Short answer: the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks #37 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $399. The Edifier M90 ranks #23, rated 3.3/5, at $369.99, $29.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the Audioengine A5+ Classic: ASR’s A5+ Powered measurements give 4.59 standalone and 7.06 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 2.7dB midrange span. The tradeoff: The measured -3dB point is around 69Hz, and the upper-bass recession can reduce body in voices and instruments.
Why pick the Edifier M90: A bi-amped two-way pair with a 4” long-throw aluminum mid-bass driver and a 1” silk dome tweeter per side, driven by 100W RMS in total (35W to each woofer, 15W to each tweeter). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Audioengine A5+ Classic lacks. The tradeoff: No independent anechoic or Spinorama measurements have been published yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $29.01 you would save on the Edifier M90 does not close the gap.
Worth knowing: the Edifier M90 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.1 to 3.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A5+ Classic | Edifier M90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 per pair | $369.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #37 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| 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) | 8.3”H x 5.2”W x 8.9”D (212 x 133 x 225 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (+/-1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7 kg) (left/powered), 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) (right) | 13.3 lbs (6.05 kg) |
| Drivers | 5” Kevlar woofer, 0.75” silk dome tweeter | 4” aluminum woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| DSP | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak | 100W RMS total (2x 35W woofer, 2x 15W tweeter) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.59 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 | - |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | Yes |
| Outputs | RCA variable output (subwoofer) | - |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux | HDMI eARC, Optical, USB-C, Aux, Bluetooth |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | Yes (eARC) |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 6.0 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to 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 October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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 $399.00 B&H Photo Video $469 eBay
Same family: the Audioengine A2+ (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.4/5).
Pros: ASR’s A5+ Powered measurements give 4.59 standalone and 7.06 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. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB).
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 →
| Released | Oct 2011 (15 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA, Aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.59 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7 kg) (left/powered), 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) (right) |
| XLR Input | No |
- 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 Kanto YU6
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Mackie MR524
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs M-Audio BX5 D3
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- See all 61 comparisons
Edifier M90: $369.99 per pair Estimated Amazon $369.99 eBay
Same family: the Edifier M60 (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4/5).
Pros: A bi-amped two-way pair with a 4” long-throw aluminum mid-bass driver and a 1” silk dome tweeter per side, driven by 100W RMS in total (35W to each woofer, 15W to each tweeter). The most connected Edifier desktop pair yet: HDMI eARC with TV remote control over CEC, optical, USB-C, aux and Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC, plus a subwoofer output for a 2.1 setup. Three sound presets on the included 2.4GHz remote and custom EQ in the Edifier ConneX app. Edifier rates the response down to 50Hz, against 55Hz for the smaller Edifier M60.
Cons: No independent anechoic or Spinorama measurements have been published yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. The only measurement so far is an in-room reading at the listening position (Pragmatic Audio), which showed bass reaching about 50 to 60Hz with a DSP limiter controlling the roll-off. A 4” woofer still needs a subwoofer for deep bass. It costs close to twice as much as the Edifier M60, and TechRadar found its output falls short of some rivals at the price.
Full Edifier M90 review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS total (2x 35W woofer, 2x 15W tweeter) |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3”H x 5.2”W x 8.9”D (212 x 133 x 225 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” aluminum woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes (eARC) |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, Optical, USB-C, Aux, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | No |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 13.3 lbs (6.05 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons