In this review, we will be comparing M20 HD and A5+ Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 M20 HD and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics M20 HD |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.875-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
M20 HD features a 0.875" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woofer . On the other hand, the A5+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
M20 HD has a frequency range of 55-22k 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 M20 HD'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 M20 HD 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
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 Q Acoustics M20 HD's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. Q Acoustics M20 HD has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 310.0mm ( 10-15/16 x 6-11/16 x 12-3/16inch) 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 1.8mm shorter and 62.4mm less deeper than Q Acoustics M20 HD but it is also 12.6mm wider.
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 Q Acoustics M20 HD is approximately 527.0cm2 / 81.7inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The M20 HD requires 17% more surface area than the A5+ Wireless 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD weighs 5.10kg / 11.2lbs and the Audioengine A5+ Wireless weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the M20 HD 16% heavier than the A5+ Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how M20 HD 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M20 HD:
Powered speaker Passive speaker 6-feet AC power cord Remote control 2 AAA batteries 13-feet Speaker wire 59-inch Optical digital cable 2 Foam port plugs Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+ Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A5+ Wireless:
Powered left speakerPassive right speaker6-feet AC power cordRemote control (with installed CR2025 battery)Antenna12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable6-feet Stereo RCA cableCloth drawstring cable bag2 Cloth drawstring speaker bagsSetup guideAudioengine product brochure
 USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
276mm
vs
278mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
452cm2 (182x247mm)
vs
527cm2 (170x310mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
55-22k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
128-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
44.1 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
0.875" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
278.0mm (10.9") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black, Bamboo, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, Stereo RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |