Short answer: the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks #27 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $399; the Audioengine HD4 ranks #55 and costs $429, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Audioengine A5+ Classic offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a reasonably flat response outside of the upper bass. Internal Class AB amplification (50W RMS, 75W peak) with a linear power supply drives a 5” Kevlar woofer and 0.75” tweeter. Watch for: A valley in the upper bass (200-400Hz) recesses that range, and a distortion peak shows up around 800-900Hz even at 86dB SPL. Off-axis response doesn’t track the on-axis curve well through the crossover, suggesting the waveguide isn’t fully optimized. Resonances appear at 900Hz and 4.4kHz.
What the Audioengine HD4 offers: Rated 3.3 in the SpeakerRanking database. Watch for: Not a great sounding speaker for the high price.
Buy the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Audioengine HD4 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
The Audioengine HD4 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 64 powered bookshelf speakers; there are better options higher up.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A5+ Classic | Audioengine HD4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 per pair | $429.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #27 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #55 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Dimensions | 10.9"H x 7.2"W x 9.7"D (276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6 mm) | 9"H x 5.5"W x 6.5"D (228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (+/-1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs / 7 kg (left/powered), 9.7 lbs / 4.4 kg (right) | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg |
| Drivers | 5" Kevlar woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter | 4" (102mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| DSP | No | - |
| Output Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak | 50w RMS Per Speaker |
| Inputs | - | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA Input |
| Outputs | - | RCA Output |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Audioengine A5+ Classic:
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Genelec 8331A
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Genelec 8030C
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Dynaudio LYD 5
Prices on this page were last checked September 11, 2026 at 8:40 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Audioengine A5+ Classic: $399.00 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: ASR’s A5+ Powered measurements give 3.68 standalone and 6.15 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 2.7dB midrange span. The analog powered pair is straightforward to use without an external amplifier. The measured result supports a more capable tonal balance than its former low position suggested.
Cons: The measured -3dB point is around 69Hz, and the upper-bass recession can reduce body in voices and instruments. The existing review reports crossover-region directivity errors and a distortion feature around 800-900Hz. The score does not make it a reference monitor, and adding a subwoofer cannot correct those midrange and off-axis issues.
Full Audioengine A5+ Classic review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 10.9"H x 7.2"W x 9.7"D (276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" Kevlar woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (+/-1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs / 7 kg (left/powered), 9.7 lbs / 4.4 kg (right) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs KEF LSX II LT
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Adam Audio T5V
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Airpulse A100
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs JBL 705P
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Kali LP-UNF
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- See all 45 comparisons
Audioengine HD4: $429.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact powered cabinets, analog input options and RCA output can simplify a desktop stereo system. Its modest footprint is useful where larger studio monitors are impractical.
Cons: The compact cabinets suit close desktop listening rather than a large-room system. A separate subwoofer adds cost and space if deeper bass is a priority.
Full Audioengine HD4 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Dimensions | 9"H x 5.5"W x 6.5"D (228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" (102mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60 Hz-20 kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA Input |
| Output Power | 50w RMS Per Speaker |
| Outputs | RCA Output |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs / 3.3 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audioengine HD4 vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
- Audioengine HD4 vs Edifier R1700BT
- Audioengine HD4 vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Audioengine HD4 vs Edifier R1280DB
- Audioengine HD4 vs Edifier S1000W
- Audioengine HD4 vs Edifier R1280T
- Audioengine HD4 vs Edifier R2000DB
- Audioengine HD4 vs JBL One Series 104
- See all 39 comparisons