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.
Audioengine HD3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 30-watt RMS( 60-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite Woofer
- 65-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:1.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 231.8" x 4.25" x 7.25"( 231.8 x 108.0 x 177.8mm )
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
- No Bluetooth
- 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 )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Audioengine HD3 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 HD3 and A5+ are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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
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
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 HD3's and Audioengine A5+'s external dimensions. Audioengine HD3 has external dimensions of 231.8 x 108.0 x 177.8mm ( 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, 44.4mm taller and 69.8mm deeper than Audioengine HD3.
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 192.0cm2 / 29.8inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The HD3 requires 58% less surface area than the A5+ which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.