Short answer: the Audioengine A5+ Classic. It ranks #33 of 42 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $399; the NHT Pro M-00 ranks #42 and costs $498, 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.
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 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 | NHT Pro M-00 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 | $498 pair, discontinued (used market; originally $249 each) |
| Ranked | #33 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #42 of 42 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) | 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 |
| Output Power | 50W RMS / 75W peak | 75W RMS continuous, 150W peak (per speaker) |
| Inputs | - | RCA, XLR/TRS |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier MR4 vs Klipsch The Fives
- Klipsch The Fives vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Edifier R1280DB vs Klipsch The Fives
- Edifier S1000MKII vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
- Edifier S2000MKIII 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) |
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- 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 Kali Audio IN-UNF
- Audioengine A5+ Classic vs Edifier R1280T
- See all 14 comparisons
NHT Pro M-00: $498 pair, discontinued (used market; originally $249 each)
Pros: 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.
Cons: Amir identified a critical flaw: a sudden suck-out in the upper bass frequencies that affects many commonly-used notes. Treble peaks on-axis, and vertical-axis performance is particularly problematic. In-room response turns notably bright in rooms with absorptive surfaces. Comparing directly to the JBL 305P Mark II, Amir found the NHT sounded “dead and bright” while the JBL was “balanced” with “rich and warm detail,” concluding, “I would not remotely use the NHT M-00 relative to JBL 305P Mark ii. The difference in overall fidelity and pleasantness is immense.” Long discontinued; not recommended even on the used market.
Full NHT Pro M-00 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 9H x 5.7W x 7.3D in |
| Drivers | 1" ferrofluid-cooled fabric dome tweeter, 4.5" treated paper-cone woofer |
| Inputs | RCA, XLR/TRS |
| Output Power | 75W RMS continuous, 150W peak (per speaker) |
| Weight | 14 lbs / 6.35 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons