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Looking for a reasonably priced and versatile pair of powered stereo speakers? Peachtree Audio M25 might be just the thing you need. They can be attached to any analog or digital audio source in your house, including your turntable (no phono preamp needed) and they deliver an impressive sonic performance for their size. In this review, we will discuss the most noticeable features and performance of this amazing and affordable stereo system. Keep reading if you want to find out more.
Peachtree Audio M25 is an upgraded version of the M24. The term ‘’upgraded’’ mostly refers to the size of the cabinet and size of the drivers. In other words, M25 is larger than M24 and has larger drivers, which basically means bigger sound. So, while M24 is a great choice if you need desktop speakers, M25 could be a great choice for your home stereo system. Both stereo systems feature the same connections and they are both equally versatile.
M25 speaker set is simple, boxy, but still elegant in its simplicity. The input panel on the back panel allows you to connect numerous audio sources including turntable (no preamp needed), desktop or laptop computer, CD player, TV, streaming devices, CD player, or some analog audio source (via RCA inputs). There’s also the Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream music from your phone. You can even attach an additional subwoofer if you want more bass. As you can see, an impressive number of features is packed inside these compact boxes.
The audio performance is on par with the price. It’s very balanced, rounded, with sparkling highs and detailed mids. Some people may find the bass tiny, but if you need more punch, you can always buy an additional powered subwoofer (nothing extremely powerful – 8in sub will be just enough).
- Simple and aesthetically pleasing design
- Impeccable build quality
- Great connection versatility – RCA (phono/aux), TOSLINK, USB Type-B
- Sub output – you can connect an additional subwoofer
- Bluetooth connectivity
- USB charging port
- Balanced and enjoyable sound signature
- Adjustable bass and treble (you have to use the remote)
- Lack of aptX support
- The volume controls are not integrated in Bluetooth mode (you have two separate volume controls – one on the unit itself and the other on your phone)
Considering all the features, connections, and sound quality, Peachtree Audio M25 represents one of the best choices under $400. It’s hard to call it affordable, but that kind of flexibility and performance comes at a price and the price is reasonable. You can connect a variety of devices, including your turntable (no external phono preamp needed), and you will get amusing and enjoyable audio with each of these audio sources.
Table of Contents
What’s in the box?
The package includes 2 speakers, removable grilles, remote, angled rubber stands, AC power cable, RCA and digital optical cable, speaker wire, user manual, and 1-year warranty. It’s a nice and very generous package. We haven’t expected rubber stands (the manufacturer calls them M bases) – it was a nice and thoughtful detail.
| Peachtree Audio M25 Specifications | |
|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Width | 168mm/6.6in |
| Height | 260mm/10.2in |
| Depth | 204mm/8in |
| Weight | 8.7lb |
| DRIVERS | |
| Midrange woofers | 5.25in x1, fiberglass cone |
| Tweeters | 1in x1, soft dome |
| ENCLOSURE TYPE | Ported |
| POWERING OPTIONS | AC power cable (100V-240V) |
| INPUTS | RCA x1 Digital optical x1 USB Type-B x1 USB Type-A x1 |
| OUTPUTS | Sub out x1 |
| OTHER CONNECTION OPTIONS | Bluetooth |
| OTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS | |
| Frequency response | 50Hz-20kHz |
| Output power | 50Wx2 |
| Sensitivity (1W at 1m) | 85dB |
| THD | Less than 0.1% |
| Nominal impedance | 4Ω |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Remote AUX/PHONO switch USB charging port Bass and treble controls |
Design
M25 speakers are simple, compact, and boxy but still elegant and sophisticated. All the edges are rounded which adds a little bit of style. You can choose between two finishes – glossy piano black and real bamboo. For some reason, the bamboo version is $50 pricier.
The cabinets are made from MDF. They are 6.6in wide, 10.2in tall, 8in deep. The right one is the main speaker (has all the inputs, outputs, and controls) and it’s much heavier than the left one.
Available in two versions – piano black and real bamboo
The speakers come with removable fabric grilles. You can leave them on or remove them – it’s entirely up to you. There’s one odd thing, though. On the front panel of the right speaker, there’s a volume/input knob and you won’t be able to use it if the grille is on. Luckily, you can always use the remote.
As we have said, all the inputs/outputs and controls are on the right speaker. On the front panel, you can see 2 drivers (5.25-in woofer and 1-in tweeter), volume/input knob on the right side (rotate it to adjust volume or press it to change the input), and a small window with the LED status indicator and IR receiver (for the remote). The LED status indicator changes colors depending on the source (red-standby, white-optical, green-RCA, orange-USB).
On the rear panel, there’s a great selection of inputs. You have RCA input with the RCA switch (two positions – phono and AUX), digital optical input, USB Type-B (for connecting the computer), ground screw terminal (for the turntable), sub output (for connecting an additional subwoofer), USB charging port (5V/1A), AC input (100V-240V), power switch, and speaker outputs for the left speaker. Above the input panel, there’s a bass reflex port which improves the bass response.
Right (main) speaker – front and rear panel
On the left speaker, you will find only two drivers on the front side and speaker terminals and bass reflex port on the back.
Left speaker – rear panel
Features
These compact speakers are packed with all kinds of features. There’s a built-in amp as well as DAC inside the right speaker.
Each speaker features one 5.25in fiberglass cone woofer and 1-inch soft dome tweeter paired with a 2-inch rear-firing bass reflex port at the back. The built-in amp can output 50W of RMS power per channel which doesn’t seem much but it’s more than enough for small or medium-sized rooms (up to 15x15ft).
The inputs are what make the Peachtree M25 powered speakers unique and so desirable. You have RCA input with the RCA switch. You can use it to connect your turntable (an external phono preamp is not necessary – there’s one already built inside) or you can turn the switch to AUX and use it to connect other analog audio sources with RCA or 3.5mm AUX output.
Then, you have digital connections – one TOSLINK digital optical input and one USB Type-B port. You can use that digital optical port to connect your TV or some streaming box, while the USB Type-B port is for connecting your computer. The built-in DAC handles hi-res audio files of up to 24bit/96kHz.
For connecting two speakers together you have 5-way binding posts compatible with banana plugs.
The right speaker also features a USB Type-A charging port. You can use it to charge your phone and other devices, but you can’t use it for music playback (there’s no way to plug in your USB flash drive and play the music from it). We could question the necessity of a USB charge-out port in a desktop speaker, but we are not going to – any additional feature is welcome (even if you are not going to use it often).
M25 also features Bluetooth connectivity. We haven’t found any info on the Bluetooth version and supported Bluetooth profiles. What we know is that it doesn’t support aptX low latency codec.
In the end, the package also includes the remote. The controls on the right speaker are pretty basic – you have a small knob that you can use to adjust the volume and switch inputs, but if you want more control you will have to use the remote. You can use it to control the playback (play/pause, forward/rewind), adjust volume, to select the input (AUX, OPT, USB, Bluetooth), and to play with the EQ settings (adjust bass and treble). If you want to bring back the default EQ settings, you can simply press the Flat button. The remote is small and simple, but it’s very useful. Especially because of the EQ settings.
Simple but useful remote
Performance and Sound Quality
After you set up the system, connect all the audio sources, and connect two speakers together, you can turn them on and start enjoying. Connecting everything should not take you more than 10 minutes (if you have all the right cables).
We haven’t noticed any glitches. The transition between different sources is very smooth and super-fast. There’s no noticeable lag when shifting between sources. Bluetooth connection works just fine. The range is pretty much standard (approx. 30ft within the line of sight) but the audio quality is not impressive. The Bluetooth module doesn’t support aptX low latency Bluetooth codec and you will notice this if you try watching videos on your phone while sending the audio to the speakers. There’s a noticeable sound lag.
All the other connections (both analog and digital) deliver better sound quality and more detailed sound than Bluetooth.
M25 can handle 24bi/96kHz hi-res audio with digital audio sources, but some of you might still prefer the good-old vinyl.
We were also quite happy with the audio reproduction of our Deep Purple vinyl collection. The sound is well-balanced, full, and detailed. The speakers did a great job with vocals and mids in general. They are all perfectly clear and very natural. The highs are nicely composed with the midrange. They don’t sound bright or overwhelming. The bass could be an issue – we have noticed the lack of definition and depth in songs like Highway Star and Burn. So, we were not impressed by the bass but it’s probably better for it to be unimpressive or to lack body than to be overwhelming and distorted. Why? Because you can always attach a subwoofer and get a much better experience.
When connected to some digital source (via TOSLINK or USB Type-B port), the sound becomes more detailed and the bass improves. It becomes more textured and punchier but still lacks some depth.
The other aspects of the audio reproduction are also pretty much on par with the price. The soundstage is quite wide. It’s not like live-concert wide, but still airy. Stereo imaging is not perfectly accurate and you can notice that when playing orchestral music. It’s more than enough for rock, pop, R&B, and any vocal-oriented music.
Loudness is not an issue for small rooms and it can fill them with sound easily, but it is problematic for large rooms, and it could be insufficient for some medium-sized rooms. The good thing is that it doesn’t get distorted at high volumes.
The Competition
As we have already said, the market is crowded with powered speakers and the competition is huge. Depending on how much you are prepared to pay, you can get even better sound with more bass, but you can hardly get better connection versatility. It is practically impossible to get all the inputs and outputs in one unit for that kind of money. It’s actually impossible to find all these inputs/outputs in much more expensive units. Peachtree M25 basically sets the limit when it comes to versatility.
AudioEngine A5+ Wireless Powered Speakers
We have reviewed AudioEngine A5+ wireless speakers a few weeks ago and we were pretty impressed. AudioEngine A5+ speakers are more expensive than the M25. The price difference varies between $100 and $150 (depending on the version).
Both speaker sets are very similar in terms of design and size. AudioEngine A5+ has slightly smaller woofers and tweeters which doesn’t make a big difference when it comes to bass but it slightly extends the treble response.
