I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel that active speakers (those which have their own in-built amplifiers, and which therefore do not need to be powered by a separate one) can often be overlooked as a solution to modern audio requirements, which is odd given that they can be a cost and space-effective means to get high quality sound into your dwelling.
We seem to be paying a lot more on our rent and mortgages for a lot less room these days, and I’ve found myself fielding more and more questions from customers looking for effective setups that aren’t at odds with their available space. Couple this with the popularity of affordable turntables amongst groups like students, and I’m more convinced with every passing day that active speakers are the best option for a growing number of people. With that in mind, may I introduce to you the Argon Audio Forte A4 and A5.
Every time I’ve had the chance to check out an Argon Audio product recently I’ve been really impressed; not only are they generally really good value for money in terms of performance, but they’re well designed, constructed and have all the features you’d want for the job at hand (check out my review of the Argon TT MkII turntable back in February: a deck I liked so much I bought one). The Forte A5, which is the model I’ll be offering my opinions on here, sits in the middle of the company’s active speaker range, above the more entry level Fenris A4 and A5, while above it are the much bigger floorstanding Fenris and Forte A55. It’s an excellently specced, well built, attractive bookshelf speaker, and it doesn’t half sound great to boot.
Experience smooth, full-bodied sound from a room-friendly pair of active speakers, with the Argon Forte A5 MK2.
An important note moving forward is that the A4 model is identical in terms of connectivity and features to the A5, with the same compliment of fully digital amps, power, inputs and speaker cone technology, so you can assume parity with the A5 on these points. They are however a little smaller and lighter (shedding a kilo and a half across the pair), and therefore their sound isn’t quite as bold and tight as their bigger sibling. I’d argue this makes them ideal for desktop applications, such as PC speakers, or where space is at a real premium.
The A5s are, in a word, punchy, and right off the bat I was impressed at how eager they were to start entertaining. They might not be as refined as, say, the Triangle AIO Twins, nor as analytical as the Q Acoustics M40, but at time of writing you’d have to spend around £100 more on either of those, and dare I say the Argons are just more…well, fun. There’s a certain cheekiness about them that I really like, the sonic equivalent of an eager puppy perhaps, and I really think these are a great compliment for a wide variety of musical genres. They don’t seem too fussy about room size or placement either, which I always appreciate when recommending something to a customer.
In terms of bass response The Forte A5s do, in keeping with some of the competition, offer a good deal more sophistication than a cabinet this size really has any right to. Now, that’s not to say you will never want for the addition of a subwoofer, but if you really do feel you need more or tighter bass then take advantage of the dedicated output, chuck on one of Argon’s own Malmo subs and never look back.
Enjoy hassle-free stereo sound, from all your music sources, with the Argon Audio Fenris A4.
As for connectivity, you really are spoiled here. More and more manufacturers are offering TV-friendly HDMI inputs, and Argon are no exception; these speakers are a brilliant alternative to a similarly priced soundbar, and they’ll certainly sound better for stereo music playback. There is a regular analogue RCA line input for hooking up an external component such as a CD player, though you also have an optical digital too as an alternative. A great quality built-in phono stage also means no worrying about whether or not your turntable has one. Nice!
Of course these are modern, digitally-enabled speakers, and you have the option of connecting at high resolution via aptX HD bluetooth should you wish the most convenience. The headline feature, however, is wifi connectivity, meaning these will hop onto your home internet connection and allow direct streaming from a number of services such as Spotify Connect.
Where I feel the Fortes really shine, and I say this with many, many hours of listening experience now, is in pairing them with a good turntable. For a number of weeks we had the A5s hooked up to one of Argon’s own TT Mk4 turntables on the shop floor in Chester, and in combination with the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge that comes included with that particular deck the Forte A5, and indeed all of us staff, were in vinyl heaven.
To get the same quality and performance from a separate amp and speakers you would be looking at spending a good deal more, and with scant competition around them at this price point I really have little hesitation in recommending the Forte A4 and A5 for customers seeking performance well above entry level, but without the price tag of a dedicated amplifier setup. If you’re in any doubt do call your local Richer Sounds and request a demo, or take advantage of our home trial option to really satisfy yourself from the comfort of your own sofa.
Author: Ewan, Chester Store
