High end bookshelf speakers, for little money

One device I really enjoy is the Apple Airport Express, which lets you stream iTunes music, to remote speakers. The Airport Express gives you the ability to play music, wirelessly, anywhere in your house. Now, there are lots of speakers out there that have some fancy claim about being “MP3 speakers” or “iPod speakers”, and usually will do just about everything but your dishes, however, the actual sound quality of many of these speakers is pure audio torture. While I don’t think of myself as an audiophile (who has a spare $100k or more to drop on tube amps, and speakers with serial numbers that are lucky to be above double digits?) I do however appreciate good sound quality. Very few things in life can move someone like music can, and part of the musical experience is being able to reproduce the sound as close to live as possible. Read on for my review…

I was very lucky to come across a company that was advertising on a podcast I listen to, Mac Geek Gab (highly recommended BTW) and I purchased these speakers back in 2007 or so. The Audio Engine A5 Speakers had an advertising spot on the Mac Geek Gab, and being that both John and Dave seem to have great taste in computers, and software, I thought I would give them a try, based on their recommendation. Well, all I can say, is that these speakers, for the price $349, are probably the closest you will ever get to listening to speakers that cost thousands of dollars. Yes, I’m serious. These speakers even impress Audiophiles. If you were to do a Google Search for AudioEngine A5 reviews you will find several of the high end audio magazines recommending these speakers, and floored at the relatively low price for the quality of sound you are getting. You will find many, many links proclaiming that these are, by and far, the best audio speakers for your money.

I agree. Fortunately, AudioEngine is also making even lower priced speakers, with the AudioEngine A2 speakers priced at $199. Like the A5 reviews I have seen, the A2’s are also getting rave reviews. I highly recommend AudioEngine products. Do yourself a favor, and skip the “iPod speakers” at the major retail stores, and get yourself an A2 or A5 pair of *real* speakers, and enjoy music again.