In recent months we’ve seen more and more high-end audio solutions for the iPod. Apple gave us their $349.00 iPod Hi-Fi, a great sound in a useless box with wasted space and very few innovations. We also had Bose and Altec Lansing along with Harman and others giving us their takes on how we can give our iPods “Home Theater” sound. I listened to most of these, own a couple, and even enjoyed several, but there was something missing from each one. Some have the sound quality, while others have the design, still others had the features, but none had the complete package.
The last 2 weeks I’ve been testing the Audioengine 5 powered iPod speakers, and I must say that they have the sound, design and features that thoroughly impressed me, in fact, more then any others in this category. They are priced at $349.00 retail and are worth the money, here’s why I say that. The sound is magnificent. I am not an audiophile, but I know what I like and I like the audio quality a lot. Next is the design. Rather then taking the boom-box approach to external, high quality audio reproduction, Audioengine 5 uses two speaker-looking enclosures that can be separated for surround sound effects. The enclosures are white with rounded corners and a high-gloss piano finish. The features are what make these powered speakers so special.
Let’s look at the list of features on the Audioengine 5. Pod power charging port (combo port), 2 audio inputs, built-in power amplifier, no receiver/amp needed, power outlet for Airport Express, front panel volume control, custom Kevlar woofers for super low end, silk dome tweeters for smooth highs, built-in sub-woofers for awesome bass, hand-built and tuned cabinets w/high-gloss furniture-grade finish, magnetically shielded for placement near video monitors, 3 year transferable warranty, all cables including an AC power cable, 1/8″ audio cable, 2 meters, (2) 1/8″ audio cables, 20cm, 1/8″ to RCA “Y” cable, USB power extender cable, 1 meter speaker wire (16AWG), 3.75 meters, drawstring cable bag, drawstring speaker bags, (2) high-density foam isolation pads and setup guide. As you can tell, this sound system is well thought-out and planned with features that few other competitors offer.
For those of you that want some specifications, check theses out. Website specifications.
I use the Audioengine 5 as my home theater system with my DVD player, and TV, both of which sound amazing. When it comes to my iPod, the CD quality music sounds as nice as any home stereo system I’ve owned, but the lower quality recorded mp3′s do sound lower quality, as they do on any high-end system. They are small enough to stay out of the way, and powerful enough to fill the living room with full, rich sound.
I found only two things that could have improved my overall experience. First, you need to use your own iPod station as a stand since the Audioengine 5′s do not have a spot to place your iPod. Second, there is no remote control for the volume or the on/off control on the Audioengine 5. Both of these would have added to my enjoyment, but neither one is a deal breaker in choosing whether or not to purchase the product.
If you want an external solution for listening to the music on your iPod and use the same audio solution for your home theater set-up, the Audioengine 5 is a terrific answer for your needs. It delivers strong bass, clear highs and powerful mid-range sound. The Audioengine 5 is a strong buy.
