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Auratone 5C Active Sound Cube Black

4.7 out of 5 stars from 7 customer ratings

Active Reference Monitors

  • Full range speakers
  • Compact Class-D power amplifier from Auratone A2-30
  • Developed in cooperation with Bettermaker
  • Driver: Ø 114 mm
  • Frequency range: 75 - 15000 Hz
  • Magnetically shielded
  • Power rating: 30 W RMS / 50 W peak
  • Input: Combination jack (XLR/jack)
  • Power supply connection
  • Cabinet made of 16 mm MDF
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 165 x 165 x 152 mm
  • Weight: 7 kg (pair)
  • Colour: Black
  • Delivery quantity: 1 pair
  • Available since August 2022
  • Item number 546635
  • Sales Unit 1 pair(s)
  • Speaker size 1x 4,5"
  • Amplifier power per unit (RMS) 50 W
  • Magnetic Shielding Yes
  • Analogue XLR Input Yes
  • Analogue Input (Jack) Yes
  • Analogue Input (Mini Jack) No
  • Analogue Input (RCA) No
  • Digital input No
  • Manual frequency correction No
  • Frequency range min. 75 Hz
  • Frequency range max. 15000 Hz
  • Dimensions in mm 165 x 165 x 152
  • Speaker Hous8ing - Woofer System Closed
795 €
All prices incl. VAT
In stock
1

The first active Auratone Sound Cubes

The Auratone 5C Active Sound Cube Black is celebrating 50 years of reference monitoring in studios worldwide. Since its invention in the 1970s, the original Sound Cube has been a staple on meter bridges, trusted by engineers – including those working with the biggest stars – to create mixes that translated reliably to radios, TVs, and domestic speakers. Now, for the first time, the classic sealed-box design is also available in an active version, eliminating the need for an external amp. Developed with Bettermaker, it delivers the same unhyped midrange focus that made the Cube famous, also retaining the same paper-cone driver and trademark honesty of its passive sibling. Built in the USA to the original 1985 specifications (here in a matte black finish), it preserves the legacy of the 5C Super Sound Cube in a self-powered format. Supplied as a matched pair, they provide a ready-made stereo setup for modern studios.

Auratone 5C Active Sound Cube Black stereo set with cables and power supplies

Active design, classic voice

The heart of the Cube is a 4.5" paper-cone full-range driver, chosen for its natural, uncoloured sound reproduction, and housed in the same rigid MDF cabinet as the passive model. This avoids port resonance and crossover artefacts, tightens transients, and sharpens the stereo image. The custom 50W amplifier, co-engineered in Europe by Bettermaker, delivers 50W of power with exceptionally low noise (SNR >100dB) and ultra-low distortion, ensuring crystal-clear monitoring. The frequency response spans 80Hz to 15kHz, focusing on the all-important midrange – the critical bandwidth for exposing mix imbalances. Connectivity includes a rear-mounted balanced jack/XLR combo input for balanced signals, an on/off switch and a power LED. Built-in protection circuits guard against overheating, overloads, and shorts, while every other detail has been fine-tuned to preserve the character of the original.

Midrange reality check

The Auratone 5C Active Sound Cube will appeal to engineers and producers who value the honesty of a midrange reality check. Vocals, guitars, snare drums, and other mix-defining elements sit squarely in its sweet spot, exposing imbalances that can remain hidden on full-range systems. This keeps mixes balanced across all listening environments – from mobile rigs and project studios to broadcast booths and professional mix rooms. With no external amp required, it adapts seamlessly to any setup. Producers across genres - from Pop and Hip-Hop to Rock and EDM – will find it an invaluable reference tool, offering a second perspective that keeps balances honest and ensures mixes translate convincingly to earbuds, car stereos, and other everyday playback systems.

Logo on the front of an Auratone 5C Active Sound Cube Black

About Auratone

Auratone is a US-based loudspeaker manufacturer with a legacy reaching back to the 1950s. Founded by Jack Wilson in Nashville, the company became world-famous in the 1970s with the release of the 5C Super Sound Cube, a compact reference monitor that quickly earned a place on the meter bridges of leading studios. Trusted for highlighting critical frequencies in the midrange, the Sound Cubes have been used on countless hit records and remain an industry benchmark today. After Jack Wilson’s passing in 2005, the company was revived by his family, continuing to build in the USA to original specifications. Through models like the 5C Super Sound Cube and the dedicated A2-30 amplifier, Auratone upholds its heritage, delivering the same uncompromising midrange focus to modern studios.

Connections on the rear of the Auratone 5C Active Sound Cube Black

Timeless reference monitors

In practice, the Auratone 5C Active Sound Cube Black retains the revealing qualities that made its passive counterpart an industry standard, now streamlined into an active monitor. The integrated amplifier cuts down on setup time and studio clutter, while the familiar voicing keeps it firmly rooted in the Auratone lineage. Used as a focused mono check or as a stereo pair alongside full-range monitors, it informs decisions on balance, dynamics, and arrangement during critical mixing phases. The Auratone Active 5C Sound Cube thus carries the legacy of the original Cube into modern production workflows, offering a trusted reference for today’s engineers that is validated by decades of tradition.

7 Customer ratings

4.7 / 5

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5 Reviews

B
Good, but not for me
Bosil 19.02.2025
Bought these to supplement my other speakers, and thought I would use them to adjust volumes in the mix and as a reference.
First impression when opening the box, was that it was very annoying and unnecessary to not include power cables for the speakers. As I didn't have any spare ones, I would need to use the ones meant for my other speakers.
That put aside, after trying them out for a while, I feel they give a quite good impression of what's happening in the midrange. They appeared quite neutral and nice sounding, although obviously lacking bass.
After getting extra power cables I used the Auratones as a reference when mixing two songs. First I thought they could be a useful tool, but very soon I started to feel like switching back and forth between the monitors just gave me ear fatigue and that the Auratones didn't give me any information I couldn't get from the rest of my setup.
I also thought it was annoying the speakers don't have any gain or eq adjustment.
So, considering they are not cheap, I decided to return them.
They look good though, and I'm sure they could feel right for many others, just not for me. We all have personal references when it comes to speakers, so it's good that it's possible to try them out and return them to Thomann if they don't feel right.
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d
Original Auratone Klang mit Abstrichen bei den Features
double-m 19.10.2022
Auratone Cubes sind aufgrund ihrer ehrlichen Mitten-Abbildung weltweit in unzähligen Studios zu finden. Diese Lautsprecher ermöglichen gezielte Mix und Mastering Entscheidungen dieses wichtigen Frequenzbereiches.
Für mich unerlässlich, um z.B. das Lautstärke Verhältnis von Vocals zum Playback zu beurteilen.

Bisher hatte ich dafür die ebenfalls klassischen Yamaha NS-10 Lautsprecher genutzt, bin nun aber aus Platzgründen auf die Auratones umgestiegen. Bereue diese Entscheidung aber nicht, da die Abbildung der Mitten und auch des Stereofelds bei den Auratones äußerst präzise ist.

Diese aktive Variante ist zudem super praktisch, da man keine Endstufe mehr benötigt. Einfach Aufstellen und fertig.

Die volle Punktzahl kann ich hier allerdings nicht vergeben, weil es mir unverständlich ist, warum man bei so einem Update auf einen Pegel Trimmer verzichtet hat. So kann man kann die Cubes leider nicht an die Lautstärke andere Studio Monitore anpassen. Ein entsprechendes Trimming wird auch nicht von allen Monitor Controllern geboten, was ein Matching unterschiedlicher Monitor Lautsprecher zum Problem werden lässt. Das ist für mich ein echtes Manko. Ansonsten sind die Cubes großartig und auch die Verarbeitung ist top.
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A
Geniale Referenzmonitore
Anonym224433 14.08.2023
Frequenzbild ist sehr flach und die midrange top abgebildet. Kann ich jedem Tontechniker als zweites Monitorpaar ans Herz legen. Im gegensatz zum Klon von Avatone haben sie nicht diesen ekelhaften Peak bei ca 1.5khz, de sie komplett unbrauchbar macht.
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M
Buenos chivatos, buena herramienta para el estudio
Miguelm10 04.10.2022
Los compré pensando que podrían ayudarme a mejorar mi mezcla, y si realmente sabes escucharlos lo hacen. Los considero especialmente útiles a la hora de fijar los niveles de volumen de las pistas, además te servirán para ver si el bajo se va traducir bien en casi todos los dispositivos. El precio es algo elevado para sus características, pero al ser activos es considerablemente más cómodo que tener que ponerles una fuente de alimentación aparte a un par de viejos auratone. Al no ser que quieras uno sólo para usarlo en mono los recomiendo.
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