Audioengine A5+ Quick Review

Audioengine A5+ Quick Review

Thanks to Advanced Headphones www.advancedheadphones.co.uk for the sample (AMP3’s sister site)

Brief:  Powerful, powered party speakers.

Price: £288

Specification: Type: 2.0 powered (active) bookshelf-style speaker system, Power Output: 150W peak power total (50W RMS / 75W peak per channel), AES Inputs: 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo mini-jack, RCA L/R Outputs: RCA L/R audio (full-range, adjustable), USB Type A (power/charging) Voltages: 115/240V, 50/60Hz manually switchable, Amplifier Type: Dual Class AB monolithic, Drivers: 5" Kevlar woofers, 20mm silk dome tweeters, Signal-to-noise: >95dB (typical A-weighted) THD: <0.05% at all power settings, Crosstalk: <50db, Frequency response: 50Hz-22kHz +/-1.5dB, Input impedance: 10K ohms unbalanced Protection: Protection: Output current limiting, thermal over-temperature, power on/off transient protection, replaceable external main fuse, Dimensions (each speaker HWD): 10.75" (27cm) x 7" (18cm) x 7.75" (20cm) Weight (LEFT speaker): 15.4 lbs (7 kg) Weight (RIGHT speaker): 9.6 lbs (4.4 kg)

Accessories:  Included Accessories: (1) Remote control
(1) Speaker wire (16AWG), 3.75 meters (~12.3ft)
(1) Detachable power cord
(1) Mini-jack audio cable, 2 meters (~6.5ft)
(1) RCA to RCA audio cable, 2 meters (~6.5ft)
(2) Cloth speaker bag
(1) Cloth cable bag
(1) Setup Guide
(1) Product line brochure

Build Quality:  Solid, weighty and feel very well constructed.

Aesthetics:  Colour choice is up to you but they look a quality piece of equipment.  The finish on them it top notch if you like that gloss look.  The minimal use of cables too is a visual boon.

Sound:  Party party , party.  That’s how these speakers are tuned and it’s what they want to do all the time.  I found it rather annoying as most of the time my music listening is while I work and these just got on my nerves.  I didn’t want to crank the volume and dance I wanted a nice, smooth gentle sound and these don’t do that.  They are boisterous and rambunctious.  The bass is fast, hard hitting and punchy.  I want softer and more relaxed.  These would roar and slap you in the face for attention.  The mids in comparison while good were a bit too liquid and they got lost in the melee.  In vocal heavy songs this really frustrated me.  The highs were decent but tuned to be crispy and playful rather than accurate and delicate.  They got on my nerves with the exuberance.  These are really rather V shaped and in a party machine that’s great, it’s probably just what you want but I don’t want that, i want something more grown up and mature sounding.  While I can’t deny these are very capable they are tuned to live in an 18 year olds room not mine.

Value:  Good speaker and amp with a remote, you want this much this good for less i don’t believe.

Pro’s:  Super minimalist, massive power, party machine par excellence

Con’s:  Party sound whether you want to party or not. Too excitable.