I'm torn on this. As an 'audiophile speaker,' it's misses the mark. But, as a desktop speaker under typical use case (nearfield, placed on top of the desk, below the listener and aimed off-axis) it's fine. I rank it higher than the Fiio SP3 (mainly because the Fiio has such a nasty 70Hz resonance) but certainly below the Kali LP-UNF if we're talking sound quality. HOWEVER, the Kali is about 2x the overall volume of this A2+ speaker, and in the example I gave of setting up an 8-track player for my friend's computer desk the Kali were much too large whereas these Audioengine speakers were perfect for that task. Long story short, for $269 and a very compact speaker, it'll do the job. If you take the time to set it up properly you'll have pleasant sound but don't mistake it for a pair of nearfield monitors with perfect accuracy because they're not that. Purchase via Crutchfield here: howl.me/cmF5lxcgnQZ And be sure to check out Crutchfield's "Real Deal Days" sale via their homepage here: howl.me/cmFsSSbVuYH These links earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you which helps me keep bringing you free, objective reviews. I appreciate your support!
I would think a natural comparison would be the Vanatoo T0, which you have reviewed. Thinking back, how would those compare? Very interested in your take!
@@ErinsAudioCorner Yes. But then the Kali is a bit bigger. I mean, thinking of the Venn diagram of comparison there's overlap for both. And for a desktop solution, I'd be more likely to cross-shop within +/- $150 than I would 2x the size. Just my 2 cents.
@@ErinsAudioCorner The iLoud Micro Monitors would be a more suitable comparison, similar price but they're even smaller, with a claimed response down to ~50Hz (DSP obviously)
I have the audioengine hd6 with a jbl pb10 sub and I am very satisfied, which is that audioengine in construction quality is not bad. I always listen to him and watch the best channel about audio and speakers.
I just discovered your channel. Wow this is now my favorite channel for loudspeaker reviews. You are really good at explaining what the measurements actually do to the listening experience, for us less technical inclined. Amazing work.
I've had/still use the original pair of A2's I bought 15 years ago for desktop use, now in my kitchen connected up to an echo dot, fantastic wee speaker with a nice warm sound that works very well for my needs.
I like that Audioengine stays in their lane and has been doing so for a while. I hope they take your suggestions to heart. I almost bought a couple of their 8 inch subwoofers which should get down in the mid 20s in room. Those seem well thought out for $350 each Excellent content
Sadly I bought the Fiio SP3 one month befor your review dropped and was deciding between these 2. Now I am glad that the Audioengine A2+ review is there too, for everyone who is in the same shoes.
Had the A2's for must be nearly 20 years, the surround has just split on one of the speakers, cellotape seems to have resolved the issue for now. They have served me well in the kitchen and currently doing the sound duty on my TV. I'm pretty sure there is plenty of competition these days, I think they are a touch expensive today.
I auditioned the HD6 and the Kanto YU6 against each other, and the Audioengine sound just amazing for rock music and anything R&B or EDM related. But ultimately It ended breaking the bank and going with KEF LS50 Wireless. 😂🎉😅
A5+ is pretty good, I have 2 pairs One of them fully passive as the amp inside it had died, so I turned the other speaker passive as well. Running them with a Topping MX3s sounds terrific. The size is also still suitable for desktop
Great to see more reviews of this type of product from you. I'd like to request if you can get Audio Advice to send you the Peachtree Audio M24x for review.
Had an original pair for more than a decade, and they still work well. Many more options these days but as tiny nice looking desktop or office speakers they sound pretty good.
Had these for a multitude of years and had articulated my opinions on this speaker significantly better on an Amazon review (written under Edith Torres, another family members account). To summarize my experience with these, they were my first introduction to the audiophile space and “high quality” audio. These were a very warm speaker, even for me at the time. I found the mid range to be extremely pronounced (which is funny because these speakers actually scoop at the mid-range) with a drop off at around the sub-bass region at like 80ish hz. Honestly the only reason I couldn’t recommend these was because both of my first and second pairs blew out at relatively low volumes.
I have Audioengine HD3 which has some parts in common with A2+, but they are a little bigger. I was relatively satisfied with them, then I got HD4 and then bigger ones (I wanted to replace them and I tried some much bigger speakers, but which didn't cost more than the HD3 and I didn't find any that would make me give up the HD3 on that price). Each does its job for its size, but I have convinced myself that certain sounds cannot be formed in a small form. Although they are active speakers, they can also be used with an external DAC. HD3 has a DAC that offers a full and warm sound. With the external DAC (surpassing the D30 Pro), the sound is more accurate and clear. Beyond the measurements, my main feeling is that certain sounds cannot be formed in a small box.
