Short answer: the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks #27 of 65 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $399; the NHT Pro M-00 ranks #64 and costs $498, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
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.
On the NHT Pro M-00 side: Cast aluminum-zinc alloy enclosure doubles as a heatsink for the built-in discrete Class AB amplifier, and both RCA and XLR/TRS inputs are provided with a near-field/far-field voicing switch. Set against that: Amir identified a critical flaw: a sudden suck-out in the upper bass frequencies that affects many commonly-used notes.
Buy the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks higher for sound quality than the NHT Pro M-00 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
The NHT Pro M-00 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 65 powered bookshelf speakers; there are better options higher up.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A5+ Classic | NHT Pro M-00 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 per pair | $498 per pair (used market; originally $249 each), Discontinued |
| Ranked | #27 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #64 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 83.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 59.7Hz (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) | 9H x 5.7W x 7.3D in |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (+/-1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7 kg) (left/powered), 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) (right) | 14 lbs (6.35 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5" Kevlar woofer, 0.75" silk dome tweeter | 1" ferrofluid-cooled fabric dome tweeter, 4.5" treated paper-cone woofer |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | - |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak | 75W RMS continuous, 150W peak (per speaker) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.68 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.15 | - |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | RCA variable output (subwoofer) | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Inputs | - | RCA, XLR/TRS |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Genelec 8030C
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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. 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 →
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Outputs | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.68 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.15 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| 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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NHT Pro M-00: $498 per pair (used market; originally $249 each), Discontinued eBay
Pros: A sturdy metal enclosure, analog studio/consumer connections and selectable nearfield/farfield voicing give it practical features as an older powered monitor. Measured bass extension of 83.3Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The review identifies a pronounced upper-bass cancellation, treble peaks and problematic vertical response, and strongly prefers the JBL 305P MKII in direct listening. Discontinued.
Full NHT Pro M-00 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 75W RMS continuous, 150W peak (per speaker) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 9H x 5.7W x 7.3D in |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" ferrofluid-cooled fabric dome tweeter, 4.5" treated paper-cone woofer |
| Inputs | RCA, XLR/TRS |
| Weight | 14 lbs (6.35 kg) each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons