When Should You Upgrade to a Larger Home Music System? 3 Reasons to Upgrade
Upgrading your Home Music System is a decision that depends on several factors, including the size of your space, the type of sound you want, and your listening habits. You may be perfectly happy with your current setup, but as your environment changes or your taste in audio evolves, it could be time to consider an upgrade. Many people think that achieving premium sound means moving to traditional stereo systems with separate amplifiers and speakers, but this isn’t necessarily the case.
Home Music Systems like Audioengine’s A2+ and A5+ have redefined how we experience audio. These systems deliver high-performance sound with the simplicity and convenience of modern features like built-in amplifiers and wireless connectivity, without the need for bulky, complicated components. They are engineered to give you the quality of traditional setups in a more streamlined, versatile design.
So, when should you consider upgrading to a larger Home Music System? Here are three solid reasons, with added detail on room sizes, wattage, and the science behind speaker performance, featuring Audioengine’s A2+ and A5+ Home Music Systems.
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Moving to a Larger Space
Room size directly impacts the performance of your audio system. A smaller room (up to 150 square feet) is ideal for a compact system like the Audioengine A2+. For example, spaces like home offices, small bedrooms, or studio apartments fall into this category. With its 2.75-inch aramid fiber woofers and 60 Watts of peak power, the A2+ is designed for near-field listening, providing powerful stereo sound with crisp highs and deep lows at your desktop or in a smaller room.
However, as your listening environment grows—whether you’re upgrading to a living room, den, or open-floor plan (200-400 square feet)—you may want a system that fills the space more efficiently. A living room of around 250 square feet or an open-plan kitchen and dining area are examples of spaces that may require more sound coverage. This is where the A5+ Home Music System shines. Equipped with 150 Watts of power and 5-inch aramid fiber woofers, the A5+ delivers vibrant, high-fidelity sound to fill larger spaces. The increased wattage and driver size provide the energy needed to push sound farther, ensuring you maintain the same level of detail and volume throughout your room.
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Improved Bass Response
Bass response depends heavily on driver size and cabinet volume, which directly affect how much air the speaker moves—known as displacement. Both the A2+ and A5+ deliver impressive sound quality for their respective sizes, but the A5+ has larger woofers and a bigger cabinet, which allow it to move more air and produce deeper, more resonant bass. For those who appreciate bass-heavy genres like hip-hop or EDM, or simply enjoy richer low-end sound in their music or movies, the A5+ is designed to handle greater displacement, providing impactful bass for larger spaces like great rooms, entertainment areas, or large open-plan living spaces.
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Craving Higher Volume Without Distortion
When considering whether to upgrade, it’s important to note that volume isn’t just about loudness—it’s about maintaining clarity and definition at higher levels. Both the A2+ and A5+ provide detailed sound at moderate listening levels, but the A5+ takes advantage of its higher wattage and larger drivers to handle louder volumes without distortion. For instance, if you're hosting a gathering in a medium-sized living room or loft space, the A5+ can play at high levels with more control over its drivers, offering tight, accurate sound even when the volume is turned up. This makes it ideal for larger rooms or when you want to enjoy music at a higher volume.
Expanding Your Soundstage: Understanding Modern Home Music Systems
Both the A2+ and A5+ Home Music Systems feature subwoofer outputs, making them easily expandable for those who crave enhanced low-end performance. While the A2+ already delivers impressive sound for its size, pairing it with a subwoofer can dramatically expand its soundstage, providing deep, rich bass that can fill even larger rooms. The same applies to the A5+, which benefits from a subwoofer by extending its already robust bass capabilities, creating a more immersive sound experience.
But what if you’re considering a jump to a traditional stereo system with separate components like amplifiers and speakers? Many audiophiles hold the misconception that to truly "upgrade" their sound, they need to move to these older, more complex setups. In reality, Home Music Systems like the A2+ and A5+ represent the modern evolution of traditional stereos, designed to provide incredible sound quality without the complexity of multiple components.
Audioengine’s Home Music Systems are powered, which means they have built-in amplifiers designed to perfectly match the system's speakers. This removes the need for external amps, reducing the hassle of matching separate components while still delivering the rich, powerful sound traditionally associated with multi-piece stereo setups. With modern features like Bluetooth aptX HD, built-in DACs, and high-efficiency Class A/B amplifiers, systems like the A2+ and A5+ are designed to meet the needs of today’s listeners who expect flexibility and high-fidelity audio in one easy-to-use package.
Adding a Subwoofer: Deeper Bass - Unlock the Missing Frequencies In Your Songs
Adding a subwoofer allows you to expand the low-end performance, giving you deeper bass and a fuller soundstage without compromising the simplicity and sleek design of the A2+ or A5+. This level of adaptability makes our Home Music Systems a powerful alternative to more complex aging traditional setups.
For more tips on expanding your soundstage, including the role of subwoofers, check out our blog on 4 Ways to Complete Your Soundstage. Adding a subwoofer not only provides more impactful bass but also gives you the flexibility to create the perfect sound environment for your space—whether you’re working with a small home office or a large entertainment room.
The Future of Your Sound: Home Music Systems as the Modern Upgrade
To conclude, if you're thinking about upgrading, it's important to understand that Home Music Systems like the A2+ and A5+ are not just convenient, modern alternatives—they are the next step in high-fidelity audio evolution. Rather than moving to a traditional stereo system with separate amplifiers and speakers, you can achieve the best of convenience and performance through our all-in-one Home Music Systems. These systems bring you the same rich, powerful sound with fewer components and modern conveniences like wireless connectivity and built-in amplification.
By adding a subwoofer, you can further elevate your setup without the complexity of traditional stereo components, ensuring your system adapts to your growing audio needs. Whether you’re in a smaller room or looking to fill a larger space with sound, Audioengine’s Home Music Systems offer flexibility, powerful performance, and a listening experience that honors both the tradition of great sound and the demands of modern life.