Interesting review. I use Kanto YU2's (very similar to the A2+ but ported at rear) in a near field setup on my desktop with the Kanto 8 inch subwoofer. But, because I have a row of a 24" TV + 2 monitors + a laptop across my 6ft wide desk, I have them on 19" stands behind the row of monitors. They sit on Kanto S2 stands, in reverse, angled down to my ears. I enjoy the sound space with these so much in this configuration. I'm sure the low'ish ceiling in my basement office is coming into play. I had bought these years ago and initially placed them on foam wedges on my desktop back when I had just one monitor and before I bought the subwoofer. I did not like the sound out of them at all at the time so I put them into a closet for years. The subwoofer changed the dynamics the most. Now I prefer these more than any headphone I have. I'm looking at the Kali UNF's or the new Kanto ORA or ORA4 as a possible upgrade. .
Excellent - another Wyld Stallyns fan! I bought a pair of these in Red for my son, hooked up to a Wiim Mini and his Sony turntable. Audiophile? No. Easy and fun? Totally.
I run them as desktop speakers next to my monitor. I really couldn't complain about anything. The desk boosts base and low mids, so overall they really don't sound too bad. At least much, much better than the speakers in my MacBook. Also, they look great.
Question for Erin: Did you look at the optional DS-1 wedge stands? They're for a desktop setup and raise the on-axis angle about 20 degrees for an added $30.
The algorithm notified me of two earthquakes during the speakers' test: 9:50 earthquake number one and 11:32 earthquake number two. No subsequent aftershocks were reported, as these things die below 100 Hz. In short, no damages were reported at Erin's home. However, I was told that crickets around the home's perimeter got out of there quickly, possibly caused by the tweeters.
Fascinating! I'll get around to a deep dive to understand the graphed I information better. I'd love to know your take on the Harmon Kardon sound sticks4 and what measurements you get placing the subwoofer on the desk vs on the floor. They are for me an interesting alternative to the A2+s.
Thanks for reviewing these! I had some A2's on my desktop for almost 10 years. I put them on some stands and the bump at 2.5K was really bad but curable with eq as you said. Those A2's are now singing in a small bedroom on top of a wardrobe along with a Wiim mini and a Schiit modi 3 that needed a job. The 8-track use case looks fun.
For my general "desktop computer use" which includes general background music listening while working/walking within my den/office and & watching general RUclips videos while seated at the computer, I'm still using a nearly 15 year old set of the Logitech X-230 2.1 satellite/sub system "PC Speakers" in my ~ 13' x 16' x 8' den/office, LOL. While I have Neumann KH120A and Kali Audio IN-8 2nd wave active studio monitors in other rooms, this small Logitech 2.1 setup is perfectly fine and actually enjoyable for this use case scenario. I would never consider using them for a Home Theater setup, but in the nearfield they have plenty of detail without being harsh and actually have great imaging and "bass" when the subwoofer is setup properly. They will actually get decently loud enough to easily fill the room with sound, but obviously not concert-level output. Each "racetrack" or oval shaped satellite speaker has dual 2" "widerange" drivers (they look like aluminum cone Tang-Band drive units), and a very small ported subwoofer with a 5.25" driver. Supposedly 6 watts for each satellite and 20 watts for the sub. I like that one of the satellite speakers has a FRONT on/off button and separate volume knob, as well as a 3.5mm jack for headphones, which I've made use of on many occasions when working later into the evening without wanting to disturb anyone. The small base on each of the satellite speakers angles them up towards your head when seated at your desk. The tiny sub has a level control which I have set just barely above minimum and it provides really nice lower midbass reinforcement down to ~45Hz, enough to give some impact and body/weight to kick drums (I'm a drummer). However, if you dial the subwoofer up too high it just gets boomy and bloated, but otherwise it is clean and clear. My subwoofer is placed on the floor deep into the corner under a built-in "L" shaped computer desk with lower drawer cabinets and upper wall cabinets & open bookshelves. I think these were first sold in 2004 and last sold in ~2018, and there are plenty of reviews on Amazon from others who have had them for over 10 years and still enjoy them. You can usually find them on eBay for $25-$65 in decent to new condition. Yes, they are lightweight, cheap, & plasticky, but I think they still look surprisingly nice for what they are. My only gripe with these is that the built-in cables connect to the back of the subwoofer using an old school DB9 serial connector and the wires or cables cannot be extended or lengthened and might be a little short in some situations. Otherwise they provide perfectly enjoyable sound for this type of use and take up very little desk space. I would actually just buy another second-hand set of these if they ever failed on me. Several of the Amazon reviewers said that they tried newer or different Logitech models and were not nearly as happy and purchased these again as well. But some of the Logitech THX models and Z-2300 or Z-5300 are noted to be a step up in SQ and would also be good if you can find a set at a decent price. Different strokes for different folks, but I simply don't need "reference level" SQ while I'm sitting at my computer desk while working or for general RUclips entertainment, and these are perfectly enjoyable for a whole lot less money. And the 2.1 satellite/sub setup means that you get much lower response while still just having tiny speakers on your desk and not having to use much larger speakers such as the Kali mentioned here to get more low end. The Kali will definitely have smoother response and the variable tonal adjustments via the rear dip switches, so there's that, but you pay for it in both size and cost. Options are good.
Personally, I am not a fan of small speakers. I got rid of all the small speakers apart from a soundbar after building and listening to my first big speakers. My current setup; is a pair of bookshelves made from 6.5-inch drivers. They used to be my desk/theater surround speakers in my city apartment. Interchanged often with similarly sized bookshelves. In my current place, it plays flat to 50 hz on its own and flat to 30 hz with EQ despite being far from the wall and in an open-concept living room kitchen combo. They were amazing for desk setup in my city apartment and didn't feel an overkill. They can't compete with my towers though in every department. The towers had better bass and clarity. The bookshelves have an okay kick drum sound but lack weight and bass guitar notes separation like the towers. Hopefully, I'll be back to my city apartment soon and continue enjoying my towers while I build even bigger towers with bigger and better speaker drivers. I am not a fan of subs for music and my DIY Ultimax 15 sub is mostly for movies and occasional party music. Bigger drivers always sound better than small ones overall even at similar listening volume. Maybe it's because of the effortless room-filling sound of big speakers.
I enjoy my Kali LP UNF every day, and for those who is still in search and hesitate: look at 15.38, you will miss so much of LF (unless you use Sub ofc, but for this category i doubt it). Its like missing cup of coffee in the morning before work. Its not about how good or bad it is. Its not there at all. The bad part of getting proper gear: now i stop enjoying my old cheap computer speakers on work, cause they cant play LF less than 85 hz.
It might help. It would really have to do with how far above the speakers you sit. If you think you were going to sit more than 20° above the speakers then aiming them a little bit more toward you might help. Do you want to play around with this though because the exaggerated highs may be too much if pointed directly at your ears.
That shirt is electric. I wish I had gone to see them at Wimbledon. Thank you for your detailed review and comparison. I'm curious for these self-powered speakers with internal DSP what is the delay?
For my money, I'd spend the extra 10% or $30 on the Kali's. The size difference is more than double in volume, BUT the Kali's are only 2" wider, an inch deeper, and only 3 1/2 " taller. The A2's are so tiny, so the Kali's are also small monitors!!
I hope you could do the Kanto yu4! Less of a compromise size wise with more features - controller, bass & treble adjustment, subwoofer output. Can be used in more use cases - may be a good secondary system for a bedroom or garage or small basic living room system.
What happened to the RSL Speedwoofer 10E??? Everyone talked about it at launch, then silence. Where’s the reviews? We need the 10E and OSD FS12 which also goes on sale for $300, or the OSD Trevoce 12” triple driver which is currently $350.
What a great review and I do love how much background work you put into this review. I would love seeing you bounce back and fourth between every type of speaker. I would love to see your take on the Klipsch computer speakers.......I have 3 computers in my home and I have two that play music often while I work on them. I have kicked around the thought of getting them but, keep talking myself out of them for getting something else for home systems. Great review Erin!
I bought A2 as a poor student back around 2008 based on rave subjective reviews. I assume Audioengine success for the first decade all came from that one Stereophile review? Anyway they were my "reference" for years as I had nothing better for a long time. Added a subwoofer when I got less poor to make it somewhat full-range and more enjoyable. The size and looks was always a big pro, but overall I consider myself cheated by the audio media - if I would know better back then, perhaps I could get the cheapest Genelec or something well engineered at a time. No data, no way to compare - getting random speakers. I actually still have them on a desk, just to provide a sound mostly for kids, as I use headphones 99.9%. Just unplug them to not drain power in endless standby. The point is - they look cute, and I could never get any money for them if I would sell them, so thye keep sitting on a desk... Not recommended. A bit surprised why they bothered sending the speaker for review. Usually I respect companies for doing that, but in this case I wonder if they themselves were curious what are they selling?
@@Audfile You could get a pair of the JBL LSR-305/305 MKII active studio monitors for $250 when on sale, and while not being completely AMAZING, they are certainly far from being "pure trash". @ldwahl6678 The AudioEngine speakers are all very small. You just can't expect to get any REAL Bass out of drivers and cabinets that are that small. But move up to just 5.25" midwoofer drivers and slightly larger cabinets and its amazing how much low end extension you can eek out of a decently designed pair of speakers.
@bbfoto7248 eh, no thanks. Been there done that on the budget stuff. I'm way past at this point. Not even slightly interested. I know what more gets you.
@bbfoto7248 bro. I've been in this hobby 25 years. I appreciate your passion but I know all of this. I'm not in the market for budget speakers. And no. They don't compete. Not really. You get what you pay for. There's no magical cheap speaker as good as something thousands of dollars. It's ok, you do you.
I lost/misplaced their proprietary cable during my move to another residence. I tried to email them to order the part. There was no help at all and the item has been out of stock ever since. Their website is not that helpful as well.
I have spoken with their support team a few times in the past on the phone, did you give them a call? Also I checked out what you said about the power supply and it looks like it is in stock to me 🤷♂️
I returned the pair I bought. I was amazed at how poor they sounded compared to my old Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 speakers I had bought in college in the 1990s, let alone proper speakers (NHT, B&W, KEF since). More than being shocked at how bad they sounded, I was shocked at how they could have been so glowingly reviewed. Either reviewers don't know shit or it's all about the marketing dollars sloshing around. Anyway, they were crap.
If you aren't being sarcastic, LOL, Erin made it perfectly clear that the response of these drops off sharply below ~100Hz, AND they are OBVIOUSLY tiny speakers. So Yeah, IF you want anything below 80Hz with authority you'll definitely need a sub. :-P
I am not an audiophile or a golden ear by any means, and these just sound awful to me. Absolutely zero bass, and the uneven response sounded bad even to my untrained ears. I just don't understand the love for these things. Sure, you can make them sound better with some EQing and a subwoofer, but then you're talking $500 and they're not worth anywhere near that.
I'm torn on this. As an 'audiophile speaker,' it's misses the mark. But, as a desktop speaker under typical use case (nearfield, placed on top of the desk, below the listener and aimed off-axis) it's fine. I rank it higher than the Fiio SP3 (mainly because the Fiio has such a nasty 70Hz resonance) but certainly below the Kali LP-UNF if we're talking sound quality. HOWEVER, the Kali is about 2x the overall volume of this A2+ speaker, and in the example I gave of setting up an 8-track player for my friend's computer desk the Kali were much too large whereas these Audioengine speakers were perfect for that task.
Long story short, for $269 and a very compact speaker, it'll do the job. If you take the time to set it up properly you'll have pleasant sound but don't mistake it for a pair of nearfield monitors with perfect accuracy because they're not that.
Purchase via Crutchfield here:
howl.me/cmF5lxcgnQZ
And be sure to check out Crutchfield's "Real Deal Days" sale via their homepage here:
howl.me/cmFsSSbVuYH
These links earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you which helps me keep bringing you free, objective reviews. I appreciate your support!
I would think a natural comparison would be the Vanatoo T0, which you have reviewed. Thinking back, how would those compare? Very interested in your take!
@@svalbard01those are a bit more money, no?
@@ErinsAudioCorner Yes. But then the Kali is a bit bigger. I mean, thinking of the Venn diagram of comparison there's overlap for both. And for a desktop solution, I'd be more likely to cross-shop within +/- $150 than I would 2x the size. Just my 2 cents.
@@ErinsAudioCorner The iLoud Micro Monitors would be a more suitable comparison, similar price but they're even smaller, with a claimed response down to ~50Hz (DSP obviously)
I have the audioengine hd6 with a jbl pb10 sub and I am very satisfied, which is that audioengine in construction quality is not bad. I always listen to him and watch the best channel about audio and speakers.
I just discovered your channel. Wow this is now my favorite channel for loudspeaker reviews. You are really good at explaining what the measurements actually do to the listening experience, for us less technical inclined. Amazing work.
yes glad u found. can learn a lot hear for sure!
I've had/still use the original pair of A2's I bought 15 years ago for desktop use, now in my kitchen connected up to an echo dot, fantastic wee speaker with a nice warm sound that works very well for my needs.
You are the most detailed speaker reviewer I’ve ever seen ❤
I like that Audioengine stays in their lane and has been doing so for a while.
I hope they take your suggestions to heart.
I almost bought a couple of their 8 inch subwoofers which should get down in the mid 20s in room.
Those seem well thought out for $350 each
Excellent content
Sadly I bought the Fiio SP3 one month befor your review dropped and was deciding between these 2. Now I am glad that the Audioengine A2+ review is there too, for everyone who is in the same shoes.
Had the A2's for must be nearly 20 years, the surround has just split on one of the speakers, cellotape seems to have resolved the issue for now. They have served me well in the kitchen and currently doing the sound duty on my TV. I'm pretty sure there is plenty of competition these days, I think they are a touch expensive today.
I auditioned the HD6 and the Kanto YU6 against each other, and the Audioengine sound just amazing for rock music and anything R&B or EDM related. But ultimately It ended breaking the bank and going with KEF LS50 Wireless. 😂🎉😅
Great review. Would love to see a review on the Audioengine 5+ or HD6
A5+ is pretty good, I have 2 pairs
One of them fully passive as the amp inside it had died, so I turned the other speaker passive as well. Running them with a Topping MX3s sounds terrific. The size is also still suitable for desktop
A few years back, I bought the previous version and added a Polk PSW10. Decent sound for the investment and purchase price was a bit less as well.
Great to see more reviews of this type of product from you. I'd like to request if you can get Audio Advice to send you the Peachtree Audio M24x for review.
I had the previous all analogue Audioengine A2.... loved them lots ❤
Had an original pair for more than a decade, and they still work well. Many more options these days but as tiny nice looking desktop or office speakers they sound pretty good.
I'll tell anyone who will listen that Crutchfield's customer service is the bomb. They get my money whenever possible.
I got white A2. Still sound great in my small office. You can first make fair test after many hours of use.
I always wanted to see your opinion on some of these desktop speakers. Very informative thank you
Had these for a multitude of years and had articulated my opinions on this speaker significantly better on an Amazon review (written under Edith Torres, another family members account). To summarize my experience with these, they were my first introduction to the audiophile space and “high quality” audio. These were a very warm speaker, even for me at the time. I found the mid range to be extremely pronounced (which is funny because these speakers actually scoop at the mid-range) with a drop off at around the sub-bass region at like 80ish hz. Honestly the only reason I couldn’t recommend these was because both of my first and second pairs blew out at relatively low volumes.
I have Audioengine HD3 which has some parts in common with A2+, but they are a little bigger. I was relatively satisfied with them, then I got HD4 and then bigger ones (I wanted to replace them and I tried some much bigger speakers, but which didn't cost more than the HD3 and I didn't find any that would make me give up the HD3 on that price). Each does its job for its size, but I have convinced myself that certain sounds cannot be formed in a small form.
Although they are active speakers, they can also be used with an external DAC. HD3 has a DAC that offers a full and warm sound. With the external DAC (surpassing the D30 Pro), the sound is more accurate and clear.
Beyond the measurements, my main feeling is that certain sounds cannot be formed in a small box.
Interesting review. I use Kanto YU2's (very similar to the A2+ but ported at rear) in a near field setup on my desktop with the Kanto 8 inch subwoofer. But, because I have a row of a 24" TV + 2 monitors + a laptop across my 6ft wide desk, I have them on 19" stands behind the row of monitors. They sit on Kanto S2 stands, in reverse, angled down to my ears. I enjoy the sound space with these so much in this configuration. I'm sure the low'ish ceiling in my basement office is coming into play.
I had bought these years ago and initially placed them on foam wedges on my desktop back when I had just one monitor and before I bought the subwoofer. I did not like the sound out of them at all at the time so I put them into a closet for years.
The subwoofer changed the dynamics the most. Now I prefer these more than any headphone I have. I'm looking at the Kali UNF's or the new Kanto ORA or ORA4 as a possible upgrade.
.
Excellent - another Wyld Stallyns fan!
I bought a pair of these in Red for my son, hooked up to a Wiim Mini and his Sony turntable.
Audiophile? No.
Easy and fun? Totally.
i bought a pair and sold them in a month, ended up with emotiva airmotiv 5 which are still amazing and I still use them as desktop speakers.
I think you should try the kanto ora. And i think you'll like them. Hivi swans os-10 also a great value candidate!
I second this suggestion. Also, if and when they ever release them, the Kanto ORA4.
I run them as desktop speakers next to my monitor. I really couldn't complain about anything. The desk boosts base and low mids, so overall they really don't sound too bad. At least much, much better than the speakers in my MacBook. Also, they look great.
Question for Erin: Did you look at the optional DS-1 wedge stands? They're for a desktop setup and raise the on-axis angle about 20 degrees for an added $30.
The algorithm notified me of two earthquakes during the speakers' test: 9:50 earthquake number one and 11:32 earthquake number two. No subsequent aftershocks were reported, as these things die below 100 Hz. In short, no damages were reported at Erin's home. However, I was told that crickets around the home's perimeter got out of there quickly, possibly caused by the tweeters.
Fascinating! I'll get around to a deep dive to understand the graphed I information better. I'd love to know your take on the Harmon Kardon sound sticks4 and what measurements you get placing the subwoofer on the desk vs on the floor. They are for me an interesting alternative to the A2+s.
Thanks for reviewing these! I had some A2's on my desktop for almost 10 years. I put them on some stands and the bump at 2.5K was really bad but curable with eq as you said. Those A2's are now singing in a small bedroom on top of a wardrobe along with a Wiim mini and a Schiit modi 3 that needed a job. The 8-track use case looks fun.
For my general "desktop computer use" which includes general background music listening while working/walking within my den/office and & watching general RUclips videos while seated at the computer, I'm still using a nearly 15 year old set of the Logitech X-230 2.1 satellite/sub system "PC Speakers" in my ~ 13' x 16' x 8' den/office, LOL.
While I have Neumann KH120A and Kali Audio IN-8 2nd wave active studio monitors in other rooms, this small Logitech 2.1 setup is perfectly fine and actually enjoyable for this use case scenario.
I would never consider using them for a Home Theater setup, but in the nearfield they have plenty of detail without being harsh and actually have great imaging and "bass" when the subwoofer is setup properly. They will actually get decently loud enough to easily fill the room with sound, but obviously not concert-level output.
Each "racetrack" or oval shaped satellite speaker has dual 2" "widerange" drivers (they look like aluminum cone Tang-Band drive units), and a very small ported subwoofer with a 5.25" driver. Supposedly 6 watts for each satellite and 20 watts for the sub.
I like that one of the satellite speakers has a FRONT on/off button and separate volume knob, as well as a 3.5mm jack for headphones, which I've made use of on many occasions when working later into the evening without wanting to disturb anyone. The small base on each of the satellite speakers angles them up towards your head when seated at your desk.
The tiny sub has a level control which I have set just barely above minimum and it provides really nice lower midbass reinforcement down to ~45Hz, enough to give some impact and body/weight to kick drums (I'm a drummer).
However, if you dial the subwoofer up too high it just gets boomy and bloated, but otherwise it is clean and clear. My subwoofer is placed on the floor deep into the corner under a built-in "L" shaped computer desk with lower drawer cabinets and upper wall cabinets & open bookshelves.
I think these were first sold in 2004 and last sold in ~2018, and there are plenty of reviews on Amazon from others who have had them for over 10 years and still enjoy them. You can usually find them on eBay for $25-$65 in decent to new condition.
Yes, they are lightweight, cheap, & plasticky, but I think they still look surprisingly nice for what they are.
My only gripe with these is that the built-in cables connect to the back of the subwoofer using an old school DB9 serial connector and the wires or cables cannot be extended or lengthened and might be a little short in some situations.
Otherwise they provide perfectly enjoyable sound for this type of use and take up very little desk space. I would actually just buy another second-hand set of these if they ever failed on me.
Several of the Amazon reviewers said that they tried newer or different Logitech models and were not nearly as happy and purchased these again as well. But some of the Logitech THX models and Z-2300 or Z-5300 are noted to be a step up in SQ and would also be good if you can find a set at a decent price.
Different strokes for different folks, but I simply don't need "reference level" SQ while I'm sitting at my computer desk while working or for general RUclips entertainment, and these are perfectly enjoyable for a whole lot less money.
And the 2.1 satellite/sub setup means that you get much lower response while still just having tiny speakers on your desk and not having to use much larger speakers such as the Kali mentioned here to get more low end.
The Kali will definitely have smoother response and the variable tonal adjustments via the rear dip switches, so there's that, but you pay for it in both size and cost.
Options are good.
