Audioengine

Hi. I've been interested in digital and analogue electronics for many decades, and have developed a bit of an audiophile hobby over the years. I am… Read more

not a sound engineer, but I also know a lot about speakers, audio and engineering. I first owned an Audioengine A2+, then Neumann KH-120 mkii Studio Monitor System, and now the subject of this review: the Audioengine HD5.

I’ve loved my pair of Audioengine A2+ since 2018 (which if paired with a subwoofer, are a very decent system), and I also previously owned a pair of the Neumann KH-120 mkii Studio Monitors. In early 2026, I bought a pair of Audioengine HD5 speakers, having been put off the larger HD6 by the problematic 1-inch treble driver the HD6 uses [i.e. the HD6’s shelved-down treble], of which the HD5 does not suffer from.

The first thing to say is the HD5 is a very attractive speaker with a great fit n finish. The wood-veneer cabinets are excellent (mine are in walnut, which I recommend), and there are no visible signs even on close inspection of any join or gaps - kudos to Audioengine. I had no doubt opening the box that this was a top-quality product, and I was very pleased with the system’s look and feel and set-up was a breeze. The brushed aluminium stripe on the bottom, and whole presentation is excellent … bar the old-fashioned plastic grey waveguide look a bit too out of place and simple for such an elegant speaker.

But speakers are more about how they sound, not how they look, and I suspect that is what you are reading this review for. I came into the HD5 having a very good idea what their shortcoming would be, as I’d reviewed their technical specs prior, and as we will see that is all borne out in this review….

Comparisons: I’d like to start out this review with some comparisons. I should point out the following connections: A2+ on a computer, via USB 3.0 port. No subwoofer. Neumann KH-120 mkii on same computer, via USB 3.0 port then onto DSD USB to digital Co-Ax converter [which the manufacturer says limits the Dynamic Range to 100dB or so when the KH-120 mkii’s can do about 112dB Dynamic range]. HD5 were tested on the same computer as the above two, via a 2012 Asus motherboard’s TOSlink digital optical. I should say that as I am nearly 50, so my hearing might not be what it used to be as well.

OK. Obviously the Neumann KH-120 mkii outclass any Audioengine speaker, but even given their $2, 700 price tag, I was shocked how much the A2+’s treble stood up to them. I found little to no real difference between the treble on all three speakers, perhaps the Neumann was a bit clearer, open, airy and had slightly better tonality and ‘rightness’ about it but there was not that much in it. As expected by their size and the A2+’s bass-boost, the Neumann certainly sounded clearer and better the lower they went. Midrange on the KH-120 mkii was noticeably better than the A2+. But the really-deep bass on the Neumann blew the HD5 out of the water (and same for the HD5). That said, many a time I had to check if the little A2+ was selected or was it the Neumann speakers because it was that close of a race. I’d say the main difference was the body and ‘presence’ of the KH-120 mkii being omni-present as well as the Neumann glorious low-bass.

So, how did the HD5 compare with the little A2+? Well, as expected from the technical specs, the HD5 did not outclass the A2+ in every way. I say this because the one real concern I had was that the peak power output of the HD5 is only 50% more than the RMS wattage (100W RMS vs 150 peak). A “real” amp like the Cambridge CXA-80 has (off the top of my head) 700 Watts Peak for 160 Watts RMS. As expected, the HD5 sounds a bit ‘flat’, ‘thumpy’, and ‘compressed’, even compared with the little A2+ speakers. It is noticeable, and it is one of my pet hates and, in my book, reminds me of clipping in a recording. Sure the HD5 is obviously better overall, but I think AE ought to have made these 75 Watt RMS speakers and kept the peak at least 2x the RMS wattage. There just isn’t quite an acceptable sense of scale and dynamics during sudden jumps in the input signal level such as ‘orchestra hits’.

But, the HD5 were a lot clearer and airier than the A2+ speakers, had more bass extension, and went a bit deeper. I think the mid-range clarity was the most noticeable advantage over the A2+. Putting aside the lack of sudden power for short bursts, the HD5 clearly outclasses the A2+ in every other way and is, overall, a better speaker. Again: The Audioengine speakers sound clearer than they are, including the HD5, as the bass is MIA ... turn the EQ up and add bass and they sound just as muffled as any computer speaker.

Now, let’s compare the bass. Obviously, the HD5 get crushed by the Neumann KH-120 mkii on the ‘body/presence’ and deep low-end stuff, both in terms of extension and depth … and the bass quality of the HD5 just doesn’t compare to the KH monitors. The real lower and deeper bass is MIA, as expected on all Audioengine speakers. The HD5 simply cannot compete with the KH-120 mkii, but it still has some impressive, but light, low-bass and it’s a lot more extended on the lower-bass than the little A2+.

When compared with the A2+ with bass around the 125Hz region (about where the A2+ has it’s equalization/bass-boost centred), then this upper-bass is about equal in terms of extension with the smaller A2+ speaker, which is illustrated by U2’s “With Or Without You” bass line. But as we go deeper in the bass, then the HD6 shines thru more and more due to it’s larger cabinet and bigger woofer, with tracks such as Rodriguez’s Aranjuez and Ghostbusters pop-theme song both with noticeable more lower-bass extension. But it’s still not where it should be on the HD5.

Dress-ups: This brings me to my main point. What is the HD5, essentially? The HD5 uses the exact same (old!) drivers as the A5+ (maybe even the same as the original A5 from 2006 or so as far as I can tell). Most speaker companies such as HEDD update their cone material and other driver characteristics for newer models and would never put 10-20 year old drivers on a “new” system. Think of KEF and their meta-material tweeter system.

I believe the HD5 is mostly a dressed-up A5+ Wireless, with mainly mere cosmetic enhancements. One improvement over the A5+ is the HD5’s TOSlink port … but the HD5 is still using the old dinosaur DAC chip [depending on who you ask, it is the old one made in 2003/2004 or the AKM AK4396A – both old], as opposed to the newer Sabre chips AE were using for a time in the D1. You’d think AE would have updated at least some of the technology to their latest chips for the new speakers. Of course, this doesn’t mean a thing if you use the unbalanced analogue inputs.

So, the only real difference in the audio over the A5+ is that the HD5 uses a slightly different size and shape of cabinet, which is slightly smaller in volume than the A5+ Wireless. That’s right: smaller. As the laws of physics dictate, the natural bass on the HD5 thereby slightly less than the A5+ Wireless (and don’t try to pretend using EQ to make up that lost bass is acceptable). The HD5 is a shallower in depth than the A5+ Wireless and so it does help having it further from the wall when used as a desktop speaker [which it is]. The HD5 also has a different (presumably better) heat-sink on the rear as well. But this is all just window dressing, I want a better and new amp and a flatter frequency response to warrant these being billed as a ‘new’ model.

I cannot condone this, it’s just selling old tech as new. It is yesterday’s technology, and while it still stands up today, it’s not going to hold up too much longer. I imagine there are better desktop options at this price point (such as from Adam or Fostex and so on). You would not buy a 2006 CPU or video-monitor for your computer, so shame on AE for this cheap move. So, why are AE selling what is a dinosaur of a speaker in 2026 by rebadging it? They just want to ride the A2+ and A5+ speaker wave forever by changing only their marketing. I think AE has changed hands or lost it’s vision, or just can’t do the R&D to “keep up with the Jones’”. I expected a new amplifier with a tighter Frequency Response curve for the HD5, perhaps it does have a better amp, but I really do not think so, and AE themselves seem to imply that on their own website.

I Emailed Audioengine and challenged them to show just one component or part that upgraded the sound from the old A5+ Wireless and AE did not respond (i.e. like they did not respond to Stereophile magazine when they busted AE marketing lies that the little A2+ doesn’t use a bass boost).

