In this review, we will be comparing A5+ and A1-MR, 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 A5+ and Audioengine A1-MR first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Audioengine A5+ Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 50-watt RMS( 75-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 50-22k Hz Frequency Response
- Weight:4.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 276.2" x 7.1888" x 9.75"( 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm )
Audioengine A1-MR Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 30-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2.75" Aramid Fiber Woofer
- 65-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 16-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- App Control Feature
- Weight:1.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 158.8" x 4.1875" x 7.125"( 158.8 x 106.4 x 181.0mm )
A5+ and A1-MR 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 A5+ and Audioengine A1-MR compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both A5+ and A1-MR are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Audioengine A5+ |
Audioengine A1-MR |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
A5+ features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the A1-MR features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Aramid Fiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
A5+ has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz whereas A1-MR has a frequency range of 65-22k 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
A5+ has a rear firing port whereas A1-MR has a front 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 A5+'s and Audioengine A1-MR's external dimensions. Audioengine A5+ has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm ( 10.875 x 7.1888 x 9.75inch) whereas Audioengine A1-MR has external dimensions of 158.8 x 106.4 x 181.0mm ( 6.25 x 4.1875 x 7.125inch) .
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 A5+ is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A1-MR is approximately 192.6cm2 / 29.9inch2. The A5+ requires 135% more surface area than the A1-MR which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.