Personally, I am not a fan of small speakers. I got rid of all the small speakers apart from a soundbar after building and listening to my first big speakers. My current setup; is a pair of bookshelves made from 6.5-inch drivers. They used to be my desk/theater surround speakers in my city apartment. Interchanged often with similarly sized bookshelves. In my current place, it plays flat to 50 hz on its own and flat to 30 hz with EQ despite being far from the wall and in an open-concept living room kitchen combo. They were amazing for desk setup in my city apartment and didn't feel an overkill.
They can't compete with my towers though in every department. The towers had better bass and clarity. The bookshelves have an okay kick drum sound but lack weight and bass guitar notes separation like the towers. Hopefully, I'll be back to my city apartment soon and continue enjoying my towers while I build even bigger towers with bigger and better speaker drivers. I am not a fan of subs for music and my DIY Ultimax 15 sub is mostly for movies and occasional party music.
Bigger drivers always sound better than small ones overall even at similar listening volume. Maybe it's because of the effortless room-filling sound of big speakers.
Hey Erin,
Thanks for another honest, informative review! Curious if you still plan on reviewing the Revival Audio Atalante 5.
Personally pay the few extra dollars and get the HD3 that’s what I did
I'm sold
52:00 Randy makes a Zeos comment!! 🙂 I about died laughing because he normally plays it so clean. Goofy, but clean.
I enjoy my Kali LP UNF every day, and for those who is still in search and hesitate: look at 15.38, you will miss so much of LF (unless you use Sub ofc, but for this category i doubt it). Its like missing cup of coffee in the morning before work. Its not about how good or bad it is. Its not there at all. The bad part of getting proper gear: now i stop enjoying my old cheap computer speakers on work, cause they cant play LF less than 85 hz.
Would you recommend using the angled speaker stands Audioengine sells for desktop use?
It might help. It would really have to do with how far above the speakers you sit. If you think you were going to sit more than 20° above the speakers then aiming them a little bit more toward you might help. Do you want to play around with this though because the exaggerated highs may be too much if pointed directly at your ears.
That shirt is electric. I wish I had gone to see them at Wimbledon.
Thank you for your detailed review and comparison. I'm curious for these self-powered speakers with internal DSP what is the delay?
Haha. Thanks.
I’ll have the delay via my webpage once I get the data posted to it. I don’t recall what it is off the top, unfortunately.
what do you think of Audio-Technica AT-SP3X ?
For my money,
I'd spend the extra 10% or $30 on the Kali's. The size difference
is more than double in volume, BUT the Kali's are only 2" wider, an inch deeper, and only 3 1/2 " taller. The A2's are so tiny, so the Kali's are also small monitors!!
I hope you could do the Kanto yu4! Less of a compromise size wise with more features - controller, bass & treble adjustment, subwoofer output. Can be used in more use cases - may be a good secondary system for a bedroom or garage or small basic living room system.
Erin mentions chocolatey bottom end a lot…doing a little statement analysis i detect some leakage 😄
Very informative content.
It would be interesting to see how the new Dayton M4 compares. It is similar in price, size, and features.
I just checked em out and the Dayton appears to be a bit larger. But I’m still interested.
I've got a set of the AE HD3's which are even SMALLER than the A2+. The sound signature I believe is very similar to the A2+.
What happened to the RSL Speedwoofer 10E??? Everyone talked about it at launch, then silence. Where’s the reviews? We need the 10E and OSD FS12 which also goes on sale for $300, or the OSD Trevoce 12” triple driver which is currently $350.
Not sure. I’ve quit testing subwoofers for the time being. So I’m not sure that I will get around to testing those. But we will see.
Wouldn't the JBL 308p MKII for $420 a pair be a much better value?
What a great review and I do love how much background work you put into this review. I would love seeing you bounce back and fourth between every type of speaker. I would love to see your take on the Klipsch computer speakers.......I have 3 computers in my home and I have two that play music often while I work on them. I have kicked around the thought of getting them but, keep talking myself out of them for getting something else for home systems. Great review Erin!
I am sadly disappointed there was no wigs in this video
😂😂
@Brett1334
Wigs?! That was all Erin's natural hair. He likes to "change it up" often goes to the Salon...A LOT. :-P
Slightly off topic but when you’re EQ-ing, what kind of smoothing do you use? How narrow of a filter do you use in the mids/highs?
Depends on what DSP I have and what I’m targeting, specifically. I may forgo correcting an issue at one frequency in order to correct something else.
