Argon Audio Forus 5 Bookshelf Speaker, Black (Pair)

The Argon Audio Forus 5 is a passive 2-way bookshelf speaker with a 5.25-inch mid-woofer, a 1-inch soft dome tweeter and a rear bass reflex port, playing on an amplifier of your choice. In Black, it's the most understated of the three finishes: a pair that nearly disappears on a shelf and still fills the whole room.

Why the Forus 5?

The 5.25-inch cone and the 1-inch tweeter with neodymium magnet hand over to each other at 2,700 Hz. This comparatively low crossover point is why voices come from one driver instead of splitting across two – you can hear it on every female vocalist. Lower down, the rear bass reflex port supports the fundamental tone down to 55 Hz. In small to medium rooms, that's enough without a subwoofer, based on experience. At 86 dB into 4 ohms, the Forus 5 is neither fussy nor an amplifier hog.

What you get

Two speakers, magnetically attached front grilles, rubber feet – and free choice of amplification. Integrated amplifier, stereo receiver, or a classic Argon SA1: the Forus 5 works with anything that has gold-plated screw terminals. An integrated wall mount sits on the back in case the shelf gets too crowded. And if you ever want more low bass, you simply add a subwoofer over the amplifier.

Who is the Forus 5 suited for – and who isn't it for?

Straight talk: if you want streaming and a power amp built into the speaker, the active Argon models are the better fit – the Forus 5 is passive, full stop. If you want to fill a large, open living space, go for a floorstander. And if you push it flush against the wall, you sacrifice clean bass, because the port fires backward: ten centimetres of air behind it is well worth having. For everyone else, it's one of the most sensible entry points into real stereo.

Our verdict

The Forus 5 is proof that honest stereo sound isn't a matter of size. The gap to the smaller Forus 4 isn't marketing, it's verifiable: 5.25 instead of 4 inches of cone area, 55 instead of 60 Hz lower cutoff, a 1-inch instead of a 0.75-inch tweeter. You can hear it. Which amplifier suits it, how far from the wall it should sit, with or without a subwoofer – just ask us. HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00 or WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Technical data

• Type: Passive 2-way bookshelf speaker, bass reflex (rear port)
• Tweeter: 1″ soft dome with neodymium magnet
• Woofer/midrange: 5.25″ paper/fibre cone
• Frequency range: 55–20,000 Hz (−3 dB)
• Impedance: 4 Ω
• Sensitivity: 86 dB
• Crossover frequency: 2,700 Hz
• Connection: single-wire, gold-plated screw terminals
• Mounting: integrated wall mount on the back
• Cabinet: MDF, magnetically attached front grille
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 16.8 × 27.2 × 21.2 cm
• Weight: 3.6 kg per speaker
• Finish: Black
• Sales unit: Pair (2 speakers)
• Included: 2 speakers, magnetic front grilles, rubber feet

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an amplifier for the Forus 5?

Yes. The Forus 5 is a passive speaker and needs an amplifier or receiver. That's intentional: it lets you determine sound character and power yourself. At 86 dB sensitivity into 4 ohms, it works just as well with small integrated amps as with more powerful compact-class units.

How far from the wall does the Forus 5 need to stand?

The bass reflex port sits on the back, so it needs air behind it. Around ten centimetres of clearance keeps the fundamental tone dry and defined. Placed closer, the bass gets fuller and, arguably, a bit thick – that can usually be balanced out through placement and toe-in.

What sets the Forus 5 apart from the smaller Forus 4?

The Forus 5 has a 5.25-inch mid-woofer instead of 4 inches, a 1-inch tweeter instead of 0.75 inches, and reaches deeper at 55 Hz versus the Forus 4's 60 Hz. It therefore fills larger rooms. The Forus 4 remains the choice for small rooms and desktops.

Is the Forus 5 delivered individually or as a pair?

As a pair. You get two speakers including magnetic front grilles and rubber feet – so one order is enough for a stereo setup. If you want to expand toward home cinema later, the Center and wall models from the same Forus family match tonally.

Why buy the Forus 5 from HD Zürisee?

Because the amplifier decides at least as much about the sound as the speaker – and we work out exactly that combination with you. Our experienced team advises honestly rather than pushing sales, helps with placement and expansion, and stays reachable with our own technician even after the purchase.

Goes well with

A passive speaker wants to be driven: amplifiers in a suitable size, a speaker stand for free-standing placement, proper cable in between – or a browse through the whole Argon Audio world.