Audioengine 5+

A while back, Audioengine introduced the Audioengine 2 ($199, 4 stars), powered desktop monitors that are the closest thing to flat response, audiophile-level speakers you'll find under $200. The Audioengine 5+, also referred to by the company as the A5+ are an update to the A5 ($349, 4 stars), and the size, price, and performance are raised to another level. Sure, $399 (direct) is an investment, but considering most entry-level, high performance stereo speakers start at around $400 each?(so double that for a pair), the self-powered A5+ seems like a deal. The speakers deliver beautiful high-frequency clarity and a tight (though never booming) bass response. Perfect as monitors for your home studio, or simply a giant leap up from typical PC speakers, the A5+ earns an Editors' Choice for its excellent value and performance.

Design
Measuring 10.75 by 7 by 7.75-inches, the A5+ takes up more desktop real estate?if that's where you choose to keep the pair?than a typical set of computer speakers, but they're about par for the course when it comes to quality home recording studio monitors. Offered in glossy white, satin black, or a lovely bamboo finish (that costs $70 more), each two-way speaker houses a 20mm silk dome tweeter and a 5-inch Kevlar woofer. The tweeters, which are situated on the top half of the front panel when the speakers are placed vertically, are set slightly off-center; it's a clever design decision that allows for a slightly wider stereo field, as treble frequencies determine our sense of sound location and direction more precisely than lower frequencies do. The left speaker has a power LED indicator that glows white when the speakers are on, slowly fades in and out when in sleep mode, flickers when the volume is adjusted, or turns off when the speakers are powered down. The left speaker also has a Volume control knob on its front face.

The 15.4-pound left and 9.6-pound right speaker connect to each other via a typical stereo speaker cable, with the left, powered speaker delivering the juice to the right passive speaker. All of the remaining connections are on the back panel of the left speaker. From top to bottom, the connections are: a 3.5mm audio input, USB Power port (for charging devices like an iPhone), an RCA input, an variable output (for connecting a subwoofer or another speaker), the output to the right speaker, the Power switch, Voltage select (between 115 and 240 Volts), and the AC Power input. Both speakers have a rubberized bottom, which keeps the speakers from dancing across slick surfaces and also cuts down on vibrations caused by the speakers. There's also a ?-inch threaded insert on each speaker for securing them to stands. The system ships with the power cable, a 3.5mm audio cable for connection to PCs, smartphones, and portable media players, and a RCA speaker cable.

A cheap-looking and feeling black remote control also ships with the pair?it has membrane buttons and only controls the Volume, Mute, and Sleep functions. Since the speakers do not integrate with iTunes or your computer's playback functions, however, this is just about all you can control. Some users will wish there was a way on the remote or the speakers to tinker with the bass and treble levels.

Before we discuss the A5+'s audio performance, let's briefly discuss the differences between it and the older A5, which is $50 cheaper and still available from Audioengine. The A5+'s most notable upgrades are the inclusion of a remote control, the variable preamp line out (for subs), RCA and mini-jack inputs, and most importantly, a speaker cabinet with that includes a rear-ported waveguide, which helps deliver better clarity and power in the low frequencies. So, yes, the A5 looks very similar, but the connectivity and actual performance have been upgraded enough to warrant the $50 price difference.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/rNPbtQy-npM/0,2817,2396302,00.asp

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