Short answer: the Genelec 8320A if sound quality matters most, the Audioengine A5+ Classic if price matters most. The Genelec 8320A ranks #8 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers at $850. The Audioengine A5+ Classic ranks #27 at $399, $451 cheaper.
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 Genelec 8320A offers: The Directivity Control Waveguide and die cast aluminum Minimum Diffraction Enclosure produce a listening window smoothness score of 0.53 and a low frequency alignment Q of just 0.227, the cleanest, least resonant bass rolloff of any speaker in this whole batch. It network calibrates through Genelec’s GLM software for automatic room correction, and Intelligent Signal Sensing drops standby power to under 0.5W. Watch for: On axis deviation measures 0.169dB average, decent but not class leading next to the AsciLab and Audio Smile entries in this batch. The compact 4.1 inch woofer limits low frequency extension to a measured 67.4Hz at -3dB, so a subwoofer is needed for full range use. The GLM calibration kit that unlocks its room correction features is sold separately from the speaker price, and max SPL tops out around 100dB, modest next to Genelec’s larger 8000 series monitors.
Buy the Audioengine A5+ Classic when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Genelec 8320A when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A5+ Classic | Genelec 8320A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 per pair | $1,700 per pair |
| Ranked | #27 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #8 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 67.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 53.2Hz (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) | 9.5"H x 5.9"W x 5.6"D (242 x 151 x 142 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (+/-1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz-23kHz -6dB |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs / 7 kg (left/powered), 9.7 lbs / 4.4 kg (right) | 7.1 lbs / 3.2 kg each |
| Drivers | 5" Kevlar woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter | 0.75" metal dome tweeter, 4.1" cone woofer |
| App | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| DSP | No | - |
| Output Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak | - |
| Enclosure | - | ported |
| Power Output (Watts) | - | 100W total (50W woofer, 50W tweeter, Class D) |
| Max SPL | - | Peak 107dB |
| Warranty | - | 2 years (5 with product registration) |
| Country | - | Finland |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Genelec 8320A:
- Genelec 8320A vs Genelec 8331A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8320A
- Genelec 8030C vs Genelec 8320A
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Genelec 8320A
- Dynaudio LYD 5 vs Genelec 8320A
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.
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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
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Genelec 8320A: $1,700 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A measured 1.6dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz and preference scores of 4.70 standalone and 7.22 with an ideal subwoofer support accurate close-range monitoring. The waveguide helps control the balance between direct and reflected sound. GLM room calibration is useful for matching levels and placement in a compact setup.
Cons: The -3dB point is about 67Hz, making a subwoofer important for lower bass and giving the larger 8330A a practical advantage without one. Calibration hardware is sold separately. The small woofer limits its intended listening distance and bass output; a favorable response-fit parameter is not evidence that it has uniquely well-damped bass or unusually high headroom.
Full Genelec 8320A review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Country | Finland |
| Dimensions | 9.5"H x 5.9"W x 5.6"D (242 x 151 x 142 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75" metal dome tweeter, 4.1" cone woofer |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz-23kHz -6dB |
| Max SPL | Peak 107dB |
| Power Output (Watts) | 100W total (50W woofer, 50W tweeter, Class D) |
| Warranty | 2 years (5 with product registration) |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs / 3.2 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons