Audioengine 5

*Est. $300
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Audioengine 5

Pros
  • Excellent sound
  • Two-piece system, not attached
  • About 150 watts of power
Cons
  • Heavy
  • No docking station
  • So good that it exposes flaws of compressed music
 
 
 
 

The iPod speaker market is dominated by one-piece models, but if you want separate speakers, reviews point to the Audioengine 5, a unit that offers extremely high quality audio at a relatively steep but fair price. While compact compared with home speakers (10 by 7 by 7.75 inches), the units have a combined weight of 23 pounds, so they aren't very portable. Another complaint is that you have to connect the iPod via a headphone jack rather than a docking station. But you can recharge your iPod via a USB cable. Reviews say there is minimal distortion even at high volume (maximum output is 150 watts total), but some say the sound reproduction is so true that it reveals the auditory "limitations" of MP3 files. If you want something portable, reviews suggest the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere (*est. $140).

The best Audioengine 5 reviews are at CNet.com, Macworld magazine and Audioholics.com, all of which conduct significant hands-on testing before spouting off. The review at iPodObserver.com is well-done but short. An owner review at Amazon.com, where about 20 users weigh in, notes that the Audioengine 5 sounds better after a "break-in" period, a common observation for high-end traditional speakers and headphones. Consumer Reports magazine rated iPod speakers in December 2007, but the Audioengine 5 isn't ranked.

Where To Buy
 
 
Audioengine A5 Powered Multimedia Speaker System (Black)

 (132 reviews)
Buy new: $349.00 $299.00   7 New from $299.00

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eBayeBay rated 3.89 (1219 reviews)1,219 store reviewsIn Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply.$299.00
eBayeBay rated 3.89 (1219 reviews)1,219 store reviewsIn Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply.$299.00
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. CNET

This rankings list links to a full review for each speaker. The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere ranks sixth among the 12 here, with "great sound" for the price and an "innovative" wall charger. The negative is that it''s not as portable as some.

Review: Best iPod speakers, John Falcone and Jasmine France , Sept. 12, 2007

2. Macworld

Breen gives the Audioengine 5 a grade of 4.5 out of five, saying it "is a very worthy set of powered speakers" that can get loud, but they lack the "gut-rattling thump you get from a system with a large subwoofer."

Review: Audioengine 5 , Christopher Breen, Mar. 17, 2006

3. Audioholics.com

Audioholics rates many high-quality speakers and says the Audioengine A5 is "in a class by itself." But Lawson notes that it "very quickly reveals the limitations of a portable device such as the iPod and that of highly compressed audio" and is better as a computer speaker system.

Review: Audioengine A5 Powered Speaker System Review , Jeff Lawson, Apr. 28, 2008

4. iPodObserver.com

Sakellaropoulo gives the Audioengine 5 the maximum rating of five, stating "both the materials and the specifications É bests every other high-end iPod offering, from Bose's SoundDock to Klipsch's iGroove to Tivoli Audio's iSongBook to AltecLansing's inMotion iM7."

Review: Gear Review -- Audioengine 5, Misha Sakellaropoulo, Feb. 13, 2006

5. Amazon.com

Out of about 20 user reviews, all but one give the Audioengine 5 a perfect score of five. The dissenter awards it a four because there's a "hum" when music isn't playing. One review notes that like many good speakers, they're better after a "break-in period."

Review: Audioengine A5B Powered Bookshelf Speaker System, Contributors to Amazon.com

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