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Audioengine 5 (A5)
Audioengine 5 (A5) Premium Powered Speakers.
Audioengine 5 (A5) Premium Powered Speakers -
Award-winning sound and the Perfect Audio Upgrade! Real
speakers for all your music. Audioengine 5 is wireless-ready
and works with all your music.
Efficient
Power amplifiers are built inside the left speaker,
saving
space and power.
Versatile
Includes truly useful features and sounds great in any
room.
No Receiver? No
Problem!
For listening to real stereo sound Audioengine is all you
need. If you want awesome powered speakers for your MP3
player, computer, game console, TV or DVD player but
don't want a bulky receiver/amp hogging up your space,
Audioengine is the perfect solution.
Small Speakers, Big
Bass
You won't hear any enhanced super-mega-hyper-monster
boomy bass from these powered speakers. The low end from
the Audioengine 5 is real bass, very near to the
originally-recorded music. From rap to classical to
movies, you'll get tight, punchy bass with an awesome
growl that will make you smile - regardless of the volume
level.
Natural Mids and Dynamic
Highs
The way Audioengine speakers duplicate a music soundstage
is really cool. We had all these great adjectives written
up to describe the midrange and highs (buzz phrases like
"tonal accuracy with transparent clarity, excellent
detail and harmonic correctness"), but they all just
seemed overused and sort of lame. Our goal was to bring
you the sound as it was originally mixed in the studio.
Vocals are clearly placed and each instrument occupies
its own space, making the speakers seem invisible to your
ears. We feel that we've succeeded in our goal and hope
you agree!
Brawn, Brains and
Beauty
Kevlar woofers for powerful bass, silk dome tweeters for
smooth highs, built-in power amplifiers, truly useful
connections, and a clean industrial design all allow the
Audioengine 5 to integrate perfectly in your living room,
bedroom, or desktop. Custom-designed and handcrafted wood
cabinets with high-gloss professional piano finish make
the Audioengine5 a true work of art.
Wireless-ready!
The Audioengine 5 has a built-in AC power outlet on the
rear panel and a USB power port on the top panel thats
perfect for powering wireless products to stream your
music. Check out the Audioengine W1 Wireless Audio
Adapter, Sonos, Squeezebox, or Apple's Airport Express
for high- quality wireless options. The AC outlet is also
ideal for powering other portable and home A/V equipment
and a second auxiliary mini-jack is conveniently located
nearby.
Built-in USB
Charging
Designed for ease of setup and versatility, Audioengine 5
speakers have a built-in power port for iPod charging
while listening to your music or watching movies. Plug an
iPod dock or iPod directly into the ComboPort™ and
you're ready to rock (or roll). The ComboPort™
charger is compatible with all iPods and other products
that charge via USB.
Hear the
Difference
The Audioengine 5 Premium Powered Speaker
System sets a new level of audio and aesthetic quality.
Even if you're not an audio enthusiast, we guarantee you
will still hear a difference!
30 Day
Audition
We've created a product with the sound, looks, and
overall quality of systems priced much higher. Purchase
the Audioengine 5 speakers from our online
store and try them out in your home or office. If you're
not completely satisfied with the great sound and
excellent looks, just return your A5's in their original
packaging in like-new, undamaged condition within 30 days
of purchase and we'll give you a full refund of your
purchase price.
*30-day trial is only
available for product purchased directly online from the
Audioengine web store.
Surfbits - A5 review
"If you are looking for top quality self powered speakers, I wouldn't think twice about it."
Surfbits - A5 review - Favorite iPod Speakers
"It delivers strong bass, clear highs and powerful mid-range sound. The Audioengine 5 is a strong buy."
Audio Video Revolution - A5
Review
"Features and performance bely the speakers' humble price tag. Highly
recommended."
ExtremeTech Podcast - A5
Review
Tech Winners and Losers and CES 2009 - A5 coverage starts at 02:15
iPhoneWorld - A5 Review
"How many ways can you say wow? The whole setup screams quality."
ExtremeTech - A5 Review
"Oh. My. God."
Modsynergy - A5 Review
"This is what I’ve been missing all these years. The A5's have
made my introduction into high-end audio a pleasurable experience and
for that reason, deserves an Editor's Choice Award!"
Green Building Product Dealer - A5N
Review
"In my environment the Audioengine’s A5Ns (MSRP $449) have
displaced a competing powered multimedia system, and caused me to
shoo another pair of very respected bookshelf speakers out the door.
In the end, the bamboo enclosure is simply my kind of icing on my
kind of cake."
Positive Feedback - A5
Review
"I've really enjoyed my time with the A5's. I like them for their
detailed, highly enjoyable sound, and I love the fact that you can
easily employ them in a variety of situations."
What's on iPhone - A5
Review
"I’d choose the A5s for their balanced sound and for their
ability to be separated..."
Sound & Vision - A5
Review
"The Audioengine A5 was my fave of the four. It has the features I
need (two inputs and USB charging) and omits things I don't need (yet
another remote). These speakers' smooth sound instantly won me over,
and their natural midrange cemented the deal."
Stereophile Magazine -A5/A2
coverage at the Stereophile Home Entertainment Show
2007
"Several of Stereophile's editors were excited about the compact and
inexpensive Audioengine 5 amplified speakers ($349/pair), which were
bringing forth some sweet sounds playing files directly from a
laptop. New to the Audioengine line is the tiny 2 (seen here,
$199/pair), which offered a sound surprisingly similar to that of its
bigger brother. The music was clean and clear, and conveyed an
emotion that belied the speaker's size."
The Real HT Info - A5/A2 Review
(Podcast)
"Small speakers making great sound. Really solid, accurate audio with
an excellent soundstage. Your iPod speaker dock just became your
iDoorstop. The ultimate office or bedroom system."
Surfbits - A5
Review
"The highs were clear. the mids were full, and the bass was tight
without a lot of that mushy thumping I've heard on virtually every
other speaker in this price range. I played a variety of music styles
through it and they all sounded very good."
Surfbits - A5 Review
(Podcast)
The MacReviewCast #152, A5 review starts at 22:00. Website
Young Money - A2/A5
Review
"Both models get loud, but the bass response on the 5 is amazing. For
the environmentally sound types among us who are into power saving
instead of burning, these speakers automatically go into sleep
mode..."
The Tech Lounge - A5
Review
"These speakers are incredible. Not for their size, not for their
price; just incredible. Right out of the box they sounded
awesome.
Audioengine's A5s have a dynamism I've never heard in home equipment,
and I have no idea why they cost as little as they do. The world can
only hope that the addled minds that crafted these cubic wonders
don't snap out of it."
Macsparky.com - A5
Review
"When you open the A5 box, you have have a near-Apple experience. If
you are looking for top quality self powered speakers, I
wouldn¹t think twice about it."
Mac Observer - AW1, A2, and A5 Reviews
(audio) Apple Weekly Report #124.
Review starts at 36:45.
T3 - A5 Review
"If great sound, rock-steady build quality and user-friendliness are
high on your agenda - well, you can't go wrong with these."
What HiFi? - A5 Review
"If you've an iPod full of songs and no desire for a full-blown hi-fi
setup, hear them."
Stuff - A5 Review
"The A5¹s solid bass means you¹ll get more from your music
than similarly-priced iPod offerings, like the KEF Picoforte
One."
Daily Giz Wiz - A5 Review
(Podcast)
Episode: Daily Giz Wiz 442.
Apple Phone Show - A5 Review
(video)
Liana talks about the Audioengine A5 bookshelf speakers for your
iPhone/iPod.
Hi-Fi World - A5 Review
"Sturdily constructed with good connectivity and fine sound, the
Audioengine 5's are an impressive little pair of active loudspeakers.
They will do good justice to MP3 players and will even sit happily
with higher quality source components..."
Secrets of Home Theater - A5
Review
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity - A5 HE 2007 Show
Coverage.
ProductWiki - A5 Review
"Audioengine A5 powered speakers are much higher quality than
typically found in stereo computer speakers or iPod docking stations,
and because of this are more expensive coming in at $350. However,
since you don't require an amplifier, these speakers can provide a
great audiophile experience on a budget."
Fortune Small Business - A5 listed as
one of the "Hottest Accessories for your MP3"
"The company's flagship speakers stand ten inches tall and feature a
built-in amplifier. The woofer, made of Kevlar, handles bass
frequencies with aplomb. The silk tweeter helps smooth out the sound.
Designed by Brady Bargenquast, 39, a former product manager for
Apple, and audio engineer Dave Evans, 52, the speakers work with any
MP3 player and can be wirelessly synced with Macs and PCs."
Digital Media Thoughts - A5
Review
"Audioengine might not be a company you've heard of, but they're one
of the best-kept secrets in audio: the A5 is their first, and
flagship, product and it sets the quality bar for the company. These
speakers... are truly exceptional in audio quality."
HT Guys - A5 Review
(Podcast)
"The fit and finish of the speakers is top-notch and they can be
displayed in any room. There are other ways to amplify your iPod, but
in our opinion, none sounded better. If you're looking to add
multiple music zones in your home with Apple's Airport Express,
nothing is more convenient. The Audioengine 5 is the HT Guys'
choice
for listening to 2-channel music in any room that you want to fill
with music." Podcast #203, review starts at 18:18.
Inside Home Recording.com - A5 Review
(Podcast)
"Crystal-clear and reasonably-priced. I don't know anybody who would
buy an Apple Hi-Fi after hearing the Audioengine 5's." Review starts
at:37:57.”
The Mac Observer - A5 Review
(Podcast)
"Ridiculously good... a slam dunk.”
The Mac Observer - A5
Review
“When it comes to listening to and recording music, there are
no other speakers in this price range that come close to the clarity
and balance offered by Audioengine 5.”
Home Theater - A5 Review
“Even if you do not go to the extreme of hooking up a
turntable, the Audioengine 5 is still smart enough to find the oasis
in the MP3 desert. As billed, it's well suited to compressed music
formats, not only getting good bass out of them, but a pragmatically
sculpted midrange, as well. It's also revealing enough to get the
best out of better signal sources, up to and including
analog.”
MacLife - A5 Review
“We're glad to say that these are easily among the
best-sounding iPod speakers we've ever heard. Crisp, clean audio
emanates from the boxes, producing a huge sound that never betrays
their bookshelf size. Even the bass levels are quite prominent
without the use of an external subwoofer. Fantastic sound and build
quality. No receiver needed. Well-thought-out design.”
Audio Ideas Guide - A5
Review
“As the cornerstone of a high quality, inexpensive and
unobtrusive desktop audio system the Audioengines are pretty much
ideal. Comparing them sonically with the mass-marked ipod "dock"
systems out there, many of which cost around the same amount, isn't
even fair.”
Canada HiFi - A5 Review
“Most impressive was the wide and deep soundstage. I decided to
compare (the A5’s) to a pair of Pinnacle bookshelves driven by
the Cambridge Audio Azur 540A integrated amplifier. Doing a series of
A-B comparisons it was clear that these speakers had a little more
low-end punch than the Pinnacles. They also produced highs that were
detailed but smooth and not as bright as the Pinnacles, resulting in
a more pleasant sound to my ears. These speakers were making me want
to listen to music I had previously left to collect
dust.”
iOnMac - A5 Review
“Overall I am floored by the sound and versatility of these
speakers. The both look and sound amazing and would make any
audiophile proud to listen to them. The extra little touches and the
extra ports and power are also well thought out and
designed.”
