Audioengine excels in making high-quality speakers at affordable prices and it is a brand that is well-regarded by both casual listeners and audiophiles. The P4 passive bookshelf speakers are one of Audioengine’s more notable loudspeakers. It is compact in size and makes them ideal to be part of a desktop sound system. Unlike the Audioengine’s active speakers, the P4 will require an external amplifier to power them and the real question is, which amplifier should we go for?
In order for us to answer this question, we must first learn more about the Audioengine P4 passive speakers such as their sonic prowess and characteristics including their limitations if there are any. By gaining more knowledge on the P4, we will then be able to find matching amplifiers that will pair really well with these passive speakers. We will be preparing a list of the best amplifiers to partner with the Audioengine P4 speakers and will be shared with you later on.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Limitations of Audioengine P4
The Audioengine P4 may be affordably priced but they sure don’t look like one. The various finishes do provide us with the opportunity to fit these speakers nicely into our listening room and will aesthetically match with most amplifiers without any issue. If you choose the bamboo finish, you will need to pay a bit more though. We do suggest sticking with either satin black or high-gloss white as they look good enough to us. They are really compact in size, with small drivers which are 0.75″ silk dome tweeter and 4″ (100mm) aramid fiber woofer. It has a front-firing bass port/slot and this allows us to place them closer to walls. As you can see, their size and speaker design make them ideal desktop speakers.
More Details at Amazon – Audioengine P4 Passive Speakers
Their frequency response is really impressive for speakers of their size, it is 60Hz-22kHz (+/-1.5dB). Still, they probably will need a subwoofer to supplement their bass performance. The recommended amplifier power starts from 10W and goes all the way up to 125W. Their nominal impedance is 4 Ohms and the speaker sensitivity is 88dB. These specs do show that the Audioengine P4 passive speakers are not easy to drive and it will be wise to go for amplifiers with decent power outputs at least. For nearfield music listening, you might be fine with low-powered amps but you can’t really play the speakers at too high volume levels without risking clipping the amp.
The Audioengine P4 speakers’ bass performance is fuller sounding than expected but seems to be emphasized and does not go deep enough into the bass extension which is as expected. The low ends are light in weight, you can try pushing them nearer to the walls to have a slight boost in bass. This might muddle the midrange reproduction so the next logical step will be to add an active subwoofer into the mix. With a subwoofer supplementing the overall bass performance, your sound system can deliver deeper bass responses and with punchier music delivery. For listeners who listen to bass-heavy soundtracks, integrating a subwoofer will be highly recommended as the Audioengine P4 alone won’t be able to deliver satisfying low frequencies.
The higher frequencies are clear sounding and the highs are a bit bright. They do present plenty of details and the stereo imaging is good for the price. The Audioengine P4 does sound bigger than it should be which is cool. It would work really well in small listening rooms, anything bigger will be too much for the P4 speakers to handle. The overall sound reproduction is clean, playing them back at high volume and you will notice how polished the background is. These Audioengine P4 passive speakers may sound a bit bright at times but fortunately, they never sounded cringe.
These compact speakers will excel as part of an entry-level desktop sound system. It does have its flaws such as the audibility of subtle details and nuances are not as clear as we expect them to be. They can be a touch polite and adding a subwoofer will help. The active sub might also help to open up the soundstage and fill the room with more musical presences. Here is the list of the best amplifiers which you can go for and match with your Audioengine P4 passive speakers. We have taken the amps’ price points into account and would not include amplifiers that cost a lot more than the P4 speakers themselves.
Audioengine P4 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way (Front-firing bass slot)
- Drive Units: 0.75″ Silk Dome Tweeter, 4″ (100mm) Aramid Fiber Woofer
- Frequency Response: 60Hz-22kHz (+/-1.5dB)
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 10-125 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 4 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 88dB
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 234mm x 140mm x 165mm | 9.2″ x 5.5″ x 6.5″
- Weight: 2.7kg (6lbs)
Best Amplifiers to match with Audioengine P4
The NAD D 3020 V2 is one of the best amplifiers to match with the Audioengine P4 passive speakers. It is also one of the most compact digital amplifiers which makes it an excellent amp choice for a desktop sound system setup. With such a small footprint (stands upright), you can almost place the D 3020 V2 anywhere on your table. The NAD D 3020 V2 has a built-in DAC that supports up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution and has a subwoofer output for listeners who want to improve the bass performance by connecting to an active sub. It is quite a neutral-sounding amp and will match well with the Audioengine P4 speakers.
More Information at Amazon – NAD D 3020 V2 Digital Amplifier
The Denon PMA-600NE will be another amazing entry-level amplifier to go with your Audioengine P4 speakers. It has a rated power output of 70 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms and will be enough to drive the P4 passive speakers efficiently. There is a built-in D/A converter supporting up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution and a phono preamp for MM cartridges. Turntable users will be delighted to know there is an Analog Mode feature where you can switch it on to improve the clarity and details of analog sources. The Denon PMA-600NE even comes with Bluetooth connectivity providing even more value for its users.
For listeners with a tighter budget, the Onkyo TX-8220 will be an ideal choice for you and your Audioengine P4 speakers. Not only the TX-8220 stereo receiver is powerful enough to drive the P4 speakers, but it also comes with a plethora of features as well. It has a built-in DAC, MM phono input, Bluetooth for music streaming, a dedicated subwoofer output to connect an active sub, and others. The overall bass performance is good and if you use the Direct Mode, the overall sound reproduction becomes clearer and cleaner sounding. The level of music details is impressive for an amp at this price point.
More Information at Amazon – Onkyo TX-8220 Stereo Receiver with Bluetooth
If you prefer a warm-sounding stereo system, the Marantz PM5005 will be one of the best amplifiers to go for and pair with the Audioengine P4 passive speakers. Firstly, the PM5005 has a rated power output of 55W per channel into 4 Ohms and will be able to drive your P4s. The smooth music delivery and warmish sonic characteristics will ease the hard edges, delivering to you a musical presentation that is easy on the ears and full-bodied. The midrange reproduction of the Marantz PM5005 will complement the Audioengine P4 really well and also provide better control over the overall bass performance.
More Info at Amazon – Marantz PM5005 Integrated Amplifier with Phono MM EQ
The PS Audio Sprout100 is probably the best amplifier to go for, it has a power output of 100 Watts per channel (both channels driven) into 4 Ohms and will drive the Audioengine P4 speakers with ease. The compact size makes this integrated amp very suitable for desktop use, not to mention, there is a high-quality headphone amplifier which you can use for some private music listening. There are plenty more features that come with the Sprout100 like the premium ESS Sabre 9016 DAC, moving magnet phono preamp, built-in Bluetooth receiver, and more. The warm sonic character of the PS Audio Sprout100 will be a good match with the Audioengine P4 as well.
More Information at Amazon – PS Audio Sprout100 DAC Amp (Real Walnut)
For subwoofers, you can either go with the Audioengine S8 powered subwoofer which should match really well with your Audioengine P4 speakers since both of them are made by the same company. Or invest a little more and get a higher performance subwoofer such as the SVS PB-1000. It is a powerful entry-level 10″ ported subwoofer with up to 720 Watts of peak power. The frequency response is remarkable as well, it is 19Hz-270Hz (+/-3dB). The level of performance you will get from the SVS PB-1000 is well worth every penny invested, and it will be great for home theater use too.
More Information at Amazon – Audioengine S8 Powered Subwoofer (Black)
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 10″ Ported Subwoofer (Black Ash)
To Sum It Up
These amplifiers will work really well with the Audioengine P4 passive speakers and we highly suggest you pick a few of them for auditions. You can shortlist these amplifiers either by their prices or features or both. You might want to use some of your favorite music and songs during the auditioning of these amplifiers. If you are planning to add an active subwoofer into the mix, it will be wise to include the sub during the auditions as the subwoofer will affect the overall sound quality.
