In this review, we will be comparing HD5 and HD4, 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 HD5 and Audioengine HD4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Audioengine HD5 | Audioengine HD4 |
|---|
| Brand | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS (150-watt peak) | 60-watt RMS (120-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Aramid | 4" Aramid |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-22k Hz | 60-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 5.70kg / 12.5lbs | 2.40kg / 5.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.125" x 7.1875" x 10.4375"
283.0 x 183.0 x 266.0mm | 9.125" x 5.4375" x 8.875"
231.8 x 138.1 x 225.4mm |
|---|
HD5 and HD4 are members of Audioengine's HD series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both HD5 and HD4 are 2-way speakers.
Audioengine HD5Audioengine HD4
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 HD5 |
Audioengine HD4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
HD5 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aramid Woofer. On the other hand, the HD4 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aramid Woofer.
Frequency Response
HD5 has a frequency range of 55-22k Hz whereas HD4 has a frequency range of 60-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the HD5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HD4's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
HD5 has a rear firing port whereas HD4 has a front firing ports. Audioengine HD4'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
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 HD5's and Audioengine HD4's external dimensions. Audioengine HD5 has external dimensions of 283.0 x 183.0 x 266.0mm (11.125inch x 7.1875inch x 10.4375inch) whereas Audioengine HD4 has external dimensions of 231.8 x 138.1 x 225.4mm (9.125 x 5.4375 x 8.875inch).
Audioengine HD5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 44.9mm wider, 51.2mm taller and 40.6mm deeper than Audioengine HD4.
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 HD5 needs about 56% more floor or shelf area. Audioengine HD5 is 41mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Audioengine HD5 is 51mm 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 HD5 is approximately 486.8cm2 / 75.5inch2 and base area of the Audioengine HD4 is approximately 311.3cm2 / 48.3inch2. The HD5 requires 56% more surface area than the HD4 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 HD5 weighs 5.70kg / 12.5lbs and the Audioengine HD4 weighs 2.40kg / 5.3lbs. This makes the HD5 138% heavier than the HD4.
Here is a comparison of how HD5 and HD4'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 HD5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HD5:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (CR2025 battery installed)
- Bluetooth antenna
- 13-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)
- 5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- 2 Microfiber speaker bags
- MIcrofiber cable bag
- Quickstart Guide
- Brochure
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD4?
Here are the items that come with the HD4:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 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
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- 2 Microfiber speaker bags
- 2 MIcrofiber cable bags
- Quickstart Guide
- Product Line Brochure
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 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 |
311cm2
vs
486cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
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 |
| General |
Audioengine HD5 |
Audioengine HD4 |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
55-22k Hz |
60-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
60-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
150-watt RMS |
120-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid |
Aramid |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
283.0mm (11.1") |
231.8mm (9.1") |
| Width |
183.0mm (7.2") |
138.1mm (5.4") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
225.4mm (8.9") |
| Weight |
5.70kg (12.5lbs) |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut,White |
Black, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA,3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
microUSB |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Stereo RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
3.5mm |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Siblings in Audioengine's HD series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Audioengine HD5 digs deeper - 55Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Audioengine HD5 has the bigger amplifier (100W vs 60W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Audioengine HD5 adds digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Audioengine HD4 is easier to place; Audioengine HD5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Audioengine HD5: a sub output; Audioengine HD4: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Audioengine HD4 is cheaper - $449 against $549, about 18% less. |
A Audioengine HD5 B Audioengine HD4
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?
Audioengine HD5 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Audioengine HD4 is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Audioengine HD4 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Audioengine HD5 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Audioengine HD4 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.