Comparing our FENRIS, FORTE & STUDIE 3 speakers
Active speakers are the easiest entrance to hi-fi. Built-in amps and connections mean no complicated cable setups and no extra boxes. What’s not to like?
Our collection of active speakers is some of the best around. Some active speakers still rely on passive crossover designs. Ours don’t. We use a fully active crossover for maximum control over signal processing, and ultimately, superior sound quality. That’s why we call them true active speakers.
However, it can be a bit difficult to tell the difference between them just by looking at them. And picking the right ones can be a challenge. In this guide, we’ll give you the full overview of our active speaker line-up and help you choose the right pair for your home.
Quick Summary
- Good build quality.
- Great sound.
- All the connections you’ll need.
- Bluetooth 5.0.
- Most cost-effective option.
- Great build quality.
- Excellent sound.
- All the connections you’ll need.
- Bluetooth 5.0.
- Stylish matte lacquer finishes.
- All the same qualities as FORTE MK2.
- Wi-Fi streaming via AirPlay 2 and DTS Play-Fi, including multiroom and Spotify Connect (Lossless).
- 2 extra finishes (Matte lacquer Blue, and Real Walnut veneer).
- Quality sound.
- USB-C connection for PC/Mac.
- Bass/treble fine-tuning via rear buttons.
- Three predefined sound profiles (music, film, neutral).
- Exceptionally low noise floor.
- Not as high a build quality as our higher-end models.
- Only Bluetooth streaming.
- Only PVC finishes.
- Only Bluetooth streaming.
- Only comes in black and white.
- Higher priced.
- Only Bluetooth 4.2
- Only two finishes.
- Only one size (3.5” woofer).
Music and TV enthusiasts seeking a true, convenient stereo experience or a versatile, great-value active speaker solution.
Anyone looking for a real hi-fi experience, whether it’s for TV or music, that you’d normally only find in much more expensive speakers.
Music lovers who want quality sound and the convenience of premium streaming options in a stylish Scandinavian package.
Anyone looking for a quality solution to upgrade their desktop sound setup. Perfect for gaming, music, music production, and more.
FENRIS: The Soundbar Killer
FENRIS is the easy way into real stereo sound.
We usually refer to FENRIS as a “soundbar killer”. But why is that? It’s simple: they function just as easily, and the sound is clear, powerful, and easily outperforms any soundbar — for both TV and music.
Each speaker is powered by dedicated amplifiers: 2 x 50 W for the woofers and 2 x 25 W for the tweeters, with support for up to 24-bit/48 kHz resolution. The paper cone woofers are housed in solid MDF cabinets for improved stability and sound performance. In human language, this means that it will outperform more expensive speakers, and you get a real bang for your buck.
It’s a true plug-and-play solution for anyone ready to move beyond boring mono sound. Built-in Bluetooth lets you stream music wirelessly in seconds. There’s even a dedicated turntable input. Just connect your record player, place the speakers on each side, and enjoy real left-right stereo separation.
FORTE MK2: The Gold Standard
FORTE MK2 takes everything that makes FENRIS great and makes it excellent! They’re just as easy to use and have the same inputs and Bluetooth connection. But the real difference lies in the sound reproduction.
Our engineers have spent years fine-tuning FORTE MK2 to extract every last drop of performance from the technology inside. Each driver is powered by a massive 80 W amplifier, with support for up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution. The cabinet remains solid MDF, now even more rigid and reinforced, while the woofers feature a custom two-layer cone construction for greater precision and control. This might just sound like buzzwords, but all of this adds up to one powerful, pristine-sounding speaker that punches way above its weight and price point.
FORTE MK2 is available in elegant white or black matte lacquer finishes, adding a refined touch to its compact form. If you’re after a true hi-fi experience in a sleek, space-friendly design, FORTE MK2 is the answer.
FORTE WIFI: All-in-one
FORTE WIFI is the natural evolution of the FORTE MK2. These speakers have the same physical connections and will deliver the same excellent sound as their predecessors, but they have a few key advantages.
The main one is the Wi-Fi streaming via Airplay2 and Spotify Connect (Lossless). Why does this matter? Glad you asked. When you stream via Bluetooth, your phone, tablet, or computer needs to stay close to the speakers — and notifications, calls, and alerts can interrupt your music. With Wi-Fi streaming, your music plays directly from the source, so you can move freely and enjoy uninterrupted listening. To top it off, sound quality is also improved when streaming over Wi-Fi compared to Bluetooth.
Another neat advantage is that FORTE WIFI comes in two extra finishes: Blue matte lacquer and a real walnut veneer — both classy additions to almost any modern home.
To sum it up, if you love streaming your music directly to your speakers and don’t want to endure annoying interruptions, FORTE WIFI is the way to go for the ultimate mix of pristine sound and everyday convenience.
View FORTE WIFI
STUDIE 3: Bring the beat to your desktop
These little beasts are a bit different from the rest of our lineup. STUDIE 3 are desktop monitors specially designed for PC use. For this reason, they’ve been specially tuned, and we’ve added some neat features.
In terms of specs, STUDIE 3 features 40 W amplifiers for each driver, 3.5” woofers, and a max. resolution of 24-bit/192kHz. This is more than enough for desktop use, and in addition to that, we’ve lowered the noise floor even more, meaning you won’t have any tiny humming noises if you sit close to your speakers.
Apart from HDMI, STUDIE 3 has the same inputs as FORTE and FENRIS, but the truly unique part is the USB-C input, which has very low latency, making them perfect for everything from gaming to music production.
The sound quality from these is akin to FORTE, though from a smaller box, which is for your comfort and style. If you’re ready to ditch built-in PC speakers, STUDIE 3 is the obvious choice.
View STUDIE 3
A4, A5 or A55
Before we proceed, there is one final point to consider. In addition to choosing from different series, you also need to decide between the A4, A5, or A55 models, and as we all know, size matters, right?
To put it simply, you are choosing the size of your speaker system, which includes both the physical size and the size of the speaker components. The numbers refer to the size of the bass/midrange unit on the speaker, and the numbering system is pretty clever. A4 is the smallest with a 4” woofer, A5 is the middle child with a 5” woofer, and A55 is a floor-standing speaker system with 2 x 5” units.
The A4 is ideal for a gaming setup in your bedroom or a discreet solution next to your TV. On the other hand, the A55 is the speaker to get for your living room if you prefer plenty of bass and room-filling sound for your movie nights, or if you simply want the best. Your choice ultimately depends on where you plan to place them, the size of your room, and your personal preference for aesthetics.
Got questions?
Still not sure which speakers are right for you? Feel free to contact us at support@argonaudio.com or use our Buy & Try offer to give the speakers a listen for yourself.