In this review, we will be comparing HD5 and ORA, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Audioengine and Kanto. 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 Kanto ORA first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Audioengine HD5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS( 150-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Aramid Woofer
- 55-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:5.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 283.0" x 7.1875" x 10.4375"( 283.0 x 183.0 x 266.0mm )
Kanto ORA Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 50-watt RMS( 100-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 3" Paper Woofer
- 70-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 177.0" x 3.9375" x 7.4375"( 177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Audioengine HD5 and Kanto ORA 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 HD5 and ORA are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Audioengine HD5 |
Kanto ORA |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
HD5 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aramid Woofer . On the other hand, the ORA features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
HD5 has a frequency range of 55-22k Hz whereas ORA has a frequency range of 70-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the HD5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ORA's min frequency of 70Hz.
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
Both HD5 and ORA have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 HD5's and Kanto ORA'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 Kanto ORA has external dimensions of 177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm ( 6.94inch x 3.94inch x 7.5inch ) .
Audioengine HD5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 82mm wider, 106mm taller and 77mm deeper than Kanto ORA.
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 Kanto ORA is approximately 190.9cm2 / 29.6inch2. The HD5 requires 155% more surface area than the ORA which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of Kanto ORA?
Here are the items that come with the ORA:
Powered speakerPassive speakerAC power adapter (attached 58
Woofer Size 
Handheld Remote 
3.5mm Connection 
RCA Connection 
Digital Input 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
USB Port