Review Date December 06, 2011

Audioengine 5+

  • Pros

    Audiophile-quality performance. Flat response speakers that provide refined bass performance. Attractive design.

  • Cons Remote has very few controls on it. No ability to adjust treble or bass. Not for bass lovers.
  • Bottom Line

    The fantastic, audiophile-friendly Audioengine 5+ speakers sound powerful without a thunderous subwoofer or booming bass.

By Tim Gideon

Performance and Conclusions
If you're looking for a thunderous 2.1 system, the system as it's sold is not exactly a deep bass lover's dream, though it can be augmented with a subwoofer. This isn't to say it lacks bass response—in fact, the low frequency response of the A5+ system sounds phenomenal. Audionegine's signature sound, however, like Etymotic's in the earphone world, is a clear, flat response, with no muddiness, and almost no exaggerations across the entire frequency range. The 5-inch woofers are extremely capable of handling deep bass frequencies without distorting at high volumes, but they are not likely to rattle the frames on your walls, at least not like a 2.1 system with a massive subwoofer, like the Cambridge SoundWorks MicroWorks II ($249.99, 4 stars). This places the A5+ firmly in the category of audiophile-worthy, powerful speakers.

The A5+ pair can get incredibly loud before even a hint of distortion appears. Even if you're using them in a home studio, it's highly unlikely you'll ever hear a hint of distortion, even on songs with deep bass like The Knife's "Silent Shout." Of course, at absolute maximum volume, you will likely not only encounter distortion, but you run the risk of damaging the speaker—and your ears. But to put this in perspective, at 50 Watts a channel, this system at half volume is likely going to be louder than many sub-$200 systems can get near their maximum volume levels. In other words: the distortion is not going to be an issue, unless you plan on using these speakers in weird, unadvisable ways.

On classical tracks, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," the tweeters sparkle as they deliver the mid and high frequency ranges with precision. The lower frequencies of the percussion and larger stringed instruments are less powerful and resonant than they are on other speakers. The effect, however, is stunning. This is how most high-end speakers used to sound, before booming bass was king. It's not that deep bass doesn't exist through the A5+; it's that, as it did for decades, it plays a dutiful supporting role to the crisp, enthralling mids and highs. Rock, hip hop, and electronic music sound excellent on the A5+, but it is instrumental music that shines the most. From a recording studio perspective, the lack of booming bass makes the A5+ an ideal reality check for your mixes—this type of flat response, with a focus on the clarity of the mids-to-highs, used to be what all studio monitors aspired to.

If $400 is too much for your budget, but the description of the flat response A5+ is to your liking, the Audioengine 2 follows a similar path, though it lacks the same powerful output and is a bit less capable with bass response. If serious bass is what you crave, you're most likely going to want a 2.1 system. Beyond this price range, the Focal XS ($599, 4 stars) sounds fantastic—it's a 2.1 system that still tries to adhere to some flat response standards. On the lower end of the price scale, Harman Kardon's SoundSticks III ($169.95, 4.5 stars) is a tried and true classic PC speaker set, and the Antec Soundscience Rockus 3D 2.1 PC Speaker System ($199.99, 4.5 stars) is a $200 gem. If $400 is not out of your budget, however, the Audioengine 5+ is a superb stereo speaker set that delivers audio in a classic, flat response style that is rare these days.

More Speaker reviews:
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•   iDevices iShower2
•   Audioengine B2
•   808 Audio Hex SL
•   Pyle Audio PVTTBT8
•  more

Tim Gideon
By Tim Gideon Contributing Editor, Audio


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