Man, haven't popped my head in here for quite some time! Tough to remember my password heh.
 
Anyway, I don't know if the "+" is just hard to search for or what, but I can't seem to find any information on it aside from what's on Audioengine's website.
 
I was about to order the A5, when I realized the A5+ addresses some of the issues that were in the A5 (namely heat). Sometimes successors aren't always better though, and I was wondering if there's any reason NOT to get the A5+ over the A5. Does the different port shape on the back change anything audibly? And from what I understand, the A5+ now sleeps only when you tell it to with the remote, instead of automatically after 10 minutes like the A5. I consider that a plus (no pun intended)!
 
Thoughts?

I think the only real way to find out the difference is to find a hifi store somewhere and hear them.

Based on their website, there's no reseller in Tennessee surprisingly. And I'm in Nashville, music city! I'll do some calling around Monday just to see if any music equipment shop might have them despite what the website says, but other than that I probably won't be able to hear them in person.

It's funny what a little (a lot) of research can do for a decision. Bolster it or throw it out the window! I'm now leaning towards the Swan M200 MKIIIs. I feel like I'm running in circles. I think I've read about as much as I can read, and it's gotten to the point that without actually HEARING any of them, I don't know how I can possibly decide. I keep coming back to the A5s for simplicity. I don't have a DAC (barely know what one is), and I need these speakers to be able to output from my Macbook and Desktop without having to switch cables around every time I switch computers.

So although I'm getting the impression that the M200 MKIII is clearly superior to the A5, I just don't know how they would sound coming straight out of my Macbook/PC. $400 is my absolute budget for this (for the foreseeable future), so I can't be buying DACs and cables and splitters and all that, so I might have to stick with the A5s.

Unless the swans will still sound superior with my most basic of setup? I wish I could listen to them. Of the billions of music shops in my area, I don't know of any that carry either of those brands/models.

The a5 doesn't have a built in dac nor do the swans both have analog inputs, both are at the same disadvantage being feed with a laptops headjack. Also there are better speakers for the money than the a5's, like the , edifier rt2000 , krk rokit 5 , mackie mr5 , prodipe pro 5. It might be worth going around a couple of music shops to see what you can get for the same price as the a5's.
You could also go with a passive set-up 2 speakers and a seperate amp.

Quote:

jrg1990 said:

You could also go with a passive set-up 2 speakers and a seperate amp.

Click to expand...

 
Any recommendations in this regard? I haven't even considered such a route, so I wouldn't know where to begin. I'm coming from failing Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1s, so the main thing that set me down the active 2.0 path was looking for something smaller without the thundering bass, but with far more accurate and superior music performance. I realize most of these speakers I've been considering aren't "small" heh, but compared to 5 satellites, a sub, a volume control knob thingy, and 500 feet of speaker wire going everywhere, even 2 large bookshelf speakers will feel more manageable to me. I've never really seen an amp meant for computers, so if they are conveniently sized then perhaps I could consider this route.

For PC Audio/near field passive + amp have a look at T-amps based of TA2020, TK2050, etc 

The t-amps are quite small and you could easily fit 1 on your desk, there isn't an amp meant for computers the amp will have analog inputs like the active speakers so you can connect pretty much anything to it, what country are in? and how much are the a5's there?.

I'm in USA near Nashville TN. As for the price, the A5+ are $399 on the AudioEngine website, and the Swans are $399 on th audioinsider website. I found a 10% off coupon for Audioengine, so they'd be $360.
 
Both have 30 day in-home audition guarantees, so I'll probably order both and send back the one I like least. Unless of course I hear something locally that I like. 

Amps, http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-APA150-Power-Amplifier/dp/B000VKXLBO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1319398621&sr=8-10 , http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-DTA-100a-Class-T-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B004JK8BDK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1319398706&sr=8-4 , http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-RX-4503-Virtual-Surround-Receiver/product-reviews/B001E2UKSU/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending
 
Speakers http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-TSi200-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0018QRO9A/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1319398797&sr=8-20 , http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Bookshelf-Satellite/dp/B0045NCB32/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1319398816&sr=8-27 , http://www.amazon.com/CERWIN-VEGA-VE-5M-Bookshelf-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B000LSG09Q/ref=sr_1_121?ie=UTF8&qid=1319399026&sr=8-121    http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-Monitor-MKII-Passive-Monitors/dp/B0002A2RTU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1319399463&sr=1-1
 
Plenty to choose from within the a5's price, you should probley go to your local hifi shop and demo some.

Hmm those Alesis look pretty nice with one of those amps. Let me see if I understand how ideal computer audio should be set up:
 
Computer -> DAC -> amp -> passive speakers
(Computer -> DAC -> active speakers)
 
Right?
What is the point of the DAC?
 
And what is involved with making any of thee setups work with two computers at the same time (other than the A5, which does this out of the box)?
 
EDIT: I didn't expect this thread to get so detailed, but perhaps I should explain my listening situation. I won't be mixing or anything, just listening. To anything really, music, movies, games. But I only care about the music, and specifically classical music. So as long as classical music sounds excellent, that's all I'm looking for. Acoustically, it's a small 11x11 foot office with hard word floors. No doors, and the office is directly open to the kitchen and den so in practice it's larger than 11x11. But the only place that matters will be where I sit (at the computer) and within a few feet around me. So the near field is fine.

If you want something that sounds good for classical music (which is what I mainly listen to as well), get the PSB Alpha B1 speakers.  You can pick them up for $300: http://www.crutchfield.com/s_760ALPB1B/PSB-Alpha-B1.html?tp=186.  PSB makes fine speakers and these are their entry level bookshelf speakers.  That leaves you $100 for an amp.  You can pick up a refurbished Onkyo TX 8255 for $100 from accessories4less: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTX8255/Onkyo-TX-8255-50-watts-2-channel-Stereo-Receiver/1.html.  It's a good stereo receiver and is 4 ohm stable so it will work with a wide variety of speakers.  In any case, with a $400 budget, I'd put most of my money into the speakers.  You can pick up the cabling you need cheap from monoprice (or a local radio shack). 
 
Edit: you'll be able to audition PSB speakers locally.  Check them out. 

The alesis would be good with classical music I own a pair but recently replaced them, there soundstage is quite unique it's like stepping into the music if soundstage is important to you you should get these, the beringer B2030p is the same price and would also be a very good choice there very detailed but have better highs then the alesis there tweeters are more controlled sounding and not as sparkly as the alesis which I prefered they have a more punchy low end but the alesis go much lower both these speakers are incredible value for money and sound like speakers costing 10 times as much. That onkyo receiver http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTX8255/Onkyo-TX-8255-50-watts-2-channel-Stereo-Receiver/1.html looks like a complete steal at that price.

You should also consider active monitors. I was in the same situation. I ended up purchasing Mackie MR5s. They've been great thus far although a little heavy on the bass. Music sounds good. I use two different cables. A 3.5mm  to dual xlr for my desktop. Dual rca to dual TRS for my tv. It works and it sounds better than almost all computer speakers.