Ending on a High Note: I’ve exposed many of the faults of the HD5, but by no means are they bad speakers. The clarity and details is noticeably better than the little A2+. I was using TOSlink (Toshiba-link) digital optical and that helps out a bit. The most impressive thing was the noise floor of the HD5 was vanishing … I mean I really can’t hear a thing unless I have my ears right up to the drivers. I thought, perhaps, the HD5 cut-off the power to the drivers when idle and that is why there was no self-noise, so I tried a Reference Recordings track of Reveries (with low signal level) and waited until the orchestra feel quiet … there was significant hiss when ears were right up to the speakers but much better than many other systems and nothing that is a concern when sitting 75cm or more away where I hear nothing. So, the HD5 has a practical performance in this area at 75cm away that is as good as the Neumann speakers (I can’t hear it at all), but not as good as the Neumann KH-120 mk-ii on paper or at silly-close listening distances. In this age of EQ, if you are using speakers at a fixed listening position, I think things like low-noise can be more important than frequency response and bass. You can always add a sub, you cannot subtract from a noisy speaker. That said, the frequency response on the HD5 is certainly not bad, it’s fairly good, and has a fairly natural sound like all it’s AE siblings.

The treble is also classy, like all AE speakers, and compared very well with Neumann KH-120 mkii. In fact, it was close enough that sometimes when listening to treble-only tracks I had to check which speakers I had selected when switching. Perhaps the KH-120 mk-ii was a bit airier, a bit clearer, and a slight bit more natural and accurate … but not by much. Given the price differential, the AE HD5 wins out here.

Mid-range and general sound of these speakers lends to long and frequent listening, and they sound great. Listening to 80’s pop with them is a joy, and jazz, Broadway, classical or anything they rose to the occasion.

Conclusion: An audition of the HD5 is recommended: They are not an impulse buy like the cheaper A2+. Strongly recommended is you use a test-track on the HD5 (try the 7th Guest game soundtrack by George Sanger (“The Fat Man”) using the track “Short Intro” and compare the orchestra hits between the A2+ (or another speaker with more peak power) and see what you think. There is a definite loss of energy and short-term power with the HD5. I am not quite sure I can recommend the Audioengine HD5 to bass lovers, unless they add the S8 Gen 2 subwoofer or the Adam T-10S sub. I bought mine at $650, or thereabouts, with a good deal/bundle from JB HiFi, and this review is based on that price. I don’t think they are value at the AUS $899 they are often listed at. It’s not they are a bad speaker, far from it, but they are competing with some competent mini-monitors at the RRP price range.

Nor would I upgrade the A2+ to the HD5 if you just want more bass or presence. There isn’t that much in it, and I think the money is best spend on a subwoofer for the A2+ (or HD3 if you have that one and it’s high-pass filter).

But they are a good speaker, they look fabulous in walnut, and are good value when on sale. I am satisfied with them and they are doing a sterling service.

An audition of the HD5 is highly recommended.

Pros: • Very sweet and classy treble from a very high quality tweeter driver (3/4” silk dome custom in-house tweeter). • Clear sound, not in any way muffled at all. • Mid-range is very clear and detailed. • TOSlink digital Optical input. • Built in 24-bit DAC. • Suitable for near-field or medium sized room use, flexible. • Thick, real-wood inert cabinets. Has a lovely classy finish, especially walnut. • Protective grilles. • Built-in Class A/B analogue amplifier with low distortion [typical 0.05%]. • Decent woofer (5” Kevlar/Aramid) • Relatively low self-noise. • Can mix inputs so you can listen to multiple sources at once. • Tight bass (for a ported speaker). • Ports to connect a subwoofer(s). • Great sound-layering/separation. • Natural tone/sound overall. • Decent wattage.

Cons: • They sound a bit compressed, and lack significant fire and energy even compared with the cheaper A2+. I suspect it may be due to the lower peak-power reserve of the HD5. Perhaps they should be 35W RMS/channel? • Bass can be a little bit thumpy or flat. Bass and speakers sound poor at high volumes with a lot of low end and better for quiet listening. • Still limited bass extension and could do with a subwoofer. • Good clarity, but that is easier to achieve when low-bass is drained off, and if I use the EQ to add more bass they soon muffle over. • Banana Plugs are a bit stiff to load into the binding posts at first. • No new amp, or drivers, over the older A5+ models make them seem a bit like yesterday’s technology. • Not worth the $900 AUS, get them on sale and they are a good deal.