Massachusetts-based Andover Audio never fails to impress with its products. The team–with backgrounds working with legendary audio brands like Advent, Bose, Cambridge SoundWorks and Harman–has been releasing outstanding audio gear like the Andover Model One (reviewed here) for over a decade. And much of what the Andover team does is with listening to records in mind, including its proprietary ISOGroove technology that allows for stacking of turntables on speaker bases. So I was pretty excited when Andover Audio sent me its latest offering to test out: the SpeakEasy 4 powered bookshelf speakers.
Naturally, these speakers come complete with an integrated phono pre-amplifier (along with AUX input), allowing you to plug in virtually any turntable or record player equipped with a magnetic cartridge.
Hands on With the SpeakEasy 4 Speakers
One of the big attractions of power bookshelf speakers is simplified setup and operation compared to a component stereo system. There is no amplifier or receiver in the mix, the amplifiers are built into one of the speakers. The SpeakEasy 4 speakers are a perfect example of this product class. Connect the two speakers with a single cable (supplied), plug the main speaker into power, position them and you’re ready to go. A physical knob on the front of the main speaker turns the power on and selects sources, or you can use the included IR remote.
The back of the main SpeakEasy 4 contains a generous selection of inputs and outputs, so these speakers can become the focal point of a powerful sound system that’s connected to your TV, gaming system, Wi-Fi streamer, CD player and turntable–even if your turntable lacks an integrated pre-amplifier, thanks to the SpeakEasy 4’s built-in phono stage.
The speakers also support Bluetooth so even with no sources physically connected, you can stream music wirelessly from your mobile device. And with 2-channel stereo audio and 150W on tap, these powered bookshelf speakers are pretty much guaranteed to blow away the sound any portable wireless speaker can put out.
You’re Going To Like the Sound
You can buy a pretty nice portable Bluetooth speaker for the $399 Andover Audio is asking for a pair of SpeakEasy 4 speakers. If portability is your key requirement, then stick with the portable speaker. However, if your primary objectives include saving space and/or money compared to a traditional audio system or you just want an easy way to stream music from your mobile device, then you should be looking at powered bookshelf speakers. Instead of the mono sound delivered by a single speaker, powered bookshelf speakers offer immersive, true stereo sound.
Andover Audio’s SpeakEasy 4s up the ante compared to basic powered bookshelf speakers. The bass reflex design features braced MDF enclosures instead of plastic, with dual direct drive amplifiers pushing 75W through each speaker’s 4-inch woofer and 3/4 inch tweeter (50W + 25W per channel and 150W total). They offer a wide range of digital and analog inputs and outputs in addition to Bluetooth. Record lovers will appreciate the fact that with both an AUX input and an integrated phono pre-amplifier, you can connect virtually any turntable or record player to the speakers. If those woofers don’t rumble enough for you, you even have the option of plugging in a powered subwoofer. Modern digital inputs like TOSLINK and e-ARC let you use these speakers to seriously up your TV and video gaming audio experience.
I set the SpeakEasy 4s up in my office and spent an afternoon enjoying the sound they put out. Many portable Bluetooth speakers rely on bass radiators to boost the low end, but these have 4-inch woofers with 50W of power to each of them, plus those MDF enclosures and bass reflex ports. That means solid low frequency performance. Bass lines truly thump.
I played one of my favorite tracks for evaluating bass–Simple Minds’ “New Gold Dream”–and the impressive results led me down a rabbit hole of tracks where the bass features prominently. Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime,” the Spoons’ “Romantic Traffic,” Love and Rockets’ “Ball of Confusion,” Image in Vogue’s “Lust for Love” and “Bring On the Night” by the Police. Okay, it was a bit of an 80s streak, too. But no matter the genre, the SpeakEasy 4’s sounded fantastic. While low end performance is outstanding for such compact speakers, the soft dome tweeters delivered crisp highs and the midrange was also well represented. And the music was played in glorious stereo instead of the mono sound you get from a portable speaker.
Connect a turntable and enjoy your records they way they were meant to sound. Want to get loud? The SpeakEasy 4s have a total of 150W of power on tap, more than enough to blast your tunes through an entire floor without distortion. Just make sure to place them back a bit from a wall so those bass reflex ports have a little room to breath.
SpeakEasy 4 Speakers Key Specs:
- Dual, direct drive Class D amplifier delivering 75W per channel (50W to each woofer, 25W to each tweeter)
- 4-inch long excursion woofers, 3/4-inch silk dome tweeters
- Rear ported bass reflex design
- Frequency response 55Hz-20kHz
- Integrated phono pre-amp with dual RCA and ground
- AUX input (dual RCA)
- TOSLINK
- USB Type-A (power out for charging devices or access MP3 files for playback)
- HDMI e-ARC
- Bluetooth
- PRE-OUT (Dual RCA)
- LED night mode
- Speakers connect with 4-pin DIN cable (included)
- MDF cabinets with internal bracing, removable heathered fabric grills
- W 6-inches, H 9.5-inches, D 8.25-inches
- Remote included
- Available in black or white
- MSRP $399
Killer Compact Stereo System for Records: Connect SpeakEasy 4 to SpinBase MAX
A few weeks back, I bought new mid century modern-inspired record storage stands from Montreal-based Vybe. I still have the excellent SpinBase MAX turntable speaker (reviewed here) as part of my test setup. A Beatles-themed, special edition Pro-Ject Essential III turntable (reviewed here) sits atop the speaker, offering a great sounding, space-saving setup for listening to records when I don’t want to fire up my main system.
As I reconnected the system on top of the new cabinets, I had a thought. The SpinBase MAX has a Line Level output that can connect to powered speakers… This was an opportunity to create a super system!
I arranged the SpeakEasy 4 powered speakers at both ends of the cabinet, put the SpinBase MAX and turntable in the center and connected the systems. I flipped on the low pass filter to take advantage of the larger woofers on the SpeakEasy 4s. Wow.
On their own, the SpeakEasy 4 powered speakers and the SpinBase MAX sound great and each has different strengths. Combined, this setup delivers true, 2-channel stereo sound, plus an added sense of depth from the SpinBase MAX’s four driver, 270-degree audio delivery. All in a still compact package, without worrying about the turntable needle skipping or picking up distortion. It is truly impressive. The combination worked seamlessly together, whether I was listening to records or streaming Bluetooth audio.
I can’t even imagine what this system would sound like if you threw a powered subwoofer in the mix–not that one is needed with the SpeakEasy 4 woofers doing the low end heavy lifting.
Recommendation
If you are looking to upgrade your Bluetooth streaming audio or TV sound to true, 2-channel stereo without a lot of cables, components, or a big budget, then Andover Audio’s SpeakEasy 4 powered bookshelf speakers offer an excellent option. If you have a turntable or record player in the mix, they are a no-brainer recommendation.
Disclosure: Andover Audio provided SpeakEasy 4 speakers for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.
