Today we compare two powerful speakers, the Audioengine A5+ and the Edifier S2000MKIII. Both are sizeable bookshelf speakers and offer great performance and lots of power. It would be hard to make a verdict considering there is a large difference in their price and most of their features are also different, although both are under $500. But each has its pros and cons, and that is what we will use to make a decision on which is better.
So which one is better between the Audioengine A5+ and Edifier S2000MKIII? Read on to find out!
Features Comparison of the Edifier S2000MKIII versus the Audioengine A5+
| Edifier S2000MKIII | Audioengine A5+ | |
| Power per channel | 50W | 12W |
| Capacity | 150W | 124W |
| Frequency Range | 50Hz | 48Hz |
| Connectivity | Wired and Wireless | Wired and Wireless |
| Dimensions | 10.63 x 7.09 x 7.87 inches | 16.22 x 13.78 x 19.88 inches |
| Colour | Black, Wood | Black, Brown, White, Wood |
| Price | Find out the latest Price | Find out the latest Price |
The best way to get a clear picture on which one is better is to do a toe to toe comparison of every little detail about these two speakers.
Audioengine A5+ Key Specifications
- Review Price $499.00
- 150W maximum power output
- AKM AK4396 built-in D/A converter
- 100ft wireless connectivity range
- 50Hz to 22kHZ frequency response
- Manually switchable input voltages
- Dual-class AB monolithic amplifier
- 5-inch aramid woofers and ¾-inch silk dome tweeters
Edifier S2000MKIII Key Specifications
- Review Price: $499.99
- Hi-Res Audio certified
- aptX-HD Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Weight 17.1kg
- Dimensions (WHD, mm) 198 x 276 x 342mm
Audioengine A5+ Build Design
The Audioengine A5+ speakers are made of MDF material making them strong and hardy. The material is also the reason why they are heavier and larger than other Audioengine’s A-series speakers.
The front of both the left and right speakers have a ¾-inch silk dome and 5-inch woofer. The left speaker has a bit more components for it has the power indicator, remote receiver and also the volume control knob.
Unlike the Edifier S2000MKIII, the Audioengine A5+ has a wider frequency response ranging between 50 Hz and 22 kHz. It therefore has a greater capacity to handle higher frequency sounds.
If you opt for the Audioengine A5+ you will have only several color options to pick from; the Hi-Gloss white, Wood and Satin Black making it a bit versatile in terms of finding the best color finishes most suitable for your space.
Edifier S2000MKIII Build Design
The Edifier S2000MKIII is quite big when you consider that it is meant to be a bookshelf speaker. It is huge and also heavy. But it has a very nice finish made of wood panel. It also has a rear bass port.
As soon as you get a glimpse of it when you remove it from the box, you will immediately fall in love because of its elegant outward appearance. The pair is very stylish and designed nicely. It is obvious the manufacturer designed them to last and can withstand hard knocks. The combined weight of both of them is 17.1 Kg, which is quite heavy for bookshelf speakers.
The front of the speakers has a grille but it is removable, although you need to apply quite a bit of force to do that. The grilles can make the speakers look ugly, thankfully you do not have to keep them on if you don’t like the look.
One outstanding feature is the OLED LCD screen at the bottom of the right speaker which shows you details regarding the volume, input source and sound modes. However, the display at certain angles is slightly blocked by the grille, but this will not be a problem for those that prefer to have the speakers without the grille.
The bottom of both speakers has some nice gold coated feet that keeps the speakers clear of anything that could damage the speakers or scratch the beautiful finish.
All the connections and dials are at the rear of the right speaker. The only connections connected to the left speaker is that of a cable that plugs into the right speaker and a rear bass port for better bass output. Because of the rear bass port on both the left and right speakers, it is recommended that your keep these speakers close to the wall for better output.
Unlike for the Audioengine A5+, the power cord is non-detachable. Such a design can pose problems in the future in the unfortunate incident that the power cord is damaged, because that would mean you have to send the entire speaker for repair and replacement of the broken cord. However, this poor design is well compensated for by the beautiful remote.
Audioengine A5+ Sound Quality
Audioengine A5+ speakers are quite versatile and prove invaluable when used for TV, computers or turntable audio devices.
The design and positioning of ports and features is what makes this speaker even better. The RCA inputs and jack inputs are located just below the Bluetooth antenna which makes it easy to connect because of the easy access.
The power consumption is constant throughout at 4W even in sleep mode making them great for conservation of power.
The sound output from these speakers is great but it is not enough to beat the powerful sound produced by Edifier S2000MKIII speakers.
Edifier S2000MKIII Sound Quality
With the Edifier S2000MKIII, you should not expect anything short of great sound. The 5.5” woofer and quality tweeter gives a great punch to the sound which also comes out crisp clear and rich. You will have a great listening experience with these speakers, one that will leave the music singing in your head long after it has ended because of the sweetness.
The best thing is that the specifications allows the speaker to cover a good audio spectrum all the way from 40Hz up to 45 KHz. The difference that such a range offers is give you a deeper bass from the bass guitar and kick drums and the trebles and percussion instruments will also come out clearer. Because of its great power, you can enjoy all kinds of music including the kind that demand higher power with no negative effect to the sound quality allowing you to keep listening without getting tired.
Remember that the tweeter has a power capacity of 15W, which is good for the mid and treble frequencies. However, there is a downside that when the volume levels are very low they can be overwhelmed and start sounding distorted and muddy. To enjoy a good regular sound, avoid volume levels that are too low as this limits the tweeters from giving you the bright and clear sound that you need.
The best part is that you can always know at which volume levels your speakers sound best for your type of music because of the OLED display. If the speakers are turned on, they have a built-in system of remembering the previous volume level unless it was too high in which case they automatically dial it back down for safety purposes which is a very exciting intelligent feature.
With the controls at the rear, you can always make adjustments to tune the sound to your specifications. There are four pre-sets, if you are keen you will note the difference though they may seem to sound almost the same to some hearers.
All in all, the sound quality is very good from this Edifier model and it gives a pleasant listening experience. You are free to go as high as you want with the volume levels and still enjoy undistorted sound because of the great power of this speaker.
Audioengine A5+ Features and Accessories
You will get a remote control when you purchase these speakers, but the functionality is very limited. The remote only serves to adjust the volume and there are no bass and treble adjustment options.
Expect to get 13 feet of speaker cable and mini jack cable and RCA audio cables both 6.5 feet in length. If you want speaker stands you will have to purchase them separately. If you are the kind of person that prefers to mount your speakers on the wall, expect to face challenges with the Audioengine A5+ because they have no mounting holes. It is best not to mount them on the wall though because they are quite heavy, but not as heavy as the Edifier.
A great feature of the Audioengine A5+ speakers is their thermal protection making them hard to overheat and safe to use as desktop speakers. They also have a feature that limits the output current and voltage which is great for your peace of mind.
Edifier S2000MKIII Features and Accessories
You should expect to get a 3.5mm to RCA cable and also a RCA to RCA connecting cable. In addition, the package also comes with a remote which is handy in case you want to make adjustments without having to keep reaching out to the rear side of the speakers. Other cables that you will find are the optical and speaker connecting cables.
The speaker also has Bluetooth functionality, it is the 5.0 Qualcomm aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity which is very reliable. The advantage of this is that it eliminates the need for connecting cables and unnecessary wires apart from the power cable. Another awesome feature is the Hi-Res audio support functionality of the speakers.
Why You Should Buy the Audioengine A5+
- If you want speakers that are manufactured with adherence to the highest levels of standard.
- If you are looking for a system that will function for many years without failure.
- If you want 3-year warranty for a product and also need to test and see it fits your desires because it has a 30 days window period in which you can return the product after purchase in case you feel disappointed with it.
However, you should ready to play the music at medium volume levels as playing high levels repeatedly will interfere with the audio playback capabilities overtime.
Also, you may be a bit disappointed with the bass output since the Audioengine A5+ are not as good with high bass and you may need to compliment by connecting them with a subwoofer.
Why You Should Buy the Edifier S2000MKIII
- You are in search of great sound quality. The Edifier S2000MKIII will give you quality sound that is unparalleled by the Audioengine A5+ and you will be glad you made the purchase.
- You want speakers that have versatile connectivity. I can confidently say that the Edifier S2000MKIII is a great alternative to a soundbar for your TV and the great build and Hi-res audio support makes it attractive and beautifies your room in addition to giving you quality sound.
- You are looking for speakers of the audiophile scale yet small enough for desktop use. Although they are big in comparison to other desktop speakers, they are in the scale of audiophiles and highly recommended.
Pros and Cons of Edifier S2000MKIII vs Audioengine A5+
| Edifier S2000MKIII | Audioengine A5+ |
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Final Verdict
Without a doubt, the Edifier S2000MKIII carries the day, as the better speaker. Below is the summarized version on the aspects that makes it better than the Audioengine A5+.
Although the Edifier S2000MKIII is very different in comparison to the Audioengine A5+ because each has a unique style, the Edifier S2000MKIII is elegant and very classy minus the ugly grilles while the Audioengine A5+ is modernized and simplistic.
Both speakers are sturdy and built with quality in mind. However, the Edifier has more and better features. Both have Bluetooth connectivity and remote control functionality, but the digital inputs functionality make the Edifier a better speaker. The Audioengine does have a remote control but it lacks digital inputs. A subwoofer output is the only feature that the Audioengine has which is missing in the Edifier.
During operation, you will notice a hiss sound coming out of the Audioengine A5+ while the Edifier S2000MKIII is totally silent. The tonal balance is also higher in the Edifier S2000MKIII, while the Audioengine A5+ seems to specialize in the midrange and treble offering clearer sound at those levels, but that has nothing to do with its quality but more about the volume levels. When it comes to the real quality of the sound, the Edifier S2000MKIII offers smoother and clearer treble output.
The biggest advantage the Edifier S2000MKIII has over the Audioengine A5+ is its stronger and dynamic bass output. The Audioengine A5+ has a disgusting boom at higher bass ranges and lacks the kind of punch and depth that you will get with the Edifier S2000MKIII.
As far as quality and sound is concerned, the Edifier S2000MKIII is your best option.
Which one will you go for? Please leave a comment and let us know. Happy buying!