PBCentral - A5 Review
“Rich soundfield, strong clear bass, clean highs. These things
sound good. Real good. If you're in the market for a serious set of
powered speakers to turn your iPod, Airport Express, or Mac into a
true stereo system, do yourself a favor and check out the Audioengine
5.”
Affordable Audio - A5
Review
“Audioengine should be lauded for hitting the target in their
first offering. The Audioengine5’s are a quite pleasing
performer. After having listened to the Apple HiFi system, the
5’s are a far more musical.”
Associated Press - A5
Review
“The Audioengine 5, which doesn't have a dock or a remote
control, is clearly the leader of the pack when it comes to producing
a rich, full sound. With dual speakers and the commensurate speaker
wire, this is a home-based iPod system for discerning listeners, not
the more portable docks offered by Apple and Bose.”
Audioholics - A5 Review
"I have heard many iPod/MP3 player systems, but the Audioengine 5 is
by far the best one yet. It is really in a class all by itself. Its
ability to serve up much better audio quality than my Paradigm Atoms
was shocking to say the least. Most of these type of systems are
designed with fidelity as an afterthought (or in most cases no
thought at all), this is NOT the case with the Audioengine 5."
What Hi Fi? - A5 Review
"The low end is expressive and taut, the midrange is natural, and the
treble is the right side of being splashy. Because of that solid
underpinning of bass, you'll hear more from your music than similarly
priced offerings, such as KEF's Picoforte."
Boston Herald - A5 Review
"To say the Audioengine 5 is a superb iPod speaker system is to sell
the stylish bookcase speakers short. While the system is designed and
marketed with the iPod in mind - from its convenient top-mounting
iPod ports to its glossy white finish - the Audioengine team did not
limit its first consumer product to the solo task of serving up iPod
tunes. The system delivered full, rich, true-to-life sounds that blow
away any portable home system I’ve encountered."
Cool Hunting - A5 Review
“Designed for the increasing number of audiophiles who are
making the switch to an iPod-specific system, Audioengine's new set
of slick-looking powered speakers are a compact option with rich,
nuanced sound quality.”
Dagogo - A5 Review
“If you want to hear real stereo sound more like real
music… with detail, clarity, resolution, dynamics, and
soundstage… you will like the Audioengine A5. There’s
real quality in sound and noticeable quality in build and
craftsmanship that belies the $349 asking price.”
Digital Trends - A5 Review
“If you want speakers that are easy to set up, easier to use
and still sound awesome, the A5's will satisfy you. In fact, they may
open your ears to a new level of audio quality. Even at low
volume… the A5 speakers delivered clean, undiminished audio
quality. I've loved having my JBL speakers, but unfortunately they
sound entirely apologetic and limp compared to the A5's. So sorry,
JBL.”
Digital Trends - A5 Review
(video)
Kristen Reilly does a fantastic job of explaining all the Features of
the A5.
Enjoy the Music - A5 Review
“At loud, but not stupid, volume levels the Audioengine 5 have
been the best performing powered speakers system… All in all
the Audioengine 5 is an overachiever and delivers sound quality that
belies the small $349 price. If someone told me the Audioengine 5
were $1,500 I would have believed them!”
Fresh Arrival - A5 Review
“The Audioengine 5’s exude style, and even the way they
are packaged is a testament to Audioengine’s attention to
detail. The defining point of a new music output device for me
(speakers, headphones) is if I hear things in my music that
I’ve never heard before. That has definitely happened multiple
times with these speakers. I thought I had good speakers before
(fairly large Altec Lansing speakers), but I absolutely love the
Audioengine speakers. I’m enjoying my music all over
again.”
Gadgeteer - A5 Review
"I love the Audioengine 5 speaker system. They are definitely 100
steps above the smaller more inexpensive systems I've reviewed in the
past. Oh, I know Apple just came out with the Hi-Fi... I've not had
the opportunity to try it, but I'd rather have Audioengine. It's a no
brainer than they have to sound better, given the fact that you can
separate the left and right speakers."
Gizmodo - A5 Review
“The engineers at Audioengine have put a lot of work into
making the A5's some of the best bookshelf style speakers out there.
They are available for $350, which may sound like a lot for bookshelf
speakers, but the A5's provide an exceptional sound capable of
pleasing the ears of any audiophile.”
Hardware-Review.net - A5
Review
“Every gamer knows how much sound can help you get more frags,
and these speakers came through for me in spades.”
Houston Chronicle - A5
Review
"If you're looking for a portable (or semi-portable) one-piece
speaker system, the iPod Hi-Fi is the best-sounding system of its
type. If you want even bigger and better sound with true stereo
imaging, the Audioengine 5 is the way to go."
iPod Hacks - A5 Review
“The tweeters delivered admirably, providing highs that neither
our in house Tivoli RadioWorks or Bose WaveRadio could match. Not
only do they make for a great iPod companion system, they also serve
well as a remote, Airport Express-driven system and even work great
as laptop/desktop PC speakers, as we noted with our MacBook
Pro.”
iPod Observer - A5 vs. Apple
Hi-Fi
"While coming closer than I expected, the iPod Hi-Fi still can't
match the sheer performance of Audioegine's A5 speakers ($350, 5
stars)... Simply put, if you're seeking the highest quality in-home
listening experience for your iPod for $350, look beyond the iPod
Hi-Fi to the Audioengine A5."
iPod Observer - A5 Review
"If you're looking for the best sounding stand-alone speaker solution
for your iPod, look no further: the Audioengine 5 is second to none.
In an increasingly crowded marketplace, Audioengine has managed to
bring a decidedly unique offering to the table, one that sees form
following function for a change, and without any compromises."
iProng - A5 Review
"As good as the Hi-Fi sounds, the A5 sounds even better. The bass is
even deeper, without a hint of distortion, even at the kind of
impossibly loud volumes that you would only listen at if you wanted
to ensure that your neighbors got to listen in. All your
neighbors."
