Testimonials
Hear what our customers are saying about us:
"Dear Jason
I thought I'd write to give you my thoughts about the Audioengine A5 speakers I recently purchased from you. Firstly, I am delighted with the purchase, they are everything that's been written about them in many reviews around the internet. It is frankly nothing short of amazing how such a rich and true source of sound can emanate from two such small boxes. They are, I admit, my first major audio purchase in 23 years, the latest was a set of small speakers from a company working in Waihi, called Boland Acoustics. My amplifier was a Rotel purchased 35 years ago in the UK. I have also used for many years a pair of Castle Kendal speakers also about 35 years old, full-sized floor speakers, but now too big for my needs - it was a change in my furnishings that precipitated my buying the Audioengines. I had thought of keeping my Bolands, and purchasing a small but quality receiver, the only proviso being it had to fit, literally, in a bookshelf, with 10" shelves. Despite widespread searching in local retailers, Yamaha, Denon, Marantz etc had nothing that suited, their depth always defeated me, and they were expensive too. It was then I read about the Audioengines, with so many good reviews, I eventually made up my mind to take the plunge to purchase them, sight unseen, sound unheard.
They fit in my 10" deep bookshelf with ease, and there's no need to find room for an amplifier separately. My initial concerns that placing them only 2" from the rear panel of the bookcase might really spoil the sound is not a significant issue. In addition, I read from some postings that the left speaker with the amplifier in it can get really hot, and cut out. I thought the relative lack of ventilation in the shelf might be then be a problem, but the left speaker, in normal domestic use at any rate, barely gets discernibly warm, I have intentionally left a 4" gap on either side to give them room to breathe and the sound to disperse. These other internet posters must have been pumping out their music at incredible volumes to have had their experience with a hot speaker.
I have a good sized sitting room, about 6 m x 4.5 m, with an 11ft stud, but putting the volume control at about 10-11 o'clock, and streaming my music, mostly classical and jazz, wirelessly over an Airport Express using iTunes on my laptop computer, gives me plenty of volume to fill the room more loudly than is comfortable to listen to, if I wish. I can enjoy a Sibelius symphony with plenty of cello and base "kick" to bring the hairs up on the back of my neck, but at the same time vocals, a very difficult test for any speaker, sound wonderfully realistic and neutral. Despite their ability to be turned up to a ear-paining volume level, the speakers are not harsh or unmusical, and seem to preserve their composure at all normal volumes. I have tried a few more popular and modern recordings as well, such as "Beaches" and "Gracelands" and the amount of base available is remarkable - I fear for the speakers, but I assume they are indeed tough enough. I just have to accept that audio-engineering has come a long way in the last 25-35 years. (As an aside, I would advise anyone wishing to use these speakers to their best advantage, to encode their MP3s or AAC audio files at least at 250kbps - they do take more room, obviously, but it would be a shame to shortchange the speakers. An iPod classic 160gb could still hold the equivalent of nearly 1,000 CDs even at this rate of encoding, and most people have more than enough room now on their computers for audiostreaming their entire collection at this higher encoding rate.)
Any points that are a concern? Nothing major, but perhaps a few. The speakers are obviously quality products, right out of the box you can feel the heft and solidity, and appreciate the quality of the finish. However in my traditionally furnished room, in a rimu bookcase, they look a bit out of place, an obvious mechanical contrivance. They are not wife-friendly. The bamboo version would be nice, which you haven't got, and they are also a lot more expensive for no sonic benefit. Might I suggest to you, and Audioengine, that a version brought out in a tasteful dark maroon might look a bit more classy in such an environment and wouldn't need to be any more expensive? Similarly, grilles are not a feature of these speakers, whilst I recognise the possible sonic reason for this, a set of dark maroon speakers with a black grille would give customers a choice and fit in more appropriately in many domestic situations. I think Audioengine are selling their product a bit short by emphasising their iPod/computer/monitor origins, they make a fine basis for a high quality stereo system for any family or household; anyone other than an extremist audiophile should be proud to own and use such a quality product. The on/off switch at the back is a bit of a nuisance, especially where I have installed the speaker. I can't find any statement as to what use of power there is in standby mode. Also the plug at the back is American, and not much use to us here in New Zealand. An adaptor might be a useful accessory to provide.
I am eventually going to install an Apple TV unit, and use this to hold my entire music library, but for the moment I am very happy with the music that comes courtesy of all this electronic wizardry!
Cheers"
— J M (Wellington)
I thought I'd write to give you my thoughts about the Audioengine A5 speakers I recently purchased from you. Firstly, I am delighted with the purchase, they are everything that's been written about them in many reviews around the internet. It is frankly nothing short of amazing how such a rich and true source of sound can emanate from two such small boxes. They are, I admit, my first major audio purchase in 23 years, the latest was a set of small speakers from a company working in Waihi, called Boland Acoustics. My amplifier was a Rotel purchased 35 years ago in the UK. I have also used for many years a pair of Castle Kendal speakers also about 35 years old, full-sized floor speakers, but now too big for my needs - it was a change in my furnishings that precipitated my buying the Audioengines. I had thought of keeping my Bolands, and purchasing a small but quality receiver, the only proviso being it had to fit, literally, in a bookshelf, with 10" shelves. Despite widespread searching in local retailers, Yamaha, Denon, Marantz etc had nothing that suited, their depth always defeated me, and they were expensive too. It was then I read about the Audioengines, with so many good reviews, I eventually made up my mind to take the plunge to purchase them, sight unseen, sound unheard.
