HAVE YOU ever wondered why something good usually costs so much? Of course, we all have.
Outdoor Speaker Depot is little-known, but it is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It is an internet direct site based out of Brea, CA, offering an extensive array of goods at prices that will make your jaw drop. The OSD Nero AB5 is a case in point, utilizing active crossovers, bi-amped Class D amplifiers, digital signal processing, and quality drivers that rise above those typically seen at this price point. That’s just scratching the surface.
The Nero AB5 gives us a few inputs: ¼ ", XLR, and RCA. Sadly, no Wi-Fi or streaming capability is available, which would increase the cost. Also, it handles subwoofer integration externally. Gain control allows quick level adjustment matching the need, whether for the previously mentioned subwoofer system or for level-matching other inputs from a preamp/receiver or mixing board. High (±1 dB) and Low (±2 dB) frequency trim switches allow boundary compensation.
A composite 5.25" fiberglass woofer and 1" ferrofluid-cooled soft-dome tweeter move the air. A shallow waveguide helps the tweeter by providing factory-specified 110-degree horizontal and 70-degree vertical pattern control and allowing the electronic crossover between the drivers to dip down a little lower than we typically see at 2 kHz, with DSP aligning the phase. The waveguide also allows for a directivity match between the two drivers at the crossover point. A surprising feature is the 3M® EVA anti-vibration pads that keep the speaker cabinets from chattering on desktops and stands.
Front-mounted bass reflex ports help
