Audio Features
Enclosure Design
Controls and Connections
Mounting Options
Audio Features
Overview: Audioengine 5+ (A5+) Premium Powered Speakers deliver
audiophile-quality sound from your digital audio player, computer, TV, or any other
audio component for great stereo sound in any room. The A5+ offers superior stereo
separation and incredible imaging from a pair of compact powered speakers.
Two-Way Speaker System: Each of the Audioengine 5+ has two
drivers; a 3/4" silk dome tweeter and a 5" Kevlar woofer. The A5+
provides a real, natural sound; very near to the originally-recorded music. The
A5+ has a frequency response of 50Hz to 22,000Hz (+/-1.5dB).
- Silk Dome Tweeters: Audioengine uses
audiophile-quality, ferro-fluid cooled silk dome tweeters
with neodymium magnets. Silk tweeters hold up well under
high power and the edge-driven design gives very smooth
response.
- Kevlar Woofers: The woofers are Kevlar
woven glass aramid composite with rubber surrounds. Kevlar
is very strong, which means that the woofer retains its
shape when being driven at high levels.
Built-in Amplifier: The A5+ is powered by a 50-watt RMS x 2ch
amplifier (SNR: >94dB, THD: <0.05%), built into the left speaker. The built-in
power amplifier saves space and eliminates the need to connect Audioengine 5+ to a
stereo receiver or
external power amp. Simply plug the left speaker into an AC outlet and connect the
included speaker wire from the left to right speaker. All internal components of
the A5+ are tuned together, providing a more efficient system requiring less
power than passive speakers and amplifiers.
Note: With the amplifier built-in, the
left speaker is heavier than the right (15.4 pounds vs. 9.6
pounds).
Toroidal Transformers: Power transformers are a large contributor
to the overall audio performance, especially in the low end (bass response). Audioengine
uses gapless core toroidal transformers which have a tighter radiated magnetic field,
directly translating to lower noise. They are lighter than standard, lower-cost EI
transformers and also generate less heat.
Break-in Period: The speaker will sound great out of the box
and will get better over time. No need to do anything else, but listen to them.
Do give them at least 30-50 hours of break-in time before doing any critical
listening.
Enclosure Design
Construction: The cabinets are built using solid, hand-finished
bamboo. The color is not a stain; as the wood is pressure heated, the sugar compounds
inside the bamboo are carbonized, which in turn darkens the bamboo to a rich caramel
color. The cabinet edges are rounded to reduce high-frequency diffraction effects on
the front baffles. The speakers are hand finished, then tuned and tested together to
be sold in matching pairs.
Bass Reflex Cabinet: One of the reasons the Audioengine 5+ has
such great bass response for a compact speaker is the design of the rear bass port
on each speaker. The rear bass ports are specifically shaped and have been precisely
calculated. The result is incredible low end with minimal audible air turbulence, so
you can use the Audioengine 5+ speakers with or without a separate subwoofer.
No Grilles: The speaker materials and construction are robust
and extremely durable, so speaker grilles aren't needed.
Colors: The Audioengine 5+ is available in a Satin Black, Hi-Gloss
White, or Solid Carbonized Bamboo finish.
Controls and Connections
Controls: The Audioengine 5+ features a rotary volume knob, power
switch, and includes an IR remote control.
- Volume: A front-panel rotary knob on
the left speaker's front-panel controls the system's output
volume.
- Power Switch: An on/off power switch
is located on the rear-panel of the left speaker for the
built-in amplifier.
- Remote: An IR remote control is provided
for wireless operation of the A5+ powered speaker system. The
remote control includes Volume up/down, Mute, and Sleep (power
saving) mode functions.
Connections: Most of the A5+ system's connections are on the
left speaker; the only terminals on the right speaker are the binding-post speaker
level inputs for connection to the left speaker's corresponding outputs.
- Audio Inputs: The A5+ has two stereo audio inputs on
the rear-panel of left speaker. The A5+ is fitted with a 3.5mm stereo
mini-jack input and a stereo RCA input. There is no input selector switch, so
both inputs are live simultaneously; if different signals are presented to
both inputs, they are mixed together and both are played through the speakers.
- Binding Posts: Each speaker is equipped with a set of
gold-plated 5-way binding post speaker terminals to connect the two speakers
to one another.
- Variable Output: The A5+ includes a variable preamp
audio output so you can connect a subwoofer, other Audioengine powered
speaker, or an Audioengine wireless adapter to daisy-chaining music to
other system around the house. This output is variable (adjustable) so the
volume level can be controlled from the A5+ front-panel or remote control.
- USB Port: On the rear-panel of the left speaker there
is a powered USB type-A output (5V/500mA). Its purpose is only to power or
charge a USB bus-powered device; for example it will charge an iPod, but not
control the iPod, and the audio signal is not transferred through the USB
port.
Note: Because the Audioengine 5+ speaker system includes built-in
power amplifiers, do not connect the speaker terminals to the speaker
outputs of a separate stereo receiver or amplifier.
Optional Accessories: Audioengine offers wireless adapters (item numbers
772W3
and
772AW2,
sold separately) that can be powered using the speaker's USB port.
- Audioengine W3 Adapter: The W3 includes
a Sender (transmitter) and Receiver; the system is designed to
deliver an audio signal wirelessly between your source component
and the A5+ power speaker.
- Audioengine AW2 Adapter: The AW2 includes an iPod Sender
(transmitter) and Receiver; the system is designed to deliver an audio signal
wirelessly from your iPod/iPhone to the A5+ power speaker for playback.
Mounting Options
Placement: For the best soundstage and imaging, the speaker should be
equidistant from the side walls and and a different distance from rear walls. Both
speakers should also be equidistant from your primary listening position (and at
least 6' apart). Tweeters should be at approximately eye-level in your most
frequent listening locations. For the best bass response, Audioengine recommend
at least 6" of clearance between the rear of the speakers and the wall behind
them.
High Density Foam Isolation Pad: Both speakers have a high-density
foam isolation pad on the bottom for placement flexibility.
1/4-20 Threaded Insert: Threaded 1/4-20 brass inserts are included
on the bottom each speaker cabinet to provide the ability to attach the speaker
to free-standing floor stands. These inserts, however, are not designed to
support the full weight of the speakers and therefore should not be used with
single-point wall or ceiling mounts.
Video Shielded: Both drivers (woofer and tweeter) are directly video
shielded and allow you to place the speakers within a few inches of a video
monitor. This shielding also offers protection for hard-drive digital music
players.
