Audioengine 5+ Powered Speakers Preview

As more and more people become interested in home theater and high-end audio, they start to become less tolerant of terrible sound. If you need an example of terrible sound, look no further than many of the speaker systems that come packaged with computers. Even the add-on ones that supposedly have a subwoofer with two small cubed speakers are generally awful. The fact is that physics can't be tricked, no matter the claims of some companies. A real speaker needs internal volume.

The Audioengine 5 speakers were a big hit with people looking for good sound for their offices. The price was right as was the audio quality. Audioengine is building upon that solid foundation with their new 5+ speakers (A5+). Like the previous A5 speakers, the A5+ speakers are self-powered with an internal class AB 150 watt amp in the left speaker. The right speaker is connected to the amp by normal speaker wire.

You can easily connect your computer to the 3.5mm stereo mini-jack or the red/white RCA connections. The speakers are rear ported from a slot port near the top of the speakers. There are red/white RCA (full-range, adjustable) outputs as well as a USB Type A connection for power/charging, a potentially useful add-on.

Flipping the speakers around, you'll notice a 20mm (.79") silk-dome tweeter with neodymium magnets. The 5" Kevlar woofers should provide plenty of bass. The speakers are rated down to 50Hz which Audioengine claims "the low end from the A5+ is real bass, very near to the originally-recorded music." The cabinets are crafted out of 1" thick MDF and finished in Satin Black, Hi-Gloss White, or Solid Carbonized Bamboo. Audioengine has also conveniently located the volume on the front of the left speaker rather than on the back.

If you are wondering what the difference are from the A5 to the A5+, Audioengine was nice enough to list them for you:

• advance tuned cabinet with rear-ported waveguide
• improved thermal management
• upgraded speaker connector binding posts
• remote control
• variable preamp line out
• RCA and mini-jack inputs
• new stand-mount 1/4" threaded inserts

The 1/4" threaded inserts are located on the bottom of the speaker and are a nice feature. An office can be a much more active area than a home theater. It is far too easy to knock over a speaker on a stand when trying to plug in a new piece of gear or device. The A5+ speakers are a space-saving 7" wide by 7.75" deep giving you big sound in a reasonably sized box.

The rear port on the A5+ speakers is a bit concerning as office speakers often are placed near a wall. A front port would have been preferable. Also, there is no way to adjust the balance from the amp. While speakers on a desk are usually placed equidistant from the listener, it isn't always the case. We'd prefer if they each had individual volume controls or if there was a balance knob. Lastly, while we understand that you can use the 3.5mm connection for your iDevice and the USB port to charge at the same time, it seems like the next version of these speakers should allow a direct USB connection.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the Audioengine A5+ speakers are going to be a hit. At $400, you are getting a lot of speaker for not a lot of money. With other speakers available offering a fraction of the performance and convenience for near the same amount of money, we can't see why you wouldn't put these on your short list. Multiple connections, the ability to charge your USB powered devices, and a front mounted volume control makes the A5+ very attractive. Add to that 1" MDF construction, a 22mm soft-dome tweeter paired with a 5" Kevlar woofer, and a response down to 50Hz and the A5+ hits all the right notes. Including a threaded insert to connect them directly to stands for safety means desk space isn't even a concern any longer.

For more information, please visit www.audioengineusa.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.