Macenstein - A5 Review
“This is one of the rare reviews where not only am I not going
to complain about the A5’s price, but I actually think we may
be getting a bargain here. There is an overall feeling of quality in
the fit and finish of the Audioengine 5’s that is truly unique
in the “white plastic wasteland” that dominates the iPod
speaker market. The clarity of sound the A5’s deliver is
amazing, and you will find yourself hearing instruments you never
before noticed in songs you’ve heard a dozen
times.”
Macworld - 5 alternatives to the iPod
Hi-Fi
MSNBC - A5 Review
“How do they sound? Much better than their $349 suggested
retail price portends. Given a good-sounding music source
(well-ripped files, for instance) these speakers are worth their
weight in gold. The 5’s sound clear and accurate. The highs are
smooth and clean. They produce terrific bass from such a small
enclosure. Overall, they sound better than anything else in their
price range.”
MyMac.com - A5 Review
(audio)
Listen to all the great things that Speedyreviews has to say about
the A5.
MyPersonalGetaway - A5
Review
PC Magazine - A5 Review
“Sound quality at lower listening levels is very good, and the
stereo image is far wider than any one-piece unit could provide. The
overall sound is slightly more balanced than that of the Hi-Fi,
thanks to a slightly smoother midrange. Highs are prominent but not
harsh. When I cranked the volume up to truly annoying levels, the
sound held up remarkably well without distorting…”
Playlist - A5 Review
"To my ears the Audioengine 5s provide solid sound from the devices
it was designed for - computers, portable music players, and AV media
centers. If, based on sound quality alone, I had to choose between
the iPod Hi-Fi and these speakers, I’d opt for the Audioengine
5s for their more-balanced sound and their ability to be separated.
Compare them... to powered speakers priced under $500 that are
intended for the portable music market and you’ll feel the way
I do - nothing can touch them."
PocketPCReviews.net - A5
Review
“Having been used to multimedia speakers mostly, I was blown
away by the good sound quality from these speakers. They were
remarkably clear, even under low volumes.”
Secrets of Home Theater - A5
Review
“If you would like to treat yourself to self-powered speakers
that give portable MP3 devices, computers, or miscellaneous audio
sources, high quality lifelike sound, the Audioengine 5 system fits
the bill.”
SurfBits - A5 Review
“The last 2 weeks I’ve been testing the Audioengine 5
powered iPod speakers, and I must say that they have the sound,
design and features that thoroughly impressed me, in fact, more then
any others in this category. They are priced at $349.00 retail and
are worth the money…”
The Register - A5 Review
“Audioengine's A5 speakers look good and sound even better.
Hook them up to a CD or DVD player and you're in for a real
treat.”
Top Review Shop - A5 Review
“I’ve spent dozens of hours listening to the Audioengine
5 speaker system and continue to be surprised by just how good they
sound with MP3s. In a number of my favorite songs, I have been able
to pick out specific points in the song where I can now hear new
sounds that I couldn’t hear before with other computer speakers
or headphones.”
Toys4Boys - A5 Review (audio)
Uncrate - A5 Review
"You've got an iPod. Now get it the speaker system it deserves. We've
been testing out the Audioengine 5 speakers ($350) for most of March,
and we continue to be super impressed by them every single time we
crank up a playlist on our iPod. The bookshelf-sized speakers are
solidly built monitors that offer rich sound and zero distortion,
even when cranked up to uncomfortable levels."
GeekBrief.TV - A5 Review
(video)
Video Podcast episode #0057 - Check out Calli Lewis talking about the
Audioengine 5, which she says is “the closest thing to her
dream WiFi speaker”
Sonic Flare - A5/A2 coverage at the
Stereophile Home Entertainment Show 2007
"This little audio engine keeps cranking out quality products that
smartly integrate into your digital life."
Tone Audio- A5 Review
Great features aside, the Audioengine 5 is something that will give
you some serious musical pleasure. I listened to alot of my favorite
tunes all over the map and always had a smile on my face... I've
lived with the A5's for quite some time now and am still amazed at
how much performance they offer for the money."
MaximumPC - A5 Review
The Audioengine 5 is not only one of the best-sounding speaker
systems weve heard in a long while, its also one of the smartest
speaker designs weve seen in the MP3-player era. These puppies will
fill a room with sound, and they dont cost an arm and an ear."
andPOP.com - A5 Review
These speakers deliver more than I could have expected, permanently
replacing my old stereo speaker system.The most surprising revelation
came not from the speakers themselves, but with the included
extras.The speaker set also comes with a 3-year transferrable
warranty, another luxury which usually comes in the form of added
cost with most products."
Small Dog - A5 Review
How do they sound? Incredible. Theyre the best all-around audio value
that I know of.After more than a year of constant use, I am still
very happy with them."
Typical Mac User - A5 Review
(Podcast)
An incredible set of very clean powerful speakers. At $350 they are
really a bargain..."A5 review starts at 17:45.
Good Gear Guide - A5 Review
"Delivering excellent quality, along with an extremely solid and
sturdy design, they're some of the best hi-fi speakers we've seen to
date. Everything about them screams quality - from their custom
design, to the sheer power at which they're able to output sound, the
A5 is a top-notch product."
Enjoy the Music.com Excellent Value 2011 Awards
The AudioEngine A5 small powered monitors, priced at only $350 per pair, sound amazing for the price. When editor Steven R. Rochlin was on holiday for three months he personally chose these speakers due to their ability for compact size, ease of use and impressive sound for the price.
