In this review, we will be comparing HD3 and HD5, 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 HD5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
HD3 and HD5 are members of Audioengine's HD series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Audioengine HD3 and Audioengine HD5 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 HD5 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Audioengine HD3 |
Audioengine HD5 |
|
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 HD5 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aramid Woofer .
Frequency Response
HD3 has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz whereas HD5 has a frequency range of 55-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the HD5 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 HD5 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 HD5 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 HD5'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 HD5 has external dimensions of 283.0 x 183.0 x 266.0mm ( 11.125inch x 7.1875inch x 10.4375inch ) .
Audioengine HD5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 75mm wider, 51.2mm taller and 88.2mm 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 HD5 is approximately 486.8cm2 / 75.5inch2. The HD3 requires 61% less surface area than the HD5 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 HD5 weighs 5.70kg / 12.5lbs. This makes the HD5 268% heavier than the HD3.
Here is a comparison of how HD3 and HD5'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 speakerPassive speaker2 Grilles (pre-installed)AC power supply (attached 6-feet DC cord)6-feet AC power cordBluetooth antenna5-feet microUSB-to-USB cable6.5-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)5-feet Stereo minijack cable2 Microfiber speaker bagsMIcrofiber cable bagQuickstart GuideProduct Line Brochure
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD5?
Here are the items that come with the HD5:
Powered speakerPassive speaker2 Grilles (pre-installed)6-feet AC power cordRemote control (CR2025 battery installed)Bluetooth antenna13-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)5-feet Stereo minijack cable6-feet Stereo RCA cable2 Microfiber speaker bagsMIcrofiber cable bagQuickstart GuideBrochure
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
231mm
vs
283mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
192cm2 (108x177mm)
vs
486cm2 (183x266mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
549USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Headphone Output |
3.5mm
vs
No
|
Connect your headphone |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
| General |
Audioengine HD3 |
Audioengine HD5 |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
65-22k Hz |
55-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
30-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
60-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
2.75" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite |
Aramid |
| 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 |
231.8mm (9.1") |
283.0mm (11.1") |
| Width |
108.0mm (4.3") |
183.0mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
177.8mm (7") |
266.0mm (10.5") |
| Weight |
1.55kg (3.4lbs) |
5.70kg (12.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Black,Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
RCA,3.5mm |
| USB Port |
microUSB |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Stereo RCA |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical |
| 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 |