In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM5 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 AM5 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Alpha AM5 | Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 100-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polypropylene | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-20k 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 | 9.75kg / 21.5lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.5" x 6.75" x 11"
292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm | 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 AM5 and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
PSB Alpha AM5Audioengine 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 AM5 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Alpha AM5 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" 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 AM5 has a frequency range of 55-20k 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 AM5's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 AM5 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 AM5's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM5 has external dimensions of 292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm (11.5 x 6.75 x 11inch) 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 15.9mm shorter and 31.8mm less deeper than PSB Alpha AM5 but it is also 11.1mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha AM5 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM5 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 AM5 is approximately 479.2cm2 / 74.3inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The Alpha AM5 requires 6% more surface area than the A5+ Wireless which gives it a small disadvantage 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 AM5 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 AM5 weighs 9.75kg / 21.5lbs and the Audioengine A5+ Wireless weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the Alpha AM5 122% heavier than the A5+ Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha AM5 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 AM5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha AM5:
- 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
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 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 |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
276mm
vs
292mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
452cm2
vs
479cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
| General |
PSB Alpha AM5 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
| Brand |
PSB |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
55-20k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-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 |
5.25" |
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 |
292.1mm (11.5") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
171.5mm (6.8") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
279.4mm (11") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
9.75kg (21.5lbs) |
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 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (100W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | A | PSB Alpha AM5 adds phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Audioengine A5+ Wireless: a sub output. PSB Alpha AM5 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Audioengine A5+ Wireless is cheaper - $499 against $599, about 17% less. |
A PSB Alpha AM5 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz 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.