Personal Media Review - A2/A5 - Best
Stationary
iPod Sound System
"(Audioengine) doesn't market the A2 as an iPod-specific sound
system, but it works beautifully that way. At one-third the size of
the $349 Audioengine A5, these compact speakers still sound so full
you'll be looking around for a secret subwoofer under the desk. If
you're up for spending $150 more, get the Audioengine A5 ($349)
instead. More lows, more power, more everything. I don't think you
will find better sound for the price and you definitely won't find
anything better looking."
Maximum PC - A5 - Best of the Best 2007
(Best Speakers)
"2007 was a good year for speakers, with a number of great systems
going through the Lab¹s sonic chamber. TBI¹s passive
Majestic Diamond I and B&W¹s incredible Zeppelin were both
exceptional. But we¹re giving the nod to the Audioengine 5
bookshelf system, which combines outstanding character with features
that render it useful for nearly any application."
What Hi-Fi? - A5 - Best Active
Speakers
"If you want to play music from an MP3 player or a computer but baulk
at the reduction in sound quality that seems to come as standard with
many MP3 speaker systems, the A5 could be for you. It's a pair of
active speakers with 45 watts per channel, two 3.5mm audio inputs on
the left speaker plus a USB output, handily located on top, a pair of
pre-outs for a sub and a mains AC output for use with Apple's Airport
Express. Like all standmounts they perform best on stands, producing
a rich, expressive sound throughout the range, with a solid
underpinning of bass. Add good timing and a balanced stereo image,
and this is instant hi-fi."
Boston Herald - A5 Best Speaker of the
Year
“The best speaker of the year is Audioengine 5. More than 50
new speakers were put to the test this year, but there wasn’t
the need for a ‘listening-off’ to pick the winner. These
matching bookshelf speakers, the first product offered by Audioengine
— blew away all rivals in terms of audio
excellence.”
Enjoy the Music - A5 "Great Audio Gift"
Award
"Audioengine has designed an audiophile quality self-powered monitor
loudspeaker for the Apple iPod, Microsoft Zune, portable CD players,
and other devices. The Audioengine 5 provides extremely impressive
sound for such a diminutive price."
Audioengine 5 Wins Home Theater's RAVE
(Recognizing Audio Video Excellence) Award for "Best Entry-Level
Speaker System"
Granted solely on the basis of the product's review in Home Theater,
magazine and online, each RAVE Award recipient is chosen by the
reviewer who spent at least one month with the product evaluating its
performance, value, ergonomics, and features. Also featured?in the
May 2007 issue of Home Theater Magazine.
Features:
USB power charging
(ComboPort)
2 audio inputs
Built-in power amps in left speaker
Rear panel AC outlet
Front
panel volume control
Kevlar woofers for super
low end
Silk tweeters for smooth
highs Line level
outputs
High-quality speaker
connectors
Auto-sleep power saving
mode
Hand-finished cabinets
Video shielded
3-year
warranty
Cables included
Compatible With:
AirPort Express and other
wireless systems
iPod and all other music players
Internet radio and network music systems
Apple Universal Dock and otherdocks/remotes
Desktop computers, laptops, notebooks
Flat panel TVs with an analog output
Mobile phones and PDAs with music
players
CD and DVD players
Videogame consoles
Digital radio and
satellite receivers
All products with 1/8"
mini-jack or RCA outputs
Included Accessories:
AC power cable
1/8" audio cable, 2 meters (~6.5ft)
(2) 1/8" audio cables, 20cm (~8")
1/8" to RCA "Y" adapter cable
USB power extender cable, 1 meter (~3.28ft)
Speaker wire (16AWG), 3.75 meters (~12.3ft)
Drawstring cable bag
Drawstring speaker bags
(2) High-density foam isolation pads
Setup Guide
Materials and Construction:
1” thick MDF
cabinet
5” Kevlar woofers with advanced
voice coils
20mm silk dome tweeters with neodymium magnets
Torroidal power transformers
Audioengine 5 General Specifications
Type:2.0 powered (active) bookshelf-style speaker system
Power
Output:150W peak power total (50W RMS / 75W
peak per channel), AES Inputs:Dual 1/8" stereo
mini-jacks Outputs:USB Type A (power
charging only), RCA L/R audio (full-range, non-adjustable)
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:Output current
limiting, thermal over-temperature, power on/off transient protection,
replaceable external main fuse Dimensions (each):10.0”(H)
x 7.0” (W) x 7.75” (D) Weight (LEFT speaker):6.4Kg/14lbs Weight (RIGHT speaker):4Kg/9lbs Shipping weight:12.6Kg/27.75lbs
per pair Shipping
box dims:11.5” (W) x 14.5” (H) x
21.75” (L) Audioengine 5 Materials and Construction: 25mm thick MDF cabinets
20mm silk dome tweeters with neodymium magnets
5" Kevlar woofers with advanced voice coils
Torroidal power transformer
Audioengine 5 Included
Accessories: AC power
cable
1/8" audio cable, 2 meters
(~6.5ft)
(2) 1/8" audio cables, 20cm
(~8")
1/8" to RCA "Y" cable
USB power extender cable, 1 meter (~3.28ft)
Speaker wire (16AWG), 3.75 meters (~12.3ft)
Drawstring cable bag
Drawstring speaker bags (2)
Setup
Guide
Custom Built
Audioengine designs and manufactures our own tweeters, woofers, and many
other critical components. In other words, these are not "box built" speakers
with off-the-shelf parts but entirely custom-designed to our specifications.
What we do not fabricate directly in our factory we have custom-made to our
designs (parts such as toroidal transformers, magnets, and wiring harnesses,
for example). The cabinets, drivers, bass port designs, amplifiers, and
crossovers are all painstakingly tuned together for each Audioengine model.
This, in turn, makes for a much more efficient system that requires much less
power than AV stereo receivers and passive speakers.
