The Audioengine A5 has been around for more than a decade and is still one of the top active speaker choices to go for when setting up a desktop sound system. Audioengine A5 active speakers are compact in size and a step-up in sound quality when compared to multimedia speakers. Furthermore, it is modestly priced as well and comes with its own built-in amplifier providing a total peak power of 150 Watts. As amazing as the A5s are, they do have limitations when it comes to bass performance.
They are after all a pair of bookshelf speakers and will have issues with producing very deep bass frequencies prominently. Subterranean level bass delivery will definitely be lacking as well. If you are watching an adrenaline-pumping action movie, it probably won’t be exciting enough with just a pair of Audioengine A5 powered speakers. This is where the active subwoofer comes into play and you can connect it directly to the left A5 speaker. With an active subwoofer, the overall bass performance will improve significantly but the question is which subwoofer is best suited to pair with the Audioengine A5.
To find the right subwoofers for the job, we must first learn more about the Audioengine A5 sonic characteristics and merits. After that, we will need to find out more about your subwoofer requirements. We will be preparing a list of the best subwoofers to match with the Audioengine A5 active speakers and will be shared with you later on.
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Sonic Characteristics and Merits of Audioengine A5
The volume level they could reach is certainly more than enough for nearfield listening and it does deliver a detailed music presentation. The Audioengine A5 bass performance is pretty solid for a speaker of this size, it has a nice weight to it and is deeper than expected. Subterranean bass reproduction will be lacking though and the very deep bass performance is not as prominent. There is a warmish sonic characteristic that makes the overall sound reproduction sound fuller and has a pleasing musical presence. It certainly makes it easy for listeners to enjoy your music.
The overall bass performance of the Audioengine A5 is agile but at times they do muddle the mids and highs. You can move them away from rear walls until the music delivery has a more balanced tonality and clearer presentation. As mentioned earlier, the A5s can be quite loud and it doesn’t sound overly bright which is great as you can listen to them for hours without fatigue. They are all-rounders and we feel that a ported subwoofer will be more suitable for them. Still, we must find out more about your subwoofer requirements as these are also factors that will determine the type of subwoofers you should go for.
Subwoofer Requirements
If you are using Audioengine A5 active speakers for movies, music, and video gaming, then a ported subwoofer will probably be the best choice for you. Ported subwoofers have a high bass output and max SPL which makes them more efficient in delivering immense sonic energy to fill a room and providing us with a thunderous rumbling bass performance. Sealed subwoofers will provide a more accurate bass with better agility and timing. It can render instruments more realistically and this is why sealed sub is the better choice when it comes to music playbacks.
You should set aside a comfortable budget with a little headroom, just in case you’ll need to increase the amount for a potential subwoofer which you are really interested in. Your room size will determine the type of subwoofers you should get, for instance, you should get a large sub with more power for mid-sized listening rooms. How much space you have left in your room will also influence the size of the subwoofer. There are compact subs with very powerful amplifiers and can deliver exceptional bass performance but will be expensive and may exceed your budget.
Usually, for nearfield listening, you don’t really need very big subwoofers but it will be wise to get a subwoofer that can reach down to 20Hz bass extension especially for listeners who watch a lot of action movies and/or listen to very bass-heavy soundtracks. This also applies to action-based video games as they can be very bass demanding too and have plenty of deep rumbling bass frequencies. These are some of the usual subwoofer requirements and feel free to add more of your own so as to have a more thorough checklist. Once you are done with the subwoofer requirements checklist, you should have a clearer picture of what you want from a subwoofer. We will be sharing with you now the best subwoofers to pair with the Audioengine A5 active speakers so please take a look.
Best Subwoofers to match with Audioengine A5
The Klipsch R-12SW is one of the very best subwoofers to match with the Audioengine A5 as it is very modestly priced and will fit most listeners’ budgets. The Klipsch R-12SW is not chosen just because of its affordability but also its excellent bass performance for the price. This 12″ subwoofer is very highly rated and has received tons of praises from its users. With its 400 Watts dynamic power, it can deliver clean and deep bass frequencies which makes it good for music playbacks as well. It is a brilliant all-rounder subwoofer for the talented Audioengine A5 speakers and at this price point, is definitely worth your time to check them out.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW
If you are facing space constraints and do not want to compromise bass quality then the KEF Kube 8b will be an ideal choice for you and your Audioengine A5 speakers. It is a compact 8″ front-firing sealed cabinet subwoofer with an amplifier power of 300 Watts which is pretty powerful for a sub of this size and price. The KEF Kube 8b looks stylish and elegant, will look great in most listening rooms, not to mention, getting your spouse’s approval will be a lot easier. The overall bass performance of the Kube 8b subwoofer will be good for nearfield listening and in a small listening room.
More Information at Amazon – KEF KUBE 8b Subwoofer
The Audioengine S8 Wireless will be one of the best subwoofers to match with your Audioengine A5 speakers. This subwoofer is compact in size and is wireless which also makes it an exemplary choice for listeners who have limited space. The S8 Wireless is made by the same company as your A5 speakers, making them aesthetically and sonically matching. It is an 8″ subwoofer with 125 Watts RMS and up to 250 Watts Peak power. This is a subwoofer with punchy performance and can go really loud, providing us with an entertaining listening experience.
More Information at Amazon – Audioengine S8 Wireless Subwoofer (Wireless, White)
For listeners who have really tight budgets or just don’t want to invest much in an active subwoofer, the Elac SUB1010 will be the subwoofer to go for. It is a powered sub with a 10″ low throw dynamic woofer and has an amplifier power of up to 120 Watts peak. There is a rear-firing bass port where you can place it nearer to the walls so that they can reinforce the bass performance. At this price point, there is nothing to nitpick about, and the Elac SUB1010 is very well-received as well. One of the best budget subwoofers to pair with the Audioengine A5 active speakers.
More Information at Amazon – Elac SUB1010 10″ Subwoofer, Black
The SVS PB-1000 Pro is one of the best ported subwoofers to match with your Audioengine A5 speakers. One of the most powerful subwoofers in its price range, the PB-1000 Pro can go up to 820+ Watts of peak power. The 12″ driver can deliver down to 17Hz bass frequency and with these specs, it could handle most bass demands dished out by movies. The SVS PB-1000 Pro is capable of body-pounding bass and subterranean deep frequencies, giving you an exciting home cinematic experience. It has a modest price tag as well and will be an excellent subwoofer partner for your Audioengine A5 speakers.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro (Black Ash)
If you prefer more versatility then the HSU Research VTF-2 MK5 hybrid subwoofer will be an amazing choice to go for and match it with the Audioengine A5 speakers. It gives you the flexibility to switch between sealed and ported operating modes, allowing you to tune the VTF-2 MK5 for different use. For instance, switch to the sealed mode for music playbacks and ported mode for movies/gaming. It has a peak power of up to 1400 Watts (Short-Term) and is considered extremely powerful for a sub at this price point. The HSU Research VTF-2 MK5 is capable of reaching down to 16Hz bass extension with 1 port open.
To Sum It Up
The prices of the subwoofers listed here are quite closely matched with the Audioengine A5 speakers and are worthy of your time to check them out. You can shortlist these subs by price or requirements or both. Once you have picked the ones you are interested in, you should arrange an audition to hear them out and see which one you like to hear the most. We will suggest taking your time when choosing a subwoofer for your sound system.
