In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM3 and A5+ Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from PSB 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 PSB Alpha AM3 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Alpha AM3 | Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 70-watt RMS | 100-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Polypropylene | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-20k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 48 kHz | 24-bit / 44.1 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.6875" x 5.1875" x 8.125"
220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm | 10.875" x 7.1875" 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 Alpha AM3 and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
PSB Alpha AM3Audioengine A5+ Wireless
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
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
|
Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the A5+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k 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 Alpha AM3's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 Alpha AM3 and A5+ Wireless 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 PSB Alpha AM3's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm (8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) 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 50.8mm wider, 55.5mm taller and 41.2mm deeper than PSB Alpha AM3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha AM3 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM3 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless Size and External Dimensions
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 PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The Alpha AM3 requires 40% less surface area than the A5+ Wireless which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM3 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless on a Media Console
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 PSB Alpha AM3 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs and the Audioengine A5+ Wireless weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the Alpha AM3 2% heavier than the A5+ Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha AM3 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 PSB Alpha AM3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha AM3:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles
- AC power adapter (attached 45-inch DC cord)
- 4-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (PSR-1)
- 2 AAA batteries
- 8-feet Speaker cable
- 58-inch Stereo minijack cable
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Connection Diagram
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+ Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A5+ Wireless:
- Powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (with installed CR2025 battery)
- Antenna
- 12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire
- 6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- Cloth drawstring cable bag
- 2 Cloth drawstring speaker bags
- Setup guide
- Audioengine product brochure
 Height |
220mm
vs
276mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
272cm2
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 |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
| General |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
| Brand |
PSB |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| 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 |
Polypropylene |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.7mm (8.7") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
131.8mm (5.2") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
206.4mm (8.1") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White |
Black, Bamboo, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
microUSB |
No |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
No |
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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Audioengine A5+ Wireless digs deeper - 50Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | Audioengine A5+ Wireless has the bigger amplifier (100W vs 70W RMS). |
| Connections | A | PSB Alpha AM3 adds phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | PSB Alpha AM3 is easier to place; Audioengine A5+ Wireless is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Audioengine A5+ Wireless: a sub output. PSB Alpha AM3 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | PSB Alpha AM3 is cheaper - $449 against $499, about 10% less. |
A PSB Alpha AM3 B Audioengine A5+ Wireless
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: Audioengine A5+ Wireless measures better, PSB Alpha AM3 costs about about 11% 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 56Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper PSB Alpha AM3 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Audioengine A5+ Wireless has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, PSB Alpha AM3 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.