The Audioengine A5+ is one of the best desktop speaker choices to go for, it has excellent sound quality and provides plenty of value to its users. It has a modest price tag and as a pair of active speakers, the A5+ has a built-in amplifier providing even more value by allowing the users to save on not having the need to get additional power amps. At this price point, the built-in Class AB amplifier is pretty powerful, able to provide the Audioengine A5+ with a peak power of 75 Watts per channel.
These active speakers’ frequency response is rather impressive as well, it is 50Hz to 22kHz and this shows they are able to produce deep bass frequencies. Still, the Audioengine A5+ is quite compact in size and has only a 5″ (125mm) woofer driver. It probably won’t be able to deliver deep bass prominently and subterranean low ends would be out of the question. We can try to place the A5+ nearer to the walls so as to make use of their rear-firing bass slots, allowing the walls to reinforce the bass output and making it more pronounced but this may upset the tonal balance and even muddle the higher registers. Fortunately, we are able to connect an active subwoofer to the Audioengine A5+.
More Info at Amazon – Audioengine A5+ Desktop Monitor Speakers (Black)
By integrating a powered subwoofer into the mix, your desktop sound system will be able to deliver deeper bass frequencies and add more weight to the low ends as well. High-quality subwoofers are capable of reproducing bass frequencies down to 20Hz and even further below, and there is no way the Audioengine A5+ is able to deliver such deep low ends. Adding a sub is also a more affordable way to have yourself a full-range sound system and without breaking the bank by getting a pair of high-end floor-standing speakers. The question is which subwoofer should we get to pair it with the Audioengine A5+?
The Audioengine A5+ is an improvement over its predecessor, able to deliver a clearer music presentation with more details including subtle ones. Their musicality is really remarkable for active speakers at this price range, they have a nice balance between refinement and energetic performance. The overall bass performance is equally impressive, able to deliver deep bass cleanly, and has quite a midbass punch which is great for music playbacks. The bass reproduction won’t be satisfying enough for bass fanatics and HT enthusiasts though. From these sonic characteristics, it seems that a sealed subwoofer is more suitable for Audioengine A5+ active speakers.
There are other factors that will influence the types of subwoofer you should go for which will be your main requirements. We will need to go through a checklist and learn more about your subwoofer requirements. Once we are done with the checklist, you can take a look at the list of the best subwoofers to partner with the Audioengine A5+ speakers later on.
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Subwoofer Main Requirements
Work out a comfortable amount you are willing to invest on a powered subwoofer, the higher the budget, the more choices you can go for. If you are very tight right now, we will suggest holding off the purchase and slowly save up to get a better subwoofer than a budget sub. Space constraints will be a factor as well, if you have limited space then you probably will need a compact size or maybe a wireless subwoofer. Do ensure you have enough space for the potential subwoofer as it will take up a permanent space in your room.
The size of the listening room does matter, as it will take a powerful and larger subwoofer to accommodate bigger listening rooms. For nearfield listening or small listening rooms, a decent-sized subwoofer will be enough to fill the space. If you are planning to watch movies and/or play some action games then you might want to go for ported subwoofer instead, as it is more efficient when it comes to bass output and has a higher max SPL as well. Ported subwoofers are usually the go-to options for home theater enthusiasts. If music is your main entertainment, sticking with a sealed subwoofer will be the ideal choice.
For listeners who listen to music with bass-heavy instruments like the church organs, you might want to get a subwoofer that can reach below 20Hz so it can deliver such levels of low frequency. If you watch a lot of action movies or listen to movie soundtracks, you should really go for subs that are powerful and can reproduce bass prominently down to at least 20Hz. As mentioned, the subwoofer takes up a lot of space and you should discuss with your spouse/loved ones to see if they have any opinions on this. You should also take your time to add your own requirements to this checklist. Once you are firm with your subwoofer requirements then please take a look at the list of the best subwoofers which you can go for and match them with your Audioengine A5+ powered speakers.
Best Subwoofers to pair with Audioengine A5+
The Rythmik Audio L12 is one of the best subwoofers to pair with the Audioengine A5+. It is an entry-level sealed sub made by one of the most reputable subwoofer makers which are well-regarded by audiophiles. The modestly priced L12 is a 12″ Direct Servo subwoofer capable of providing highly accurate bass reproduction with articulate performance and agile enough to keep up with the music pacing. It uses a Class D amplifier with 300 Watts of RMS power and is capable of delivering down to 18Hz bass extension which is really remarkable for a subwoofer at this price range.
For listeners who are not sure if they should get a sealed or ported subwoofer, you might want to take a look at HSU Research VTF-2 MK5. This is a hybrid subwoofer where you can switch between sealed and ported operating modes, enabling the VTF-2 MK5 to accommodate your usage and Audioengine A5+ active speakers. This is a powerful front-firing 12″ subwoofer with 350 Watts of continuous power and goes all the way up to 1400 Watts (short term). The HSU Research VTF-2 MK5 is a versatile active sub and will work nicely with the Audioengine A5+ speakers whether is for music or HT use.
The SVS SB-1000 Pro is another high-performance sealed sub made by a reputable subwoofer maker with years of experience and expertise. SVS subwoofers have been receiving plenty of awards and praises over the years, so you can be assured of the SB-1000 Pro’s bass quality. It is a 12″ subwoofer using a Sledge STA-325D amplifier with fully discrete MOSFET output, delivering 325W RMS and peak power of 820W. The SVS SB-1000 Pro frequency response is between 20Hz-270Hz (+/-3dB) and will be an excellent subwoofer partner for your Audioengine A5+ active speakers especially when it comes to music playbacks.
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro (Black Ash)
If you prefer a subwoofer to also match aesthetically with your Audioengine A5+ then the Audioengine S8 will be the one for you. Made by the same company, the Audioengine S8 blends in seamlessly with the A5+ active speakers and should have similar sound signatures as well. It is a compact 8″ ported subwoofer and is capable of delivering punchy bass performance. The S8 has a peak power of 250 Watts and can dig down to 28Hz bass extension. It is more suitable for home theater and gaming use. Audioengine S8 is capable of adding a bit more midbass punch into the overall sound reproduction.
More Information at Amazon – Audioengine S8 Powered Subwoofer (White)
The SVS PB-1000 is one of the best-ported subwoofers to pair with your Audioengine A5+ speakers especially if watching movies is your main entertainment. It is a very highly rated 10″ subwoofer with a front-firing bass port and really powerful for an entry-level model. PB-1000 has 300 Watts RMS power and can go up to 720 Watts of peak power, not to mention, it is capable of delivering down to 19Hz bass extension. This is an ideal subwoofer for a desktop sound system and will be an excellent match for the Audioengine A5+ active speakers. You might even want to go with the latest iteration, the SVS PB-1000 Pro.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Ported Subwoofer (Black Ash)
For listeners who have tight budgets or just want a subwoofer without investing too much in it. The Elac SUB1010 will be one of the best budget subwoofers to aim for. It is a 10″ subwoofer with a rear-firing bass port and has up to 120 Watts of peak power via its Class AB amplifier. Another amazing budget subwoofer to go for will be the Klipsch R-12SW which is a very highly rated 12″ subwoofer. The R-12SW has 400 Watts of dynamic power and has a rear-firing bass port. These budget subwoofers will do okay with the Audioengine A5+ speakers but as suggested, you might want to wait and save up a bit more so as to get a better quality subwoofer.
More Information at Amazon – Elac SUB1010 10″ Powered Subwoofer (Black)
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW Ported Subwoofer
To Conclude
The subwoofers listed here are well worth your time and effort to hear them out. You can shortlist a few of them and arrange an audition where you can find out if you like their bass quality and performance. Auditioning these subwoofers using your favorite music or movies will be wise as it would allow you to identify the difference in sound quality much easier. If possible, you might want to demo these subwoofers in your own room so as to provide you with a very accurate test result.
