In this review, we will be comparing A1-MR and A5+, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Audioengine Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Audioengine A1-MR and Audioengine A5+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
A1-MR and A5+ are members of Audioengine's A series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Audioengine A Series History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Audioengine A1-MR and Audioengine A5+ compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both A1-MR and A5+ are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Audioengine A1-MR |
Audioengine A5+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
A1-MR features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Aramid Fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the A5+ features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
A1-MR has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz whereas A5+ has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the A5+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A1-MR's min frequency of 65Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A1-MR has a front firing port whereas A5+ has a rear firing ports. Audioengine A1-MR's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Audioengine A5+ with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Audioengine A1-MR's and Audioengine A5+'s external dimensions. Audioengine A1-MR has external dimensions of 158.8 x 106.4 x 181.0mm ( 6.25 x 4.1875 x 7.125inch) whereas Audioengine A5+ has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm ( 10.875 x 7.1888 x 9.75inch) .
Audioengine A5+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 76.2mm wider, 117.4mm taller and 66.6mm deeper than Audioengine A1-MR.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Audioengine A1-MR is approximately 192.6cm2 / 29.9inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The A1-MR requires 57% less surface area than the A5+ which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Audioengine A1-MR weighs 1.10kg / 2.4lbs and the Audioengine A5+ weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the A5+ 300% heavier than the A1-MR.
Here is a comparison of how A1-MR and A5+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Audioengine A1-MR?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A1-MR:
Wireless powered left speakerPassive right speaker6-feet AC power cord6.5-feet Length of 18 gauge speaker wire6.5-feet Stereo minijack-to-RCA cable6-feet Stereo minijack cableQuick Start GuideAudioengine product brochure
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+?
Here are the items that come with the A5+:
Powered left speakerPassive right speaker6-feet AC power cordRemote control (with installed CR2025 battery)12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire6.5-feet Stereo mini-jack cable (3.5mm mini-jack on both ends)6-feet Stereo RCA cableCloth drawstring cable bag2 Cloth drawstring speaker bagsSetup guideAudioengine product brochure
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 App-Based Control |
iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
158mm
vs
276mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
192cm2 (106x181mm)
vs
452cm2 (182x247mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Audioengine A1-MR |
Audioengine A5+ |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
65-22k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
30-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
75-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
16-bit |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
2.75" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid Fiber |
Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
158.8mm (6.3") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
106.4mm (4.2") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
181.0mm (7.1") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
1.10kg (2.4lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Bamboo, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |