A5+ vs FS52 advice?

[Makuta11]

Hello everyone!

This is my first post here, as I'm usually more of a headphone guy, but from what I've been reading here, this site seems awesome!

Anyway, this is my situation. I am about to purchase some speakers for my bedroom, and am torn between the Audioengine A5+ and the Pioneer fs52. I was dead-set on the A5+'s until I read questionable reviews on them, and seemingly amazing ones about the Pioneers. Keeping in mind that I will likely add a sub to either pair, and that the amp/receiver for the Pioneers will not be a problem, which do you think is the better pair? When all is said and done, the two systems will cost me about the same.

Thanks for any input!

 

[fuzz092888]

Either would be fine. Aesthetically, I love the A5+ Bamboo. Performance wise, they should be close in terms of their useable frequency range, although their sounds may be quite different. The problem I have with using the A5+'s outside their designed use is that you have a lot less flexibility and are hamstrung by the built in amplifier. In order to add a subwoofer you have to have one with L/R inputs and if you ever wanted to expand past 2.1 they'll put you in a little bit of bind and require you purchase a receiver anyways. I'd rather buy a receiver and the Pioneers, which will give you much more flexibility and features in the long run.

 

[zieglj01]

The Pioneer's are good for the bedroom

 

[fuzz092888]

If you really like the audioengine's you could always go with the P4's. Double the price of the Pio's though.

 

[Makuta11]

I doubt I will ever go past 2.0 or 2.1, but I do like the flexibility of the Pioneer setup. In all honesty though, I will probably buy a tube amp before I buy more speakers, so in terms of long term flexibility, both systems are roughly equal in my case. I'm more concerned with the ability of the A5's to fill a room. I have only ever heard them from maybe 6-8 feet away at audio shows, and the pioneers on the floor of a Best Buy (literally in an aisle, not even a Magnolia room), so I don't have much to go by haha.

 

[fuzz092888]

I doubt I will ever go past 2.0 or 2.1, but I do like the flexibility of the Pioneer setup. In all honesty though, I will probably buy a tube amp before I buy more speakers, so in terms of long term flexibility, both systems are roughly equal in my case. I'm more concerned with the ability of the A5's to fill a room. I have only ever heard them from maybe 6-8 feet away at audio shows, and the pioneers on the floor of a Best Buy (literally in an aisle, not even a Magnolia room), so I don't have much to go by haha.

You realize that a tube amp would be useless with the A5+'s right? You would have to buy the Pio's or the P4s if you ever wanted to add a tube amp.

 

[Makuta11]

I know, I meant that whether I buy the Pioneers or the Audioengines, my next setup will be using a new amp anyway, so the the flexibility receiver powering the Pioneers is less of a factor to me.

 

[fuzz092888]

I know, I meant that whether I buy the Pioneers or the Audioengines, my next setup will be using a new amp anyway, so the the flexibility receiver powering the Pioneers is less of a factor to me.

And what do you plan on using to feed the tube amp and what will you be using for bass management if not a receiver?

 

[Makuta11]

I haven't gotten that far yet. I've actually used my micromega and pathos dacs to feed speaker systems, so I would probably move one of them over to that system, at least temporarily. I'm more concerned with the A5+ vs the FS52 in a bedroom setting now though, as for the time being, I am much more capable of setting up high-end headphone systems, than higher-end hifi loudspeakers.

 

[fuzz092888]

All questions being asked directly relate to which you should choose. In terms of objective performance, anechoically, I expect both to perform well within their respective price classes. In terms of how they'll sound in your room, only you can answer that by buying both and comparing them side by side in your bedroom. In terms of output, both will be limited by their bass response like any other small monitor.

All the other questions about bass management, receivers, what you're going to be feeding them with, what your expansion plans for the future are all directly relate to which of the two choices would be best right now. So you should be as concerned with everything else at least as much, unless you've got money to burn.

I haven't gotten that far yet. I've actually used my micromega and pathos dacs to feed speaker systems, so I would probably move one of them over to that system, at least temporarily. I'm more concerned with the A5+ vs the FS52 in a bedroom setting now though, as for the time being, I am much more capable of setting up high-end headphone systems, than higher-end hifi loudspeakers.

 

[Makuta11]

I suppose you are right, it's just that those upgrades are quite a ways away. I basically meant that either system that I buy now will end up being re-purposed and fully replaced by another, so the flexibility isn't a huge deal. I'm leaning towards the Pioneers right now, powered by a Denon receiver, but I just wanted to hear others' input on the comparison. I keep hearing amazing and sort of bad things about the audioengines, and every review of the Pioneers seems to focus on Jones' track record rather than the actual review process.

 

[fuzz092888]

I suppose you are right, it's just that those upgrades are quite a ways away. I basically meant that either system that I buy now will end up being re-purposed and fully replaced by another, so the flexibility isn't a huge deal. I'm leaning towards the Pioneers right now, powered by a Denon receiver, but I just wanted to hear others' input on the comparison. I keep hearing amazing and sort of bad things about the audioengines, and every review of the Pioneers seems to focus on Jones' track record rather than the actual review process.

My only point was/is that buying the Denon and Pioneers puts you in a very different place, then buying just the Audioengine's.

There are quite a few members here who own or have heard the Pioneer's and find them to be excellent speakers whose performance exceeds their price point. There are also a few members around here that have used the some version of the Audioengine speakers and been pleased, but not blown away IIRC with their performance.

I would go with the Pioneers and the Denon. It gets you excellent entry level performance, flexibility, bass management, no need to add any DAC's or amps, RC if you want, a few other features, and all plug and play.

 

[zieglj01]

The Pioneer and Denon will work fine together.

And no need for a DAC

 

[Makuta11]

Alright, Pioneer it is. Thank you so much for the advice! I've heard great things about them, but my only encounter with them was a less than ideal one. I should have them up and running in a week or so, so I'll be sure to post the setup and my impressions.