Audiophilepure

https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2026/6/18/the-ps-audio-aspen-fr5-loudspeaker

Jane’s Addiction’s “Mountain Song” from the album Nothing’s Shocking is not just a power-chord masterpiece. At the 3-minute mark, the solo begins, and Dave Navarro’s bends seem otherworldly. There’s a degree of separation without too much sibilance that you can always hear in the recording; this is perhaps because of the bass in these monster speakers. When I compared my Alyssa speakers to the FR5, I could hear the tuning for the Alta Audio component to be of the soft-silk side of the sound, whereas the FR5’s have a more pronounced neutral sound; the Alyssas still had a little more pop in the highs. The neutral side of the FR5 (though the bass was always present) was more welcoming to some of the music I played than the Alyssa (which almost doubles the price). I’ll give a few examples.

In the last few years, Mary Halvorson has become one of my favourite artists; her sound is original, the layers of her compositions are volatile, and their unpredictability shows her mastery of the instrument. She just recorded an album with Ambrose Akinmusire, Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings (2026). I invite you to listen to it. The air of Akinmusire’s trumpet is palpable, and Halvorson’s Guild archtop guitar sings with phrasing that fragments your mind. The FR5’s make this album not just enjoyable, but an unforgettable listening experience.