In this review, we will be comparing HD5 and Prime Wireless Pro, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Audioengine and SVS. 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Audioengine HD5 and SVS Prime Wireless Pro 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 Prime Wireless Pro are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Audioengine HD5 |
SVS Prime Wireless Pro |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
HD5 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aramid Woofer . On the other hand, the Prime Wireless Pro features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylen cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
HD5 has a frequency range of 55-22k Hz whereas Prime Wireless Pro has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Prime Wireless Pro can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HD5's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Prime Wireless Pro 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro'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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro has external dimensions of 295 x 180 x 228mm ( 11.61 x 7.09 x 8.96 inch) .
SVS Prime Wireless Pro is 3mm narrower and 38mm less deeper than Audioengine HD5 but it is also 12mm 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro is approximately 414.0cm2 / 64.2inch2. The HD5 requires 18% more surface area than the Prime Wireless Pro 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro weighs 5.30kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the HD5 8% heavier than the Prime Wireless Pro.
Here is a comparison of how HD5 and Prime Wireless Pro'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 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Wireless Pro:
Active wireless speaker6-feet AC power cordGrille (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive feetActive-Passive Speaker Interconnect Cable: 3m / 10ftQuick Start GuideWarranty/Registration CardSVS brochureRemote
Height |
283mm
vs
295mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
549USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android, Windows
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
Base Surface Area |
414cm2 (180x228mm)
vs
486cm2 (183x266mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
USB Port |
Service and Powering only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
HDMI Input |
ARC,eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
General |
Audioengine HD5 |
SVS Prime Wireless Pro |
Brand |
Audioengine |
SVS |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
55-22k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
150-watt RMS |
n/a |
Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Aramid |
Polypropylen cone |
Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
283.0mm (11.1") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
Width |
183.0mm (7.2") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
228.0mm (9") |
Weight |
5.70kg (12.5lbs) |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
Black,Walnut,White |
Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
RCA,3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
USB Port |
No |
Service and Powering only |
Phone Input |
No |
No |
Subwoofer Output |
Stereo RCA |
Wired |
Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
HDMI Input |
No |
ARC,eARC |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Ethernet Port |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |