great budget speakers - audioengine a5

JP78 · « **on:** 9 Sep 2009, 07:56 pm »

for those of you that haven't heard these, the audioengine a5 speakers are spectacular. all you really need to add is a source; i prefer a tubed dac as mine.

for $350usd, the sound quality out of these guys is stunning! i have a pair for the bedroom and couldn't be happier.

best,

jp

Mariusz · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Sep 2009, 08:03 pm »

I have heard their smaller speakers and were equally impressed considering the size.
Surly they have used EQ and crossover tweaking to get some bass out of such a small enclosures but results were pretty good regardless.

Mariusz

JohnR · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 12:52 am »

Hah - I hadn't thought of active speakers for cheap and cheerful systems but those look like a great option. So with this setup here:

you would just somehow tell itunes to stream out to the express? (Sorry if this is a dumb question).

TomS · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 01:47 am »

Yeah John, that's exactly what my daughter did at college with her A5's. That way everyone that comes in to their room with iTunes can stream their own to the A5's or just drop in an iPod on top. Really nice for "shared" environments for sure. Tom

JP78 · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 02:25 am »

john you can stream directly off an ipod touch as well..of course using the adapter's d/a conversion i'm not sure you get the same quality as a nice stand-alone dac. theoretically though, with the wireless adapter + ipod (or iphone) you're looking at 700usd all in with a slick remote interface!

mgalusha · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Sep 2009, 11:05 am »

I've always wanted to hear these and wanted to buy a pair, unfortunately at that time they were back ordered. Since I couldn't get any I picked up a pair of Mackie MR5 powered monitors. They have an internal active crossover and dual amps. They can be had for around $300 a pair if you shop around. No idea how they compare to the Audio Engine but the little MR5's sound surprisingly good. I have them on my desk at work and listen to them a lot without much complaint.

JLM · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Sep 2009, 10:00 am »

Years ago Paradigm offered passive and active versions of a couple of their top of the line speakers. I spent most of an afternoon with the Studio 20 standmounts ($800/pair small 2-ways) and the Active 20 standmounts (very similar design $1600/pair).

There was no comparison. Allowing each channel of amplification to directly "see" the simple load of a single driver and elimination of the high power level crossover had huge benefits:

Frequency response was much flatter (and I've never thought of myself as one to notice this particular aspect of playback).

Dynamics were greatly improved, that alone made the cost differential worth while IMO. And these puppies played loud.

But the most incredible improvement was in bass extension, as they added least one octave to the Studio 20s. Passersby couldn't believe what they heard. No sub needed for music, period, end of discussion.

Overall the performance rivaled the Paradigm Studio 80 floorstanders (that cost the same without amplification) but these had a more coherent sound (with only two drivers versus 3 or 4, I don't recall now). Paradigm also offered Active 40s (larger standmounts with a 2.5 design for $2,000/pair) for the A/V crowd who didn't want a sub or music playback in large rooms.

The obvious advantages of active design instantly became one of three or four audio epiphanies for me.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 11:59 am »

I've been looking at these and I like the fact that they have two inputs and RCA line outs. There's even a USB charge port! The cabinets are 1" thick MDF so the build quality looks decent too. I've found a brand new pair for $250 someone just received as an unwanted gift. They should arrive early next week

TomS · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 12:15 pm »

Quote from: Wind Chaser on 23 Oct 2009, 11:59 am

I've been looking at these and I like the fact that they have two inputs and RCA line outs. There's even a USB charge port! The cabinets are 1" thick MDF so the build quality looks decent too. I've found a brand new pair for $250 someone just received as an unwanted gift. They should arrive early next week

You are absolutely gonna love these! I've posted elsewhere on them, but the pair I bought for my college age daughter has been fantastic.

