In this review, we will be comparing HD4 and A5+ Wireless, 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 HD4 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Audioengine HD4 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 60-watt RMS( 120-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Aramid Woofer
- 60-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:2.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 231.8" x 5.4375" x 8.875"( 231.8 x 138.1 x 225.4mm )
Audioengine A5+ Wireless Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 50-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 44.1 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 276.2" x 7.1875" 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 HD4 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 HD4 and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Audioengine HD4 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
HD4 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aramid Woofer . On the other hand, the A5+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
HD4 has a frequency range of 60-22k Hz whereas A5+ Wireless has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the A5+ Wireless can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HD4's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
HD4 has a front firing port whereas A5+ Wireless has a rear firing ports. Audioengine HD4's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 HD4's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. Audioengine HD4 has external dimensions of 231.8 x 138.1 x 225.4mm ( 9.125 x 5.4375 x 8.875inch) whereas Audioengine A5+ Wireless has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm ( 10.875 x 7.1875 x 9.75inch) .
Audioengine A5+ Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 44.5mm wider, 44.4mm taller and 22.2mm deeper than Audioengine HD4.
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 HD4 is approximately 311.3cm2 / 48.3inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The HD4 requires 31% less surface area than the A5+ Wireless 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 HD4 weighs 2.40kg / 5.3lbs and the Audioengine A5+ Wireless weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the A5+ Wireless 83% heavier than the HD4.
Here is a comparison of how HD4 and A5+ Wireless'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 HD4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HD4:
Powered speakerPassive speaker2 Grilles (pre-installed)6-feet AC power cordBluetooth antenna5-feet microUSB-to-USB cable6.5-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)5-feet Stereo minijack cable6-feet Stereo RCA cable2 Microfiber speaker bags2 MIcrofiber cable bagsQuickstart GuideProduct Line Brochure
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+ Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A5+ Wireless:
Powered left speakerPassive right speaker6-feet AC power cordRemote control (with installed CR2025 battery)Antenna12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable6-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 |
 Height |
231mm
vs
276mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
311cm2
vs
452cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
499USD
|
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
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Audioengine HD4 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
60-22k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
60-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
120-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
44.1 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid |
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 |
231.8mm (9.1") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
138.1mm (5.4") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
225.4mm (8.9") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut |
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 |
No |
| 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 |