If you’re short on time and just want the highlights of this article, here it is:
Overall, the Audioengine P4s are a decent pair of speakers that provide a good, if not a great, sound experience. The 4″ Kevlar woofer and 0.75″ silk dome tweeter provide a full frequency response with plenty of detail, and the bass-reflex port provides additional bass response.
The P4s are easy to connect and use with any type of sound system, from digital hybrid amplifiers to stereo and surround sound receivers. They also come with standard 5-way binding post connectors and are magnetically shielded, making them ideal for use near video monitors and other electronic devices.
The P4s are most ideal for those who are just getting into home audio and want a reliable, easy to use pair of speakers for a reasonable price. However, if you’re after a truly exceptional sound experience, then you might want to look elsewhere.
Quick link:
Now let’s get to its bolts and nuts.
Audioengine P4 Review: Sound quality
Have you ever noticed that there often tends to be quite the opposite opinions about a speaker?
I can understand this for more "personal taste" kinda products like clothing, for example.
But for engineering products like speakers? Personal tastes and preferences probably still play a role. But shouldn't it be less?
Why is it that we can't set a universal metric for sound quality?
First time I asked this question to myself has been a pivotal day.
Because it turns out that in the mid 90's, Electrical Engineer PhD Floyd Toole came up with a method called Spinorama. This is exactly what he accomplished with this. Turns out that his book Sound Reproduction is like the bible of audiophiles.
Put it simply, Spinorama is a set of measurements that gives a comprehensive overview of a speaker's performance from various angles.
It allows you to compare the performances of different speakers before even laying your ears hands on them.
Isn't that amazing?
This is why Spinorama was apparently groundbreaking news for audio industry. Hence in the mid-late 2010's, most brands and magazines began publishing Spinorama measurements, despite the challenges of making such measurements.
Fortunately, now we have the Spinorama data for a bunch of quite popular speakers. Pierre Aubert put all this untidy data together and put it into https://www.spinorama.org/. This is a stunning source. Pretty valuable stuff from him right there.
All good up to this point.
Now there comes a caveat.
Since the sound speakers propagate are in the form of omnidirectional waves, all measurements are obtained in anechoic or semi-anechoic chambers (a super-quiet room where soundwaves don't bounce back, here's how different that room sounds [a mind blowing time-adjusted video]).
This is a problem because it means that Spinorama alone, unfortunately, won't give us all we need. Placement and reflections play an equally important role there too.
This is why most A-class brands (like SVS, Bang & Olufsen, etc) often come up with room correction features, adjusted either manually or automatically. The EQ adapts itself to the placement (room, corner, center, etc) for a better (deeper and more accurate) sound. Which is great.
Additionally they often emphasize the importance of placement, here is an example: https://www.svsound.com/blogs/subwoofer-setup-and-tuning/75365187-the-art-of-subwoofer-placement
Anyways...
The source code under Pierre Aubert's work is licensed under GPL (General public license). He didn't perform any of the measurements himself, and instead he compiled all of them into one place, so that makes sense.
At this point, I thought that if there was a tool that combined both the Spinorama with the room acoustics data, it'd be extremely useful.
Unfortunately, it turns out that there wasn't any.
This is where I stepped in and partnered with an Acoustics and Audio Engineering PhD in order to achieve this.
We combined Spinorama data with room acoustics and came up with Soundton. A very simple, 2D online tool that allows you to:
- Reveal optimal speaker positions in a room,
- Test with real speakers from real brands,
- Compare different speakers and different positions in the room.
It can be very valuable for the vast majority.
The colormap provides you the locations with the best (green) and worst (red) listening experience.
It works the best with subwoofers since Soundton processes low frequency response waves only.
- Soundton is going to be, say, 80% accurate. Not 100%.
- Because, other parameters such as the age/materials of the building, furniture/windows in place also have an impact on room acoustics.
- If you want absolutely the most detailed room analysis, then what you need is an acoustics consultant. Mind you that's going to require deep pockets and patience though... assuming you find the right person and they get the job done.
Anyways...
After doing some research, I feel confident in saying that the Audioengine P4 speakers are an all-around solid pair, with quality sound that does justice to their price tag.
The 4″ Kevlar woofer and e 0.75″ silk dome tweeter provide a full frequency response with plenty of detail, and the bass-reflex port provides more room for additional bass. With their standard 5-way binding post connectors and their built-in magnetic shielding, the P4s can be used with any type of sound system, from stereo and surround sound receivers to digital hybrid amplifiers and tube amplifiers.
In terms of sound quality, I’d say that the Audioengine P4s are a good, but not a great choice. They produce a clear and balanced sound – nothing too muddy, or too harsh. The mid-level frequencies are clear and the overall sound is quite natural. High notes sound a bit flat and lack a bit of detail, while low-end frequencies are tight and punchy, but don’t have a lot of depth.
The speakers certainly deliver in terms of sound quality, but I can’t help but feel that they could have been better. For example, the mids could have been clearer and the highs could have been punchier. I would have also liked to have seen more detail in the high-end frequencies.
Overall, the Audioengine P4s provide a decent sound experience. If you’re looking for a quality pair of speakers that won’t break the bank, then these are a solid option. However, if you’re after a truly exceptional sound quality, then you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
Audioengine P4 Review: Connectivity
When it comes to connectivity, the Audioengine P4s are a safe and reliable option. They’re designed to work with a variety of sound systems, from digital hybrid amplifiers to stereo and surround sound receivers, and they come with standard 5-way binding post connectors that make it easier to attach them to a sound system.
The P4s are magnetically shielded, which means that you can use them near video monitors and other electronic devices without worrying about interference. What’s more, their small size makes them easy to mount on a wall or place on a shelf or stand.
I’ve used the Audioengine P4s with a variety of sound systems and I’ve had no issues. Connecting them was simple and straightforward, and I didn’t run into any compatibility problems. I’ve also used them for multi-room listening, and they worked flawlessly.
Overall, the Audioengine P4s offer excellent connectivity. They’re compatible with a variety of sound systems, and they’re easy to mount or place on a shelf or stand. What’s more, they’re designed to work with multi-room systems, so you won’t have any issues connecting them with your existing system.
Audioengine P4 Review: Most & least ideal user profiles
The Audioengine P4s offer a balanced, natural sound that’s suitable for a wide range of listening needs. I would say that they’re most ideal for people who are looking for a no-frills pair of speakers that will provide good sound without breaking the bank.
The P4s are great for those who are just getting into home audio and want a reliable, easy to use pair of speakers. They’re also a good option for those who want to set up a multi-room system without having to invest in a lot of expensive equipment.
However, I wouldn’t recommend the P4s for audiophiles or for people who are looking for a truly exceptional sound experience. The sound quality is good but not great, and the high-end frequencies lack detail. If you’re after a pair of speakers that deliver a truly top-notch sound, then you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
Audioengine P4 Review: Conclusion
Overall, the Audioengine P4s are a decent pair of speakers that provide a good, if not a great, sound experience. The 4″ Kevlar woofer and 0.75″ silk dome tweeter provide a full frequency response with plenty of detail, and the bass-reflex port provides additional bass response.
The P4s are easy to connect and use with any type of sound system, from digital hybrid amplifiers to stereo and surround sound receivers. They also come with standard 5-way binding post connectors and are magnetically shielded, making them ideal for use near video monitors and other electronic devices.
The P4s are most ideal for those who are just getting into home audio and want a reliable, easy to use pair of speakers for a reasonable price. However, if you’re after a truly exceptional sound experience, then you might want to look elsewhere.