Based on Studio Monitor Designs
Studio monitor speakers are used by producers and engineers in recording and
production studios. They are designed with a theoretical flat frequency
response which allows the engineer to create a final mix in such a way that
the recorded music will sound good on most other speakers. Although
Audioengine speakers are not designed to be up-close "nearfield" studio
monitors, we do carry over much of the same higher-end technology,
components, and design philosophy for Audioengine speakers.
Drivers
Audioengine uses audiophile quality, ferro fluid cooled, silk dome tweeters
with Neodymium magnets. Silk tweeters hold up well under high power and the
edge-driven design gives very smooth response. The woofers are Kevlar woven
glass aramid composite with rubber surrounds. Kevlar is obviously very
strong, which means that the woofer retains its shape when being driven at
high levels. The speaker materials and construction are robust enough to
stand up to some serious thrashing, so speaker grills aren’t needed. In
other words, we did our homework on the speaker drivers and they will sound
and look great after many years of use.
Cabinets
To minimize unwanted resonances and distortion, Audioengine cabinets have
thick high-resin MDF walls with extensive internal bracing. Heavy internal
sound-damping material is used to reduce unwanted sound reflections inside
the cabinet. All cabinet edges are rounded which look great and reduce
high-frequency diffraction effects on the front baffles. Each cabinet
contains tuned, rear-firing ports. Both speakers are tuned and tested
together and sold in pairs.
Power Amplifier
The amplifiers in Audioengine speakers are located in the left speaker and
are a very conservatively rated all-analog design. All components are tuned
together for each model, which provides a much more efficient system
requiring less power than passive speakers and separate amplifiers. Circuit
boards for the power and preamp sections are vertically mounted for maximum
mechanical shock protection (a good thing).
Power Transformers
Power transformers are a large contributor to the overall audio performance,
especially in the low end. Again, no off-the-shelf parts here. Audioengine
uses gapless core toroidal transformers which have a tighter radiated
magnetic field, directly translating to lower noise. They are lighter than
standard, lower-cost "EI" transformers and also generate less heat. In other
words, toroidal transformers do make a difference.
Shielding
Both drivers are directly video shielded and allow the user to place the
speakers within a few inches of a video monitor. This shielding also offers
protection for hard-drive digital music players.
USB Power
5V@1.2A USB power supply powers the latest generation iPods and most other
USB "bus-powered" devices. The USB port is for charging only, not for data
transfer or music syncing. Available on Audioengine 5.
FAQs:
I own the A5 and I am looking to purchase a turntable. Will it be necessary to also purchase a phono preamp or can I simply connect the turntable directly to the A5 input?
We have found that some turntables need a preamp before being connected, therefore it is best to try your turntable without the preamp first to see how it operates.
When will you have products that include Apple's Airplay?
We're working on integrated Airplay solutions but these will take time. Meanwhile, consider a great alternative, which is an Airport Express and your iPhone with our A5 or A2 powered speakers.
Can audio be played through the Audioengine USB
charge port?
The USB port on Audioengine speakers was designed to be for power charging
only, but don’t despair - we’ve also included an audio input next
to the USB port to plug your music into.
Why do my A5 speakers sometimes turn off when
I'm listening to music at low volumes?
This is a basic property of the auto-sleep feature. The sleep feature
reacts to the amount of input signal being fed to your speakers. If the
input signal is too low, the speakers will not recognize the source and power
themselves into sleep mode. A quick fix for this is to turn up the
volume on your source and turn down the volume on your speakers.
When I listen to my music at night I keep the A5
speakers at a low volume. However, it seems that the left speaker is
louder than the right speaker when at a low volume. Is there a way to
fix this or is it normal?
This is a common property of speakers using dual-analog style amplifiers.
A quick fix for this is to increase the volume on your speakers and
decrease the volume on your source.
What is the voltage on the A5 rear panel AC
outlet when the unit is switched to AC input of 240V 50Hz?
The voltage of the AC power plug on the A5 rear panel follow whatever the AC
input voltage selector switch is set to.
Are the A5 accurate enough to serve as studio
monitors for mixing music tracks?
The A5s were designed with the user's listening experience in mind and are
not marketed as studio monitors. However, Audioengine technology has it's
roots in the studio monitor world and the A5 is quite good for this purpose.
We've had customers tell us that they use these for near field listening and
music editing and enjoy the experience.
Just how easy is it to set up Audioengine
powered speakers?
Unpack and place them where you want and plug in the AC cord. Connect the
included speaker wire from the active speaker to the right passive speaker.
Then plug in your music (iPod, CD player, TV etc.) with the supplied cables
and you're ready to go. Our powered speakers are an all-in-one solution with
no extra amps or components needed!
Will Audioengine speakers work with a PC or
Mac?
Absolutely! Use the computer's headphone output, soundcard, or DAC audio
output from your Mac or PC directly into Audioengine speakers and you're good
to go. PC, Mac, laptop or any computer.
How can such small speakers have so much
clean-sounding, deep, tight bass?
One of the reasons Audioengine active and passive speakers have such amazing
bass in such a small package are the designs of the bass ports on each
speaker. These aren’t just holes or slots in the cabinets, but
specifically shaped openings with tubes designed with precise calculations.
The result is incredible low end with minimal audible air turbulence. These
are effectively mini-subs built into each speaker, allowing Audioengine
speakers to be used with or without a separate subwoofer. It's also worth
mentioning that we don’t use any enhancement circuits to add fake bass,
so what you’ll hear is real bass, really low and clean.
Why do I have to plug one speaker into the
wall?
Audioengine powered speaker models have a built-in power amplifier in the
left speaker so you won’t need a stereo receiver or other extra
components for power. In addition to built in amps, we’ve also added an
extra “always-on” AC outlet on the A5 speaker rear panel, which
just happens to be perfect for plugging in an Airport Express or Squeezebox.
The perfect wireless-ready speakers!