Tom

chgolatin2 · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 07:27 pm »

I heard a pair at an electronic store I was impress to say the least, very good sounding, price is right and you can add an ipod to it and take your sounds with you. Overall for the price I dont think these little gems could be beat, a better option thought, would be the bamboo enclosure but you'll pay a lil bit more...

lcrim · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 07:49 pm »

It should be pointed out that putting the amplifier into the speaker makes it subject to all the resonances and vibrations that the speaker generates. The earlier mentioned Paradigm units were notorious for this issue.
On the other hand, the very high end firm Meridian, as well as most of the studio manufacturers swear by this practice.

Doublej · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Oct 2009, 11:44 am »

Affordable Audio or someone should do a shootout between AudioEngine, Mackies, and KRK.

Does anyone know if the AudioEngines are biamplified or simply powered speakers? Their website mentions nothing about biamplication so I suspect it may be the latter.

TomS · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Oct 2009, 12:18 pm »

Quote from: Doublej on 24 Oct 2009, 11:44 am

Affordable Audio or someone should do a shootout between AudioEngine, Mackies, and KRK.

Does anyone know if the AudioEngines are biamplified or simply powered speakers? Their website mentions nothing about biamplication so I suspect it may be the latter.

Powered 45wpc.

JLM · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Oct 2009, 12:39 pm »

Vibrational issues from amps being mounted on/in the speaker is just an extension of the same issue of internally mounted crossovers and few get worked up over that. I'd worry more about the needed length of interconnects and those associated concerns.

I didn't hear any vibrational problems when I auditioned the Paradigm Active 20s, but they would tend to come on with time. What I did hear blew away any similarly priced alternates. But audiophiles don't want to give up picking out each of their own components. We'd rather hunt for our own than let our chosen speaker designer do it. That has never made much sense to me.

2gumby2 · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Oct 2009, 11:43 am »

I have the Audioengine A2 and they are amazing speakers for their size. I first saw these at RMAF 2007 and liked them enough that I bought a pair. The A5s have a little fuller sound, but the A2s are quite impressive as well.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Oct 2009, 10:52 pm »

Initial impressions are very, very good.

Christof · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 Oct 2009, 12:12 am »

I picked a pair of A5's up a few weeks ago for a family member. Very nice speakers which one would be very hard pressed to beat for the $. They are quite stout and even the packaging is impressive.

gdg · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Nov 2009, 04:57 am »

I bought a pair of A5s to lighten up the mood in my highshool classroom. I knew ahead of time that they were good but I was quite unprepared for just how good they were. I immediately picked up a pair of the A2s for my bedroom. Running off a Benchmark Dac1 these things utterly blew my mind. In fact they are as resolving as the renowned AKG K701 headphones and, if you can believe it, more musical. In my small bedroom they are even more satisfying than my main rig. I'm seriously questioning the wisdom of my $15000 home system. DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

srb · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 Nov 2009, 05:14 am »

Quote from: Christof on 27 Oct 2009, 12:12 am

I picked a pair of A5's up a few weeks ago for a family member. Very nice speakers which one would be very hard pressed to beat for the $. They are quite stout and even the packaging is impressive.

I know you have a lot of experience building speaker enclosures. Do you think there might be any sonic advantage in going with the optional bamboo enclosures, or would it be soley for aesthetics? I'm not even sure if the bamboo panels are the same 1" thickness as the standard MDF.

Steve

funkmonkey · « **Reply #19 on:** 7 Nov 2009, 05:17 am »

Nice to see the A5's getting some love on AC!

I've had mine for almost 4 years already, and I have been very pleased. I bought them so I could listen to my iPod at work, without headphones, and they sounded so good that they inspired me to upgrade my home rig. That was an expensive upgrade, the A5's are absolutely cheap by comparison.

As others have mentioned packaging, and build quality are very well done. AudioEngine has recently released a passive speaker as well, they have a front slot port like the A2, but are closer in size to the A5. I am considering picking up a pair to use as surrounds... So far AudioEngine is doing a stellar job, I hope they continue to grow and introduce more great audio products.

Cheers