In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM5 and HD6, 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 HD6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
PSB Alpha AM5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 55-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:9.75kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 292.1" x 6.75" x 11"( 292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm )
Audioengine HD6 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS( 200-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 50-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:5.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 314.3" x 7.1875" x 12.5"( 314.3 x 182.6 x 317.5mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Alpha AM5 and Audioengine HD6 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 Alpha AM5 and HD6 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM5 |
Audioengine HD6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
Alpha AM5 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the HD6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Alpha AM5 has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas HD6 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HD6 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha AM5'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 Alpha AM5 and HD6 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 PSB Alpha AM5's and Audioengine HD6'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 HD6 has external dimensions of 314.3 x 182.6 x 317.5mm ( 12.375 x 7.1875 x 12.5inch) .
Audioengine HD6 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 11.1mm wider, 22.2mm taller and 38.1mm deeper than PSB Alpha AM5.
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 HD6 is approximately 579.8cm2 / 89.9inch2. The Alpha AM5 requires 17% less surface area than the HD6 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.