CONCLUSION

    After spending almost 2 weeks with the AS5 active speakers by aune (paired primarily with the R9 player by FiiO and the neo IDSD 3 by iFi Audio) they leave a strong final impression. They present a sound signature built around clean, well‑defined imaging, thanks to their coaxial layout, with treble that stays smooth and non‑fatiguing even at higher listening levels. The midrange comes through organized and coherent, giving vocals and instruments a natural sense of placement without congestion. Their overall presentation feels controlled, tidy, and stable, with a focus on clarity rather than exaggerated warmth or boosted low‑end. Needless to say, their robust cabinet construction with the fully independent Class AB amplifier in each speaker and the RCA and XLR inputs for clean integration are equally strong selling points. On the downside, volume output could be stronger, there’s no volume knob or remote, and the “black” version is actually grey. Even so, the AS5 remain a compact active pair with serious engineering behind them.

    The AS5 active speakers by aune were officially released in May of this year and currently retail for USD699 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 739Euros inside the EU (aune-store.com), a price tag which puts them right next to several similar models by the competition. At the end of the day, even though there are countless bookshelf speakers I haven’t yet used or reviewed, meaning I can’t fairly compare them all to the AS5, what I can say is that these are the best‑performing speakers I’ve tested so far in this size class. They’re not perfect true, but their overall execution is strong enough that they clearly earn the Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Audio Reproduction
- Active Speakers (Independent AB Amplifiers)
- No Master / Slave Speaker (L/R)
- Overall Size
- RCA & XLR Ports
- Bass Control Knob
- Available In Black & White Colors

CONS

- Overall Volume Output
- Lack Of Volume Controls
- Color Accuracy (Black Is Grey)