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AudioEngine A5's or Harman Kardon SoundsticksII ?

macsander

macsander

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 18, 2008
219
0
Hello,

I want to buy speakers to go with my 24'' alu Imac. I have just one big question. Should I buy the AudioEngine A5's or the Harman Kardon SoundsticksII? I've read a lot of review and they both seem to be best speakers in their priceranges. I just don't know if if it worth the money to buy the A5's(is the difference very noticeable?)
I will mainly use the speakers for music listening sometimes games and movies.
If you have any useful remarks or experience, I would love to hear them.
Besides that I have two side-questions about the A5's:
1 Do you miss the subwoofer?
2 Are they too big next to a 24''Imac or just fine?

If you have a picture of one of these speakers next to you mac I would love to see them.

Thanks a lot!:)
p.s I don't need other speaker suggestions I did lots of research and will buy one of these two sets.
 
Get the Soundsticks. I have them and they sound great plus they're a lot cheaper and look sexier next to any mac product.
 
I don't mind the price of the A5's only if they're really worth it
 
The A5 is miles ahead of the HK Soundsticks. There really is no contest here. I'd also strongly recommend the A2 over the Soundsticks II if the A5's are too expensive.

I don't miss the subwoofer, even with the A2's. You do need to raise them up off the desk, though.
 
A5

The A5's have a tremendous amount of bass all by themselves. I would also go for the A5's, no contest, if absolute best sound quality is what you're after.

I am a professional DJ and use them when prepping my sets at home, to get a feel what my music will sound like on a big-room system. I do keep them on a separate bookshelf to conserve deskspace. You may want to look at the Audioengine a2 as well, since they have a smaller footprint, but cannot say anything abt their sound since haven't heard them yet.
 
vga4life said:
The A5 is miles ahead of the HK Soundsticks. There really is no contest here. I'd also strongly recommend the A2 over the Soundsticks II if the A5's are too expensive.

I don't miss the subwoofer, even with the A2's. You do need to raise them up off the desk, though.
Click to expand...

Why raise them up off your desk, with the a5's as well?

Any more experiences/ comments from fellow Macrubies?;)
Picture of the a5's next to you mac would be awesome!
 
I am in a similar situation as the OP and have been reading many rave reviews of the A5s. I think I'll pick up a pair unless I find anything better for music fairly soon.
 
I plan on getting a pair of A2s fairly soon, hopefully I'll like them, if not they'll take them back. The A5s are to much for me to spend on speakers right now, maybe one day... Plus I like the compactness of the A2s.
 
Arent people sick of the way the soundsticks look yet? They are so 90's, they remind me of the crt imac when everything was clear.
 
The SoundSticks are amazing speakers, I was undecided till I heard them, I'm so glad I did! You'll not get better speakers for anywhere near the price the SoundSticks are!
 
vga4life said:
The A5 is miles ahead of the HK Soundsticks. There really is no contest here. I'd also strongly recommend the A2 over the Soundsticks II if the A5's are too expensive.

I don't miss the subwoofer, even with the A2's. You do need to raise them up off the desk, though.
Click to expand...

Why? Also raise the A5's of the desk or is it just fine on the desk?
 
i own alot of speakers and the soundsticks 2, get them! they are so powerful that you can use them for you tv
 
The A5s beat the SoundSticks (and pretty much any other 2.1 computer system for that matter) hands down. The SoundSticks aren't even the best 2.1s I've heard at their price. The Logitech offerings are miles ahead.

I don't own both, but I've sadly had to listen to SoundSticks extensively (a friend has two pairs) and they're... awful.

The A5s are great little speakers, and are actually 'proper' speakers...
 
the band maroon 5 is using them -

capture2fo5.jpg


captureiu4.jpg
 
SchneiderMan said:
the band maroon 5 is using them -
Click to expand...

no wonder their music sucks if they think the soundsticks sound good. or maybe that is the only way their music sounds good. either way, comparing the A5s to soundsticks is like comparing jessica alba to rosie o'odonell.
 
haze said:
no wonder their music sucks if they think the soundsticks sound good. or maybe that is the only way their music sounds good. either way, comparing the A5s to soundsticks is like comparing jessica alba to rosie o'odonell.
Click to expand...

Yeah whoever uses them says nothing about the quality, I saw on MTV cribs another rapper, forgot who, uses them as well in his bedroom. But this could also mean they don't care about music:p
 
macsander said:
Yeah whoever uses them says nothing about the quality, I saw on MTV cribs another rapper, forgot who, uses them as well in his bedroom. But this could also mean they don't care about music:p
Click to expand...

dude just go into an apple store or bestbuy and see for yourself god. :rolleyes:
 
SchneiderMan said:
dude just go into an apple store or bestbuy and see for yourself god. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yeah would be nice if I could but I live in the Netherlands and there are only 2 freakin stores in whole the country where I can test the Audioengine's.
 
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