What is the difference between powered and
active speakers?
Both are basically the same. “Active” and “powered”
speakers refer to speakers with power amplifiers built into either one
speaker or both. Audioengine speakers were designed with the power amps in
the left speaker to make connections easier as they only require 1 power cord
and all connections are on the same speaker. It’s time to sell that big
old stereo receiver and make the switch!
Will I get buzz from the speakers if I place my
iPhone near my Audioengine speakers? I don't see any mention of GSM shielding
in the speakers in the setup guide.
All Audioengine speakers are video and magnetically shielded but the really
good news is Apple has fixed the GSM buzz issue with 3G iPhone so you won't
get any interference regardless of how close the phone is to your powered
speakers.
The headphone jack on my computer is noisy but I
want to connect my Audioengine speakers to my Mac. What do I do?
Some computer headphone outputs are noisy and have poor audio quality. If
this is your computer, we check out our AW1 wireless adapter (basically a
wireless DAC with an analog output). Also a Google search for "USB audio
interface" or similar will yield some good results.
I'd like to connect an Apple Airport Express to
my A5 speakers to stream music from my Mac. I also wish to connect the
speakers to my Samsung LCD TV. Is it possible to have simultaneous
connections to the A5 (or the smaller A2 speakers)?
Yes, there are 2 audio inputs on Audioengine powered speakers so connect the
Airport Express to one input and the variable output from your TV into the
other. Both inputs are "open" or active so you can leave 2 audio sources
plugged in at the same time with no need to flip any switches.
If I connect my Audioengine speakers to a Zune
MP3 player what volume level should I set on the player and speakers? What is
the ideal overall volume level on the music source to get the cleanest
distortion-free sound?
Every setup is different but we generally recommend leaving your speaker
volume at around 11 or 12 o'clock and then using your music source (iPod,
computer, TV, etc.) to set the volume and as the master volume control.
It is true that speaker placement really can
make a difference in sound quality?
There are different theories but rooms and tastes are different so it's tough
to specify a correct placement. We suggest you experiment with
different locations to see what works for you. As a general rule of thumb for
the best sound stage balance, the speakers should be equi-distant from side
walls and a different distance from rear walls. For the best bass response on
rear-ported speakers (like Audioengine 5), we recommend that you keep a
minimum distance of 6-12" between the rear of the speakers and the rear wall.
Our front-ported speakers (such as the Audioengine 2 or P4) do not need any
rear panel clearance for better bass but recommend keeping them a few inches
from the rear wall for adequate ventilation.
Will the sound be affected if I place the left
(active) speaker on the right side and the right speaker on the
left?
Swapping sides will not have any negative effect on the soundstage or
quality/clarity of the speakers. This will simply give you the reverse of
what the artist intended for you to hear.
Can I drill holes in my powered Audioengine
speakers and mount them to a wall?
Due to the electronics, cabinet materials and high-end finish it's not a good
idea to drill into your speakers but there are a few side-clamping wall mount
designs that work great for our active speakers. We don't endorse any
specific models but here are some recommended by customers:
- Vogels VLB200 Speaker Wall Mount
- Sanus WMS2 Speaker Wall Mount
- BTECH BT-77 Side Clamping Wall Mount
Can I increase the length or change the speaker
wire between each speaker?
Sure. For the best audio performance we’ve included 12 feet of 16 gauge
wire with each powered speaker system but any "stranded" speaker wire will
work. The speaker binding posts on the back of each cabinet will accept bare
stranded wire, however if you want to terminate the wires we recommend using
spade type terminals.
Is it OK to connect Audioengine active speakers
to my stereo receiver or integrated amplifier?
We’ve built amplifiers into our powered speakers but if you wish to use
Audioengine speakers with an existing receiver take the “preamp
out” from your receiver and connect it to one of the Audioengine inputs
(if you need to, use the included RCA stereo “Y” connector to
1/8” mini plug cable). We also make a pair of passive speakers called
P4 so check those out as well!
Do higher power output ratings for audio gear
mean louder or better sounding speakers?
Not necessarily. Audioengine speakers and amplifiers are very efficient and
designed together as a system so therefore we get more volume output than
stereo receivers or amplifiers that might higher wattage or power numbers.
Due to this tuning we achieve big sound outputs with a fraction of the power
required by other systems.
Are two separate speakers really better than one
boombox or soundbar?
We are firm believers that two quality speakers will always sound better than
one or more speakers together in a single cabinet, regardless of the
amplifier or sound enhancing technology used. There are some decent one-piece
speaker systems that simulate stereo and surround sound from a single source,
but most fall way short as they can’t accurately duplicate a wide sound
stage with imaging as complete and rich as Audioengine speakers.
Can I use a subwoofer with Audioengine powered
speakers?
Even though Audioengine speakers have big and tight low end which will easily
fill a room and rival floor standing speakers many times their size, you can
also connect an external sub if you wish (or connect Audioengine speakers to
your sub's line-level output). You can even connect our wireless AW1 adapter
to the A2 or A5 powered speakers for a wireless subwoofer!
How can I stream music from my computer to
multiple Audioengine speakers or other stereo systems?
Check out our AW1 Wireless Adapter set. These adapters allow you to stream
wireless audio from any program/website/player to our speakers and subwoofer.
Apple's AirPort Express is another higher-quality option to send music from
iTunes out to multiple speakers in other rooms.
Why do digital music files sound better with
Audioengine speakers?
Audioengine speakers were specially designed and tuned to make MP3 and other
digital music files sound great. We spent many months tuning each speaker and
almost exclusively used various compresses and lossless files types encoded
at different bitrates during this process. Even though we are big fans of
digital music your turntable or reel-to-reel tape player will sound equally
as good.
Why don’t Audioengine speakers have a
built-in iPod dock?
