Short answer: the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks #33 of 42 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $399; the Kali Audio IN-UNF ranks #38 and costs $699, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Audioengine A5+ Classic gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows a reasonably flat response outside of the upper bass. The catch: A valley in the upper bass (200-400Hz) recesses that range, and a distortion peak shows up around 800-900Hz even at 86dB SPL.
The case for the Kali Audio IN-UNF: Ingenious ultra-nearfield system: a desk-mounted bass module uses two opposed 4.5-inch woofers below 280Hz, while the satellites use time-aligned 4-inch/1-inch coincident drivers. The tradeoff: This is a very specialized system rather than a general desktop-speaker recommendation.
Buy the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Kali Audio IN-UNF and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 42 powered bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A5+ Classic | Kali Audio IN-UNF | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 | $699 |
| Ranked | #33 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #38 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 47Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F3) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F10) |
| Dimensions | 10.9"H x 7.2"W x 9.7"D (276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6 mm) | Bass module: 11.6"H x 19.4"W x 5.25"D; satellites: 6.25" diameter |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (+/-1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 47Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs / 7 kg (left/powered), 9.7 lbs / 4.4 kg (right) | - |
| Drivers | 5" Kevlar woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter | Bass module: two opposed 4.5" woofers; satellites: 4" coincident midrange with 1" textile-dome tweeter |
| App | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| DSP | No | Yes (placement/boundary and tonal trims) |
| Output Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak | 100W LF + 60W mid/HF per channel (continuous) |
| Inputs | - | USB-C, optical, 3.5mm, balanced TRS |
| Crossovers | - | 280Hz LF-to-midrange; 2.8kHz midrange-to-HF |
| Max SPL | - | 103dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Klipsch The Fives vs Audioengine HD4
- Kali Audio IN-5 vs Klipsch The Fives
- Klipsch The Fives vs NHT Pro M-00
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Klipsch The Fives
- Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
The Two Speakers In Full
Audioengine A5+ Classic: $399
Pros: 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.
Cons: 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.
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) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Klipsch The Fives
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Edifier S1000W
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Edifier R1280T
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs JBL One Series 104
- See all 14 comparisons
Kali Audio IN-UNF: $699 Kali Audio
Pros: Ingenious ultra-nearfield system: a desk-mounted bass module uses two opposed 4.5-inch woofers below 280Hz, while the satellites use time-aligned 4-inch/1-inch coincident drivers. It is specifically engineered around the desk and, set up to Kali’s supplied placement template, sounded much better than it initially did to Erin; his moving-mic measurement at arm’s length closely matched the system’s predicted response. DSP provides placement, boundary and tonal trims, while USB-C, optical, 3.5mm and balanced TRS inputs cover desktop and studio sources. The round satellite enclosure avoids conventional baffle-edge diffraction, and the coaxial satellites image best aimed directly at the listener.
Cons: This is a very specialized system rather than a general desktop-speaker recommendation. The sizeable bass module must stay on the desk and prescribed satellite spacing can conflict with dual or ultrawide monitors; Erin and Joe N Tell both preferred Kali’s LP-6/IN-series alternatives for their own desks. A bump around 100-130Hz and a possible 1.2kHz diffraction feature appeared in Erin’s exploratory anechoic data, but he explicitly cautioned that those measurements do not replicate the required desk geometry. Bass falls away around 40-50Hz despite the separate bass unit. Erin did not publish comparable anechoic F3/F10, sensitivity or impedance figures because the system is designed around a fixed desk arrangement.
Full Kali Audio IN-UNF review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F10) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F3) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Crossovers | 280Hz LF-to-midrange; 2.8kHz midrange-to-HF |
| DSP | Yes (placement/boundary and tonal trims) |
| Dimensions | Bass module: 11.6"H x 19.4"W x 5.25"D; satellites: 6.25" diameter |
| Drivers | Bass module: two opposed 4.5" woofers; satellites: 4" coincident midrange with 1" textile-dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | USB-C, optical, 3.5mm, balanced TRS |
| Max SPL | 103dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 100W LF + 60W mid/HF per channel (continuous) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs JBL One Series 104
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Klipsch The Fives
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs NHT Pro M-00
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Edifier S1000W
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- See all 14 comparisons