In this review, we will be comparing HD3 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 HD3 and Audioengine A5+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Audioengine HD3 | Audioengine A5+ |
|---|
| Brand | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 30-watt RMS (60-watt peak) | 50-watt RMS (75-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-22k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 48 kHz | — |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | No |
|---|
| Weight | 1.55kg / 3.4lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7" x 4.25" x 5-1/2"
177.8 x 108.0 x 139.7mm | 10.875" x 7.1888" x 9.75"
276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both HD3 and A5+ are 2-way speakers.
Audioengine HD3Audioengine A5+
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Audioengine HD3 |
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
|
HD3 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite Woofer. On the other hand, the A5+ features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
HD3 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 HD3's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
HD3 has a front firing port whereas A5+ has a rear firing ports. Audioengine HD3'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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 HD3's and Audioengine A5+'s external dimensions. Audioengine HD3 has external dimensions of 177.8 x 108.0 x 139.7mm (9.125 x 4.25 x 7.25inch) 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 74.6mm wider, 98.4mm taller and 107.9mm deeper than Audioengine HD3.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Audioengine A5+ needs about 200% more floor or shelf area. Audioengine A5+ is 108mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Audioengine A5+ is 98mm taller.
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 HD3 is approximately 150.9cm2 / 23.4inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The HD3 requires 67% 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 HD3 weighs 1.55kg / 3.4lbs and the Audioengine A5+ weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the A5+ 184% heavier than the HD3.
Here is a comparison of how HD3 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 HD3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HD3:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- AC power supply (attached 6-feet DC cord)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Bluetooth antenna
- 5-feet microUSB-to-USB cable
- 6.5-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)
- 5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 2 Microfiber speaker bags
- MIcrofiber cable bag
- Quickstart Guide
- Product Line Brochure
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+?
Here are the items that come with the A5+:
- Powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (with installed CR2025 battery)
- 12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire
- 6.5-feet Stereo mini-jack cable (3.5mm mini-jack on both ends)
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- Cloth drawstring cable bag
- 2 Cloth drawstring speaker bags
- Setup guide
- Audioengine product brochure
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
177mm
vs
276mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
150cm2
vs
452cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Headphone Output |
3.5mm
vs
No
|
Connect your headphone |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
|
USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Audioengine HD3 |
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) |
60-watt RMS |
75-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
2.75" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite |
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 |
177.8mm (7") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
108.0mm (4.3") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
139.7mm (5.5") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
1.55kg (3.4lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Black, Bamboo, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
microUSB |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
3.5mm |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
A generation apart: Audioengine HD3 is the newer design, against a 2011 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Audioengine A5+ digs deeper - 50Hz against 65Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | Audioengine A5+ has the bigger amplifier (50W vs 30W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Audioengine HD3 adds Bluetooth. |
| Size | depends | Audioengine HD3 is easier to place; Audioengine A5+ is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Audioengine HD3: a sub output; Audioengine A5+: a sub output. Audioengine A5+ sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Audioengine HD3 is cheaper - $349 against $399, about 13% less. |
A Audioengine HD3 B Audioengine A5+
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Audioengine A5+ measures better, Audioengine HD3 costs about about 14% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Audioengine HD3 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Audioengine A5+ has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Audioengine HD3 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.