They fit in my 10" deep bookshelf with ease, and there's no need to find room for an amplifier separately. My initial concerns that placing them only 2" from the rear panel of the bookcase might really spoil the sound is not a significant issue. In addition, I read from some postings that the left speaker with the amplifier in it can get really hot, and cut out. I thought the relative lack of ventilation in the shelf might be then be a problem, but the left speaker, in normal domestic use at any rate, barely gets discernibly warm, I have intentionally left a 4" gap on either side to give them room to breathe and the sound to disperse. These other internet posters must have been pumping out their music at incredible volumes to have had their experience with a hot speaker.
I have a good sized sitting room, about 6 m x 4.5 m, with an 11ft stud, but putting the volume control at about 10-11 o'clock, and streaming my music, mostly classical and jazz, wirelessly over an Airport Express using iTunes on my laptop computer, gives me plenty of volume to fill the room more loudly than is comfortable to listen to, if I wish. I can enjoy a Sibelius symphony with plenty of cello and base "kick" to bring the hairs up on the back of my neck, but at the same time vocals, a very difficult test for any speaker, sound wonderfully realistic and neutral. Despite their ability to be turned up to a ear-paining volume level, the speakers are not harsh or unmusical, and seem to preserve their composure at all normal volumes. I have tried a few more popular and modern recordings as well, such as "Beaches" and "Gracelands" and the amount of base available is remarkable - I fear for the speakers, but I assume they are indeed tough enough. I just have to accept that audio-engineering has come a long way in the last 25-35 years. (As an aside, I would advise anyone wishing to use these speakers to their best advantage, to encode their MP3s or AAC audio files at least at 250kbps - they do take more room, obviously, but it would be a shame to shortchange the speakers. An iPod classic 160gb could still hold the equivalent of nearly 1,000 CDs even at this rate of encoding, and most people have more than enough room now on their computers for audiostreaming their entire collection at this higher encoding rate.)
Any points that are a concern? Nothing major, but perhaps a few. The speakers are obviously quality products, right out of the box you can feel the heft and solidity, and appreciate the quality of the finish. However in my traditionally furnished room, in a rimu bookcase, they look a bit out of place, an obvious mechanical contrivance. They are not wife-friendly. The bamboo version would be nice, which you haven't got, and they are also a lot more expensive for no sonic benefit. Might I suggest to you, and Audioengine, that a version brought out in a tasteful dark maroon might look a bit more classy in such an environment and wouldn't need to be any more expensive? Similarly, grilles are not a feature of these speakers, whilst I recognise the possible sonic reason for this, a set of dark maroon speakers with a black grille would give customers a choice and fit in more appropriately in many domestic situations. I think Audioengine are selling their product a bit short by emphasising their iPod/computer/monitor origins, they make a fine basis for a high quality stereo system for any family or household; anyone other than an extremist audiophile should be proud to own and use such a quality product. The on/off switch at the back is a bit of a nuisance, especially where I have installed the speaker. I can't find any statement as to what use of power there is in standby mode. Also the plug at the back is American, and not much use to us here in New Zealand. An adaptor might be a useful accessory to provide.
I am eventually going to install an Apple TV unit, and use this to hold my entire music library, but for the moment I am very happy with the music that comes courtesy of all this electronic wizardry!
Cheers"
— J M (Wellington)
"Hi Jason,received the AW1 ok.It fitted together very easily and both transmitter and receiver connected straight away.My laptop is in my integral garage,away from my tidy freak spouse,the distance is aprox. 6 meters away from the receiver with 2 walls in between, which is connected to my N.ad c720 bee amplifier.The audio reception from my flac audio files was as good as the audio from my Nad c542 cd player.I walked my laptop around my house from bedroom to bedrom etc. with no loss of quality and also no electrical interference or hiss.Nice clear sound.--thanks."
— T S (Christchurch)
— T S (Christchurch)
"Regarding the A5 Speakers.
Hi Jason,
The speakers turned up today & all I can say is they sound amazing!
I’m tempted to buy another set just to keep in my office….
Thanks & regards,"
— Jeremy J (Auckland)
Hi Jason,
The speakers turned up today & all I can say is they sound amazing!
I’m tempted to buy another set just to keep in my office….
Thanks & regards,"
— Jeremy J (Auckland)
"Regarding the A2 Speakers.
Hi Jason, just thought I'd let you know, the speakers arrived this morning with no issues. Sounds fantastic! Thanks again,"
— Aristya
Hi Jason, just thought I'd let you know, the speakers arrived this morning with no issues. Sounds fantastic! Thanks again,"
— Aristya