ambitious than the size suggests: a horn-loaded aluminium ribbon tweeter, a 4.5-inch hard-anodised aluminium mid-woofer in a cast magnesium frame, XMOS digital processing and separate Class-D amplifier channels for treble and mid/bass. Ribbon Tweeter in a Compact Active Speaker The unusual part of the A80 is the high-frequency driver. The horn-loaded ribbon tweeter follows the design approach used in larger Airpulse models. The light aluminium ribbon and controlled horn geometry are intended to provide fast high-frequency response while directing more energy towards the listener and reducing some unwanted room reflection. That makes listening height and toe-in worth getting right. On a desk, the included 8-degree isolation pads help angle the speakers towards ear level. On stands, aim to place the tweeters close to seated ear height and give the pair enough separation to form a proper stereo image. 4.5-Inch Aluminium Mid-Woofer Small cabinet, serious driver construction. The 4.5-inch mid-woofer uses a hard-anodised aluminium cone, a rigid cast magnesium alloy frame and a 30mm voice coil. Airpulse specifically uses the larger voice coil to reduce power compression as the driver is worked harder. The published frequency response is 52Hz-40kHz. That tells you where the A80 fits: it can cover a lot of music on its own in a small system, but it is still a compact speaker. If deep electronic bass, large-scale cinema effects or strong low-frequency output are priorities, the dedicated subwoofer output is there for a reason. 100W RMS Active Amplification and XMOS Processing The amplifier and crossover are designed as part of the speaker rather than added later. Total rated output is 100W RMS, split as 40W per channel for the mid-woofers and 10W per channel for the ribbon tweeters. Digital processing is handled by an XMOS platform, and Airpulse supports digital input sample rates up to 192kHz over USB and optical. The practical benefit of an active design is system simplicity. You do not have to choose an amplifier that suits the drivers or allocate shelf space for it. The trade-off is that the active speaker needs mains power and the supplied speaker-to-speaker cable needs a clear route between the cabinets. Connections That Suit a Real Small System Useful wired inputs matter more than treating Bluetooth as the whole system. The A80 provides AUX, PC, USB and optical inputs alongside Bluetooth 5.0. That gives it sensible options for a computer, streamer, CD transport with digital output, television with optical output or a conventional analogue source. A turntable can also be used, but the A80 does not provide a phono input. The turntable therefore needs its own built-in phono stage or a separate phono preamplifier. For television use, note that the connection is optical rather than HDMI ARC/eARC, so TV remote volume behaviour depends on the way the system is configured. Small Room and Desktop Placement Active electronics simplify the system, but they do not remove normal loudspeaker setup. The cabinets measure 140 x 250 x 220mm, which makes the A80 easy to accommodate on a desk, credenza or compact pair of stands. Keep the two speakers at similar heights and distances from the listening position, avoid pushing one into a corner while the other sits in free space, and use the supplied isolation pads when their angle is useful. If a subwoofer is added, placement and crossover integration become the next priority. The goal is to extend the system below the A80 rather than make the bass sound as though it comes from a separate box. Key Features Hi-Res Audio certified active stereo speaker system Horn-loaded aluminium ribbon tweeters 4.5-inch hard-anodised aluminium mid-woofers with 30mm voice coils 100W RMS total output XMOS digital processing USB and optical digital inputs supporting up to 192kHz Bluetooth 5.0 plus AUX and PC analogue inputs Dedicated subwoofer output 18mm MDF cabinets 8-degree acoustic isolation pads included Specifications Specification Details System Two-way active stereo speakers Tweeter Horn-loaded ribbon tweeter Mid-Woofer 4.5-inch aluminium cone, 30mm voice coil Total Output 100W RMS Treble Amplification 10W + 10W Mid/Bass Amplification 40W + 40W Frequency Response 52Hz-40kHz Signal-to-Noise Ratio ≥90dB(A) Inputs AUX, PC, USB, Optical, Bluetooth 5.0 Digital Input Support Up to 192kHz via USB and optical Subwoofer Output Yes Dimensions (W x H x D) 140 x 250 x 220mm each Net Weight 9.3kg per pair Detailed Technical Specifications For those who like to drag out all the useful bits View full technical specificationsAmplification and Processing Amplifier system: Digital amplification with XMOS processor Treble power: 10W + 10W Mid/bass power: 40W + 40W Bluetooth: Version 5.0 Drivers and Cabinet Tweeter: Horn-loaded aluminium ribbon Mid-woofer: 4.5-inch aluminium cone with cast magnesium alloy frame and 30mm voice coil Cabinet: 18mm MDF Connectivity and Included Items Inputs: AUX, PC, USB, optical, Bluetooth Subwoofer output: Line-level sub output Included: Remote control, two bases/isolation pads, power cable, speaker connecting cable, USB cable and analogue audio cable; supplied contents can vary by market, so confirm if a particular cable is essential Important Notes The A80 is an active speaker system; one cabinet contains the amplification and requires mains power. There is no dedicated phono input. A turntable requires a built-in or external phono stage. Television connection is via optical rather than HDMI ARC/eARC. The 52Hz lower frequency specification is appropriate for a compact speaker; use the subwoofer output if deeper bass is required. The Audio Experts Take We have the A80 on our showroom floor, and the reason it earns its place is straightforward: it gives someone a proper two-speaker hi-fi layout without asking them to find room for an amplifier and a stack of source components. The ribbon tweeter, 4.5-inch aluminium mid-woofer and 100W active amplifier package are the interesting engineering, but the buying decision is really about how you plan to use them. USB or optical is the neatest route for a computer or digital source, Bluetooth is there for convenience, and the subwoofer output gives the system somewhere to go if you want more low bass. For a desk or small room, get the placement right first. These are compact loudspeakers, not background computer speakers.
