Boom

[Irvrobinson]

On my Mac desktop at the outpost I added some Audioengines 5+ speakers for a make-do HT system. 27" is pretty small, even for the apartment, but for the little time I spend watching videos it works. The Audioengines sound pretty good, but I've always thought them to be a bit boomy in the upper bass. So last time I was at home I brought the OmniMicII back with me.

Sure enough, centered smack dab at 120Hz there's a huge spike in the frequency response. Nearly 13db. A little hunting around on the App Store got me Boom, a parametric equalizer program for the Mac. $6.99.

Boom works like a champ, and I smoothed out the Audioengines' frequency response to a +/- 3db tolerance with 1/6th octave smoothing. Not quite as smooth as the Salon2 system at the big house, but overall the Mac and Audioengines don't sound bad at all now. The 5+s reach right down to 40Hz, after which they fall off like a rock, but 40Hz is pretty good for such small speakers just sitting on a desk.

Boom is a bargain at $7. If you have a Mac system, highly recommended.

 

[Adam]

Thanks. You have me intrigued. I've never measured the response in my office before. It sounds pretty good to me, so I'm guessing that my laziness will win...but you have me thinking about doing it.

 

[Irvrobinson]

A bit interesting... Boom uses more CPU time than I expected. A pretty consistent 2.5% of a 4-core 3.1GHz i5. Jazz radio sounds very nice now. Bob James and David Sanborn are very listenable. Unfortunately, iTunes Radio doesn't sound like CD quality. Cymbals don't sound quite right. I thought iTunes Radio on a broadband link would be 256Kbps, but I'd bet against it. I'll have to try some CDs to see how this system can really sound.

 

[PENG]

On my Mac desktop at the outpost I added some Audioengines 5+ speakers for a make-do HT system. 27" is pretty small, even for the apartment, but for the little time I spend watching videos it works. The Audioengines sound pretty good, but I've always thought them to be a bit boomy in the upper bass. So last time I was at home I brought the OmniMicII back with me.

Sure enough, centered smack dab at 120Hz there's a huge spike in the frequency response. Nearly 13db. A little hunting around on the App Store got me Boom, a parametric equalizer program for the Mac. $6.99.

Boom works like a champ, and I smoothed out the Audioengines' frequency response to a +/- 3db tolerance with 1/6th octave smoothing. Not quite as smooth as the Salon2 system at the big house, but overall the Mac and Audioengines don't sound bad at all now. The 5+s reach right down to 40Hz, after which they fall off like a rock, but 40Hz is pretty good for such small speakers just sitting on a desk.

Boom is a bargain at $7. If you have a Mac system, highly recommended.

Wow, coming from a guy who owns Salon2 + high end electronics, another sign that digital will ultimately win the day, mainly due to human limitations (hearing ability), and/or laziness.

I enjoy my little DAC magic X5 so much I may pull the tigger on the A5+ as soon as I have the HA-1 to replace the X5.

One stupid question, $7 is affordable but can't you tame that boom with the equalizers that are free, such as Foobar's? I know those freeware lacks features but thought they should work since you already have the OmniMic thing.

 

[Irvrobinson]

One stupid question, $7 is affordable but can't you tame that boom with the equalizers that are free, such as Foobar's? I know those freeware lacks features but thought they should work since you already have the OmniMic thing.

Foobar isn't available for OS X. In fact, the Foobar web site recommends Boom.

 

[PENG]

Foobar isn't available for OS X. In fact, the Foobar web site recommends Boom.

I just found this review:

Audioengine A5+ | InnerFidelity

That initially gave me a pause on the A5+ but then I remember I never pay much attention to this review's fluff words anyway. Most of the time his review seemed to be proportional to the price regardless of theory and logic, not this time though, to give him credit.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I just found this review:

Audioengine A5+ | InnerFidelity

That initially gave me a pause on the A5+ but then I remember I never pay much attention to this review's fluff words anyway. Most of the time his review seemed to be proportional to the price regardless of theory and logic, not this time though, to give him credit.

I've shied away from Emotiva products since my experience with their CD player. To be honest, I just don't trust their build quality or parts choices. Everything about the 5+ is so well thought-out and executed that it attracted me. Given my set up, with them flanking the Mac's 27" display by 4" on each side, sitting far back on large desktop, 4" from a back wall, I suspect that trying to achieve the tuned perfection of my Salon2/DD18+ system will be a futile effort. To give some credit to the review you referenced, the 5+ tweeter is just a typical soft-dome driver, and I wouldn't be surprised if it could be bettered.

 

[Sheep]

I run Mackie MR5s (first gen) and they have way to much bass for their own good. Not overpowering, better then my senheisser headphones as far as excess goes, but it does catch you off guard. Personally find it fine for normally listening, but you'll know a passage coming up with bass content, and it still surprises me they could hit the note at all.

SheepStar

 

[Irvrobinson]

Just as a follow-up, I should point out that software-based equalizers like Boom are good for music, but apparently they have too much latency for video, enough to break the lip synch on streamed movies.

 

[Cos]

I've shied away from Emotiva products since my experience with their CD player. To be honest, I just don't trust their build quality or parts choices. Everything about the 5+ is so well thought-out and executed that it attracted me. Given my set up, with them flanking the Mac's 27" display by 4" on each side, sitting far back on large desktop, 4" from a back wall, I suspect that trying to achieve the tuned perfection of my Salon2/DD18+ system will be a futile effort. To give some credit to the review you referenced, the 5+ tweeter is just a typical soft-dome driver, and I wouldn't be surprised if it could be bettered.

I only own one product from emotiva and its the Airmotiv 4. I was considering the Audioengine A5+, but got such a good deal on the Arimotiv 4 because I was at emotiva fest last year. I can say 100% that I fully enjoy these speakers as I have had them for a year and have had 0 issue. I just like the Heil air motion transformer (tweeter)

Emotiva's astonishing desktop speaker - CNET

This review helped with my decision making.