Audioengine speakers not only work well with iPods and iPod docks, but were
also designed to connect easily to all other audio products. iPods connect to
Audioengine speakers with or without a dock. We feel that Apple docks do an
excellent job so we didn’t want to waste resources trying to design and
integrate a dock into our speakers only for it to become quickly obsolete. If
you have an iPod but don’t yet have an Apple Dock or one of many other
great dock systems on the market, pick one up, sit it on top of our speakers,
plug it in and you’ll see what we mean!
Some people want to upgrade the audio on their
TV's but aren't necessarily interested in surround sound. Can I hook up A5's
to my TV instead of buying a surround sound system or soundbar?
Audioengine's A5 and A2 speakers can be easily connected to the audio output
on your TV set. Either model of speaker will provide for an easy setup and a
greatly enhanced TV audio experience with a wider soundstage and better
imaging than most soundbars!
Can I control Audioengine speakers with my TV
remote control?
Although many TVs have only one L/R audio output, which typically defaults to
fixed, this setting can be sometimes be changed via the on-screen menu so
please check your manual to see which outputs are variable. Also try the
headphone output.
If I have 2 inputs plugged in at the same time,
how does Audioengine switch between audio sources?
Both inputs are "open" or active, so you can leave 2 audio sources plugged in
at the same time with no need to flip any switches!
Why only analog inputs on your powered
speakers?
Audioengine speakers contain all-analog circuitry. The analog outputs from
Sonos, the Airport Express, and Slim Devices Squeezebox, for instance, are
very high quality and are great examples of why we didn’t feel the need
for digital inputs.
Are Audioengine speakers portable?
There are so many cheap plastic portable disposable iPod speaker toys on the
market that we decided to create a line of real speakers that are
self-powered, sound great, and don’t have a handle or run off 25 AA
batteries. In other words, Audioengine speakers are not really portable but
are durable enough that you could carry them around in bags or backpacks like
we do when we’re out on the road.
Do Audioengine speakers come with speaker
grills?
Our woofers are made of Kevlar and our tweeters of silk. Both of these
materials are very robust and can handle anything that may happen to them
during a normal day. We decided against grill covers as they tend to
negatively color the sound; sometimes less is more. Cat and
kid-friendly.
Can I take my Audioengine speakers to another
country with a different voltage?
Yes, you can switch the voltage selector on the A5 rear panel to match the AC
power in your country. The A2 speakers use a switching power supply so it
will automatically convert to the different voltage. The power cable is also
detachable on our powered speakers which makes it convenient to replace the
AC plug with a different type if you don’t want to use an adapter plug.
Can Audioengine speakers be placed on their
sides?
Yes, and we recommend that you position each so the tweeters are facing
outward.
Why do my A5 speakers sometimes mute when I'm
listening to music at low volumes?
If the input audio signal is at too low a level, the sleep circuit mistakes
this as no signal and turns the speakers off. If this happens, simply
increase the level of your audio source and decrease the volume of the
speakers accordingly.
Are these speakers designed for use only with
computers or iPods? I would like to connect them to my Panasonic DVD player
or TV or even my Denon stereo. Is this possible?
Yes, absolutely. All your A/V gear with an RCA or mini-jack 1/8" connector
(even a headphone jack!) will work great with Audioengine powered speakers.
If I have a subwoofer of my own, how would I use
the A2s with it?
Connect the line-level output from your subwoofer into one of the A2 inputs.
Very simple.
What if my TV only has one audio output that
cannot be controlled with the TV remote?
Although many TVs have only one L/R audio output, which typically defaults to
fixed, this setting can be sometimes be changed via the on-screen menu. Also
try your TV's headphone output or the audio outputs from your satellite or
cable box.
How would I connect a NuForce Icon amplifier to
the A2 or A5 speakers?
Connect the NuForce line out into the A2 (or A5) mini-jack input. Simple to
connect and sounds great!
What if my speakers or subwoofer have a hum or
buzzing sound?
Hum or buzz in the speakers is usually caused by something external to the
speakers which is coupling noise into the speaker system, either through the
AC lines, cordless phone, wireless router, or directly from the source input.
A common reason is that the entire system is set up such that a "ground loop"
results. Basically, a ground loop occurs when the AC power grounds and the
system signal grounds are not at the same electrical potential. Refer to our
online Setup Guides for a list of things to try.
Do Audioengine speakers have an auto-sleep,
idle, or auto-power-off function? Can I leave them on all the
time?
The A5's are equipped with a power-saving circuit that turns off the
speaker's final stage amp when there is no input for about 15 minutes.
The A2 has a idle mode with actives right after you stop playing music.
Due to this power-saving function we recommend that the speakers stay on all
the time.
If my speakers are "asleep" or in idle mode why
can I still hear a faint hum or hiss if I put my ear very close to the
speaker?
Even though the final amp stage is shut down during sleep, the pre-amp stage
is still powered up and the front panel power LED will remain illuminated
which takes very little power.
What is the AC power cable type for Audioengine
powered speakers?
We use 2-Pin IEC 320-C7 cables. The A5 uses a polarized cable for A5, but
most higher-end cables are non-polarized and these will work just fine.
I've had my Audioengine 5 speakers for a few
months and am quite pleased with their performance but they have a tendency
to automatically mute every so often. They remain powered on but there's no
volume/output. What's going on?
This sounds like the A5 sleep circuit turning on. Your speakers have a sleep
circuit built into them which is designed to reduce the power usage when the
speakers are not in use. The sleep circuit reacts to the level of signal from
the source so the fix for this is to turn down the volume on your speakers
and turning up the volume on your source. We recommend leaving the volume on
the speakers at around 11 or 12 o'clock and using your input source as the
main volume control.
Can I use a power inverter with Audioengine
speakers?
Sure, for A2 you will need about 50-60 watts and for A5 about 100-120W.
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