[Listening Test] Argon Audio Forte A5 Mk2 - compact active loudspeakers

Product name: Argon Audio Forte A5 - active loudspeaker
Manufacturer: Argon Audio - Denmark
Cost: €599 (Currency conversion) - (YMMV)
Reviewer: Graeme Budd - TNT-Audio France
Reviewed: September, 2024

The audio market is full of lifestyle products be they soundbars, sub/sat combinations or just glorified ghetto blasters dressed up to look like guitar amps or props from science fiction films. The quality varies wildly but it's amazing what some companies can do for relatively little money.
I guess the Argon Audio Forte A5 mk2s would fall into the lifestyle category as they are a) fairly small, b) fairly inexpensive and c) easy to connect to a variety of sources. They're also designed to work in inhospitable spaces and don't require complicated setup rituals or masses of space. This is not intended to be derogatory in any way and as we'll see they're not half bad. But first let's start with a description.

What we have is a set of active bookshelf speakers that with the addition of some form of source can make up a complete and easy to use system.
In addition to the usual set of RCA sockets that the older readers among you will expect they also feature:

Digital 4 x 80 watt Class D amplifier utilizing advanced DSP with active crossover

Bizarrely the USB input isn't actually a USB input but serves for firmware upgrades - you can't connect your iPhone. That said you can connect via Bluetooth and there's a Toslink as well. There's also a subwoofer output for those who need more low end and a simple but effective remote control.

Following a recent directive from our editor I opened the Argons up to see what was inside. The cabinet is mdf and well built. The DAC and amp module is connected with quick connectors and has resin applied in strategic locations to prevent further exploration making photos rather pointless as you can't see what components have been used. The drivers have no indication of their provenance but this is not unusual if I'm honest. The amp/DAC does take up quite a large amount of the left hand speaker's internal volume but there's no glaring tonal or level imbalance between the two. Maybe this is achieved via the DSP - I don't know - and to be honest it's the result that counts. So without further ado it's time for some listening.

Listening

I started off using the HDMI ARC input which allowed the A5Mk2s to talk to my TV in the sitting room and as a result the Xbox for optical media. I stood the speakers on some small 60 cm tables reflecting the non specialized environment they will likely be used it.

At the same time I also dug out Mrs Budd's old Sony Discman and hooked it up via Toslink. In went Orbital's Middle of Nowhere album and once I'd remembered how the Discman worked (it's very slow so you end up pressing play 37 times and it gets confused) we were cooking with gas.

And to be honest it was pretty impressive for what amounted to 700 Euros (not including tables). The sound is lively and for most rooms a subwoofer wouldn't be necessary (even though the idea is intriguing!). The Discman does of course lack quite a bit of detail and ambiance when using its headphone output but via the A5Mk2s I didn't spot the somewhat bleached tone I associate with this player - so the DAC on the A5Mk2s must be doing something right or a least doing better than the Sony analogue headphone stage.

The HDMI ARC connection was a bit more complicated in that whilst it works well and sounds good for some reason it kept getting into disagreements with my Philips TV to the point that I had to unplug it to get volume control back from the TV. I felt that some of this may have been down to N°2 son's cowboy remote control skills but then it happened to me as well so I can't blame him here. I don't know if this was TV or speaker related as I don't have a selection of TVs with HDMI ARC. I'd certainly recommend any firmware updates that may be floating around to minimize this effect - this seems to be a requisite on all modern digital equipment so I'm not going to blame Argon Audio here.

When it was working though it improved massively sound from TV and Xbox (as you would expect). It's more of a hifi sound than a home cinema one where music works just as well as soundtracks with an even spectrum of sound. There's no excess rumble from explosions or insane dynamic range but I think the experience is all the better for it. It comfortably beats sound bars in musicality and stereo and will happily produce weird and wonderful stereo effects should they be on the sound track.

Once the HDMI option had been banned in the sitting room I decided to move the A5 Mk2s into the listening room and run them with a couple of streamers. I tried both the Argon Audio Solo (an obvious match - see below for more on this combo) and the AudioPhonics Evo. Despite my initial thoughts on the onboard DAC above in both cases the streamers sounded better via RCA than using the Forte's onboard DAC. But I would have been surprised (and disappointed in the other components ) if this wasn't the case as they both run ESS Sabre DACs and in the case of the Audiophonics unit cost almost as much as the A5 Mk2s!

The same was true when running the Naim CD5i player via RCA vs a Panasonic BD player and the onboard DAC. But we're missing the point a bit here. What's important is that the A5Mk2s play music really rather well. You can even put them on the floor and they'll project well and won't show up any major flaws. At one point I had them on the floor in front of the main system and I almost forgot I wasn't listening to the main system. Obviously this is background listening as I was working but I was enjoying it. I think it's down to a decent tonal balance and Argon are to be applauded for not sacrificing balance for bass or bass for top end.

Do I have any gripes? Compared to my much more expensive system I normally use female vocals can sound a bit harsh when you turn the volume up a bit. This was mostly true with the Naim CD5i which was a bit strange and not really what I was expecting. It's not fingernails running down a blackboard harsh and I guess I'm used to listening to a EL34 powered valve amp which does female vocals very well so I'm hyper critical of this. I bunged some Something Solid dissipating feet underneath the Argon's and this seemed to improve things so definitely experimentation with some minor support tweaks may well be worth your while.

This apparent harshness was annoying me so I thought I'd retry some combinations and I dug out the Argon Solo streamer again. A quick hookup via a simple JVC interconnect and Deezer Hifi streaming via Wifi from the Starlink. And things started to work. I don't know why but frankly the Solo/Forte A5Mk2 combination is a load of fun. It will pick out the complex poly rhythms of Polyphia, navigate the bass sweeps of Jon Hopkins and as a mega bonus it will play Dua Lipa's "Dance the Night Away" and have you grinning like an idiot. It will go louder than anyone reasonable would want or can provide high quality background music. As for why the Naim didn't work - I have no idea. It's just one of those things that can happen.

Conclusion

I've enjoyed my time with the Argon A5Mk2 and used in combination with Bluetooth they'll be enough and very satisfying for a large percentage of the population. Similarly on the end of a Stereo TV install they'll open things up considerably improving your enjoyment of films and music. Add a decent streamer (the Solo will do the trick) and some decent RCA cables and you've got a "my First Hifi" that will keep you entertained for years (or at least until the upgrade bug bites....). Now what will they be like with a subwoofer? I think I need to find out....

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Argon Audio Forte A5 Mk2

Active Wireless and Wired Speakers

Listening

Conclusion