In this review, we will be comparing R-15PM and A5+, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and 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 Klipsch R-15PM and Audioengine A5+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-15PM | Audioengine A5+ |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 50-watt RMS (75-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0" Hard-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Copper-spun IMG | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 62-24k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | — |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 3.0 | No |
|---|
| Weight | 4.67kg / 10.3lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.5" x 7" x 9.875"
317.5 x 177.8 x 250.8mm | 10.875" x 7.1888" x 9.75"
276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both R-15PM and A5+ are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-15PMAudioengine A5+
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch R-15PM |
Audioengine A5+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
R-15PM features a 1.0" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. On the other hand, the A5+ features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
R-15PM has a frequency range of 62-24k Hz whereas A5+ has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the A5+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-15PM's min frequency of 62Hz.
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
Both R-15PM and A5+ 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
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 Klipsch R-15PM's and Audioengine A5+'s external dimensions. Klipsch R-15PM has external dimensions of 317.5 x 177.8 x 250.8mm (12.5 x 7 x 9.875inch) whereas Audioengine A5+ has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm (10.875 x 7.1888 x 9.75inch).
Audioengine A5+ is 41.3mm shorter and 3.2mm less deeper than Klipsch R-15PM but it is also 4.8mm wider.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Klipsch R-15PM is 41mm 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 Klipsch R-15PM is approximately 445.9cm2 / 69.1inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The R-15PM requires 1% less surface area than the A5+ 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 Klipsch R-15PM weighs 4.67kg / 10.3lbs and the Audioengine A5+ weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the R-15PM 6% heavier than the A5+.
Here is a comparison of how R-15PM and A5+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-15PM?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-15PM:
- Powered speaker (right)
- Passive speaker (left)
- 68-inch AC power cord
- Remote control
- CR2025 3V battery (installed in remote)
- 16-feet Length of 18AWG speaker wire (bare tinned wire on each end)
- 6.5-feet USB-A to USB-B cable
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- 5-feet Optical digital cable
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Instruction Booklet
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+?
Here are the items that come with the A5+:
- Powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (with installed CR2025 battery)
- 12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire
- 6.5-feet Stereo mini-jack cable (3.5mm mini-jack on both ends)
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- Cloth drawstring cable bag
- 2 Cloth drawstring speaker bags
- Setup guide
- Audioengine product brochure
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
445cm2
vs
452cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 USB Port |
Type-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
62 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
276mm
vs
317mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-15PM |
Audioengine A5+ |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
62-24k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
75-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Copper-spun IMG |
Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
317.5mm (12.5") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
177.8mm (7") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
250.8mm (9.9") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
4.67kg (10.3lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
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 |
Type-B |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
A generation apart: Klipsch R-15PM is the newer design, against a 2011 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Audioengine A5+ digs deeper - 50Hz against 62Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | Klipsch R-15PM has the bigger amplifier (100W vs 50W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Klipsch R-15PM adds Bluetooth, phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch R-15PM: a sub output; Audioengine A5+: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Audioengine A5+ is cheaper - $399 against $499, about 20% less. |
A Klipsch R-15PM B Audioengine A5+
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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch R-15PM measures better, Audioengine A5+ costs about about 25% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 62Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
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.