Both speakers feature RCA inputs and subwoofer outputs. The advantage of the AudioEngine A5+ is the Bluetooth connection. A5+ features Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX support and an extended range of 100ft. M25 is much more limited when it comes to Bluetooth connectivity. The advantage of the M25 are all the digital inputs. A5+ has none. So, even though it’s cheaper, M25 is more versatile.
Both sets of speakers deliver a similar sound signature with very detailed mids and clear highs, and they both struggle with the bass response. Luckily, they both have sub outputs. AudioEngine A5+ delivers slightly more detailed sound. M25 has adjustable bass and treble, while A5+ doesn’t.
Edifier S1000DB
Edifier S1000DB and Peachtree Audio M25 are both similarly priced (around $350). Edifier S1000DB has a slightly larger footprint and has a slightly larger woofer. They both come with all the necessary cables and with a remote.
Both, Edifier S1000DB and Peachtree Audio M25 feature analog RCA and digital optical inputs. Edifier S1000DB features coaxial input while the M25 features USB Type-B port. M25 also features USB charging port. Edifier S1000DB requires a phono preamp for connecting a turntable, while you can directly connect it to the M25.
We are happier with Edifier’s Bluetooth connection. It features Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX support and better range.
Edifier S1000DB delivers slightly deeper and firmer bass, while the M25 has slightly more detailed mids and highs.
Klipsch The Sixes
Klipsch The Sixes are a little bit out of the M25’s league. They are priced at $600 which is significantly more than M25 speakers. The Sixes have a beautiful vintage vibe and look really attractive.
In terms of connections, The Sixes are absolutely identical to M25. They both have RCA inputs with the RCA switch (phono/AUX), digital optical and USB Type-B inputs, as well as sub output. They both have USB Type-A charging ports. The only difference it the additional 3.5mm AUX input on the Sixes. So, there is no noticeable difference when it comes to inputs.
Also, both sets feature Bluetooth and allow you to stream music wirelessly.
Klipsch Sixes, like all the Klipsch speakers, have Tractrix horn tweeter which is Klipsch’s trademark. Some people don’t like them because they tend to produce brighter highs, but the Klipsch managed to soften the treble response by improving the horn design. There’s also one 6.5in woofer responsible for the low frequencies.
The biggest difference between the two sets (besides the $300 price difference) is the sound. The Klipsch Sixes deliver more layered and more detailed sound with better, deeper, and firmer low end. They are also significantly louder than the M25 speakers. Just like with M25, you can always connect a powered subwoofer to the Klipsch Sixes and get an impressive 2.1 system.
Comparison Table
| Speaker | Frequency response | Output power RMS/Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Peachtree Audio M25 | 50Hz to 20kHz | 100W (2x50W)/N/A |
| AudioEngine A5+ Wireless | 50Hz to 22kHz (+/- 1.5dB) | 100W/150W |
| Edifier S1000DB | 48Hz to 20kHz (+/- 4dB) | 120W/N/A |
| Klipsch The Sixes | 40Hz to 20kHz (+/- 3dB) | 200W/400W |
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to bass impact, detail, and bigger sound, the Peachtree M25 Powered speakers are definitely the winner. The M24 is good as a computer speaker, but the M25 has enough output to fill a good-sized room. It makes the perfect addition to a home theatre system as it is larger as well.
This is a purely subjective topic since both the Peachtree M25 and Audioengine A5+ are both fantastic speakers with very similar features. What makes the Peachtree M25 stand out is its impeccable sound quality, compact size, and output ability enough to fill a good-sized room. The Audioengine A5+, on the other hand, offers a bigger sound and more bass, allowing it to fill a larger room. It boils down to what you’re looking for in a speaker.
Final Thoughts
Peachtree Audio M25 truly impressed us. Finding this kind of connection versatility is almost impossible at this price point. These speakers have an integrated amp as well as DAC that can decode 24bit/96kHz hi-res audio. You can directly connect your turntable to the speakers (without an additional phono preamp).
Combine this kind of versatility with accurate and balanced sound reproduction and you’ll get a highly desirable and affordable home stereo system. Probably one of the best under $400.
The only real problem could be the lack of depth in the bass department but you can easily solve this by adding some nice subwoofer.
Hello, my name is James Longman.
I’m a writer and editor at AudioReputation. I disassembled my first portable AM/FM radio when I was only 8. At the age of 11, I burned the circuit board on my old boombox cassette player. I’m not going to explain how but it was reckless and stupid.
Since then, I have become much more careful around radios, boomboxes, and other audio devices (at least, I like to think so) but I have never lost the passion for audio equipment. Throughout 20 years of my professional career, I’ve been working for various audio equipment manufacturers and even started building speakers on my own in my little workshop.
I love the work we do here at AudioReputation. Testing, comparing, and evaluating all kinds of audio devices (speakers, soundbars, headphones, home theater systems, etc.) is something I truly enjoy. I try to be unbiased and give you my honest opinion on every piece of equipment I test. Still, you should take my reviews with a pinch of salt and always be just a little bit skeptical. The fact that I liked some speaker or soundbar doesn’t mean that you are going to love it. If you have the opportunity, you should test it/hear it before buying it.