Hi, you forgot to add this review in your website.
Damn, for $300 you could buy my HSU HB-1 MkII's, but I guess you'd need an amp and DAC, too.
I bought A2 as a poor student back around 2008 based on rave subjective reviews. I assume Audioengine success for the first decade all came from that one Stereophile review?
Anyway they were my "reference" for years as I had nothing better for a long time. Added a subwoofer when I got less poor to make it somewhat full-range and more enjoyable.
The size and looks was always a big pro, but overall I consider myself cheated by the audio media - if I would know better back then, perhaps I could get the cheapest Genelec or something well engineered at a time.
No data, no way to compare - getting random speakers. I actually still have them on a desk, just to provide a sound mostly for kids, as I use headphones 99.9%. Just unplug them to not drain power in endless standby. The point is - they look cute, and I could never get any money for them if I would sell them, so thye keep sitting on a desk... Not recommended.
A bit surprised why they bothered sending the speaker for review. Usually I respect companies for doing that, but in this case I wonder if they themselves were curious what are they selling?
4x5.25 v 6.5x7.4 in... I'd still go with Kali sacrificing 4 inches of desk width...
I would buy a used pair of JBL LSR 305 for $150 and call it a day.
The HiVi Swans OS-10 is very linear not much money. They are basically the DSP version of the Overnight Sensations by Paul Carmody
I would much rather get the steljes ns3, those measure wayy better for similar money and look...
I owned a audiooengine pair of speakers, had kinda that one note thumper bass.
I mean, they are $250 and powered. I would expect pure trash at that price.
@@Audfile
You could get a pair of the JBL LSR-305/305 MKII active studio monitors for $250 when on sale, and while not being completely AMAZING, they are certainly far from being "pure trash".
@ldwahl6678
The AudioEngine speakers are all very small. You just can't expect to get any REAL Bass out of drivers and cabinets that are that small.
But move up to just 5.25" midwoofer drivers and slightly larger cabinets and its amazing how much low end extension you can eek out of a decently designed pair of speakers.
@bbfoto7248 eh, no thanks. Been there done that on the budget stuff. I'm way past at this point. Not even slightly interested. I know what more gets you.
@bbfoto7248 bro. I've been in this hobby 25 years. I appreciate your passion but I know all of this. I'm not in the market for budget speakers. And no. They don't compete. Not really. You get what you pay for. There's no magical cheap speaker as good as something thousands of dollars. It's ok, you do you.
@bbfoto7248 omg dude. Get help.
The Edifier MR4 for half the price is a better purchase in my opinion
lol Erin, I am pretty sure they aren’t worth the money, I have the hd6 and they are OK.
I think I'll stick with my Edifiers. There isn't anything that suggests I would get more enjoyment for three or four times the price.
I lost/misplaced their proprietary cable during my move to another residence. I tried to email them to order the part. There was no help at all and the item has been out of stock ever since. Their website is not that helpful as well.
I have spoken with their support team a few times in the past on the phone, did you give them a call? Also I checked out what you said about the power supply and it looks like it is in stock to me 🤷♂️
I had these since I didn't have a lot of space. I mean they worked but in my opinion they sounded horrible.
I have the original audioengines. They’re pretty bad sounding due to a huge mid bass hump. At the time were very hyped. They’re pretty cute though
Imo spend $90 more and get the Kanto Ora
I returned the pair I bought. I was amazed at how poor they sounded compared to my old Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 speakers I had bought in college in the 1990s, let alone proper speakers (NHT, B&W, KEF since).
More than being shocked at how bad they sounded, I was shocked at how they could have been so glowingly reviewed.
Either reviewers don't know shit or it's all about the marketing dollars sloshing around.
Anyway, they were crap.
do you need a sub for this??
If you aren't being sarcastic, LOL, Erin made it perfectly clear that the response of these drops off sharply below ~100Hz, AND they are OBVIOUSLY tiny speakers.
So Yeah, IF you want anything below 80Hz with authority you'll definitely need a sub. :-P
@@bbfoto7248 got you good
No there not worth it . I had sell mine as quick as possible
Erin, please fix your audio 😭😭. Downmix it to mono, your LR balance is wrong...
It is recorded in mono.
I am not an audiophile or a golden ear by any means, and these just sound awful to me. Absolutely zero bass, and the uneven response sounded bad even to my untrained ears. I just don't understand the love for these things. Sure, you can make them sound better with some EQing and a subwoofer, but then you're talking $500 and they're not worth anywhere near that.