Audioengine A2+ Review
Choosing a speaker product is always a tangled thing. It is not only to consider the speakers’ quality but also to consider your budget. More importantly, all of this is based on space, that is to say, how big your listening space is. Because of this, many enthusiasts retreated and chose a headphone system with meager space requirements. But no one is willing to be satisfied with a headphone system. So the choice of speakers is a constant problem.
For ordinary users, desktop speakers have become the right choice for the general budget and daily listening environment/work environment. So the question is again, how do we choose desktop speakers? With a dazzling array of brands, choosing a reliable brand is the key. For my recommendation, Audioengine’s A2+ wireless desktop speaker is a good choice.
Brief History about Audioengine
The Audioengine brand originated from the United States and was founded in 2006. After several years of development, it has a high reputation in Europe and America. Many of its products have been recommended by the authoritative magazine “What HI-FI” in the audiophile industry.
Audioengine initially produced customized monitor speaker equipment for professional recording studios and later transformed to focus on using technologies and devices in the professional audio field to manufacture indoor speaker products for home use. In recent years, Audioengine has been committed to creating high-quality and easy-to-use PC-HIFI products, as well as focusing on the production of monitor speakers.
Most of its products are based on unique customized designs and rarely use off-the-shelf components. After years of experience and technology accumulation in R&D and production of professional audio equipment, its home audio equipment also has professional products. It has achieved considerable achievements in the field of high-quality desktop speakers. Undoubtedly, technology and concentration are the core of Audioengine’s brand!
Audioengine A2+ Design
Audioengine A2+ wireless uses a combination of 2.75-inch Kevlar fiber woofer and 20mm silk tweeter to make it look quite petite. In this era when both strength and appearance are essential, Audioengine A2+ is undoubtedly a very pleasing desktop speaker. The small cabinet under the concise and smooth lines adopts a complicated piano paint process, and the whole cabinet is in line with the minimalist style, without redundant Design. The very high value makes it can be well integrated into various home decoration environments.
The 2.75 inch Kevlar fiber woofer rubber ring has an excellent elasticity. Because of this, when the Audioengine A2+ wireless is turned on, you will feel the low-frequency Power completely beyond the cabinet. Besides, the bass port used by Audioengine A2+ is designed on the front of the speaker, so there is no need to consider the distance between the cabinet and the back wall. This makes the placement of Audioengine A2+ freer.
Before talking about Audioengine A2+ , we need to figure out one thing: the positioning of Audioengine A2+ speaker. Desktop speakers are also divided into several categories, and Audioengine A2+ wireless is positioned as a PC Hi-Fi speaker, which means that it is mainly compatible with laptop/desktop PCs.
The two words of quality and refinement may be the common impression of people who use Audioengine A2+ speakers for the first time. Audioengine A2+ is fully demonstrated in artistry and materials. The binding post uses high-grade screwed metal terminals. Good artistry and materials can significantly increase the user’s impression, and on the other hand, the signal transmission is more reliable. There is also a USB port behind the main speaker, which connects to a computer and plays music directly. There is also a power interface, two pairs of RAC interfaces, and an audio line interface for connecting auxiliary speakers.
Audioengine A2+ does not have a separate power switch but integrates the power switch function on the volume knob. The volume knob feels fine. The touch of the metal knob is also very delicate. Besides, A2+ desktop speaker does not have a power indicator for turning it on. The appropriate structure layout is undoubtedly for a functional goal: sound quality.
Audioengine A2+ speaker is divided into main and auxiliary speaker design. The back of the auxiliary box is much more concise, except for a pair of speaker wire binding posts. There is no redundant interface, and this difference is also reflected in the weight. The main box weighs 1.6Kg, and the auxiliary box weighs 1.4Kg.
The bottom of the Audioengine A2+ desktop speaker is designed with a rubber cushion. Moreover, there is a screw in the center of the bottom of the box for stand installation. If you want to get better audio linearity, you can also purchase a dedicated foam base with a tilt angle.
Connection
Audioengine A2+ computer speaker has two input methods: a USB input with a built-in DAC and the other is a traditional 3.5mm plug without a built-in DAC. The USB connection allows users to directly connect to the computer to play music without purchasing an external DAC, saving budget.
Simultaneously, A2+ retains the RCA and 3.5mm analog audio input and adds a Bluetooth 5.0 wireless receiver, which corresponds to apt-X HD/apt-X/AAC/SBC Bluetooth decoding. The convenience of listening to music wirelessly is obvious. Nowadays, using smartphones and tablets to enjoy digital music at home has become the mainstream, and A2+ was born. For Android users, enjoying high-quality music online has become very simple. As long as the phone supports apt-X HD or apt-X, it can work seamlessly with A2+ and enjoy high-fidelity audio online. For iOS users, the AAC format codec can also bring excellent sound quality and sounds great.
In terms of a wired connection, although Audioengine A2+ computer speaker is equipped with RCA and 3.5mm inputs, it is also widespread to use it as a wireless speaker connected to Microsoft tablets, Android, or IOS system tablets. And when using a USB to connect external audio source equipment, Audioengine A2+ speaker can directly transmit the original digital signal from the tablet/notebook computer and other equipment and convert the digital signal into an analog signal built-in DAC. In this way, the user’s audio quality is the best quality that is relatively unaffected by computer output.
In addition to a built-in high-quality audio decoder, A2+ wireless uses Class AB power amplifier architecture. Class AB power amplifier is a design compatible with Class A and Class B power amplifiers’ advantages. The disadvantage of Class AB power amplifiers is that they will produce a little crossover distortion. But relative to its efficiency ratio and fidelity, it is better than Class A and Class B power amplifiers.
Sound Performance
Audioengine A2+ wireless desktop speaker has energy beyond the physical category, and you will always be amazed at how much power is contained in such a small box.
Compared with headphones, the advantages of Audioengine A2+ wireless are completely more significant than the shortcomings. Although the resolution details are not as large as headphones, the resolution of Audioengine A2+ is completely above the standard. The true low-frequency power that the headphone system does not have can be obtained in Audioengine A2+ computer speaker. That kind of low-frequency air tremor can’t be obtained in headphones at any time. Besides, the perfect resolution is also lacking in headphones. The more natural and accurate sound simulation and restoration effect is undoubtedly the main reason why every audiophile refuses to give up speakers.
It can be said that the Audioengine A2+ speaker is a small desktop box full of passion. The sturdy low-frequency volume is moderate, the loose vocals and the transparent treble make the A2+ speakers have a very balanced high, mid, and low-frequency performance. The warm mid-frequency is very suitable for expressing the emotion of the singer.
Listen to Taylor Swift’s latest album, “Lover,” the whole song is brisk and dynamic. Audioengine A2+ wireless desktop speaker happens to enhance this kind of music characteristics a lot, making the advantages of music more prominent. A2+ computer speaker is very suitable for collocation with light and colorful music. It handles the beat without being muddled, and the rhythm control of the music is perfect. It not only takes into account the dynamics of the music but also takes into account the sound. The overall tone distribution is even, and the vocals are in space. Very even, dynamic music inevitably has many retakes, and the ears will inevitably get tired after listening to it for a long time. However, under Audioengine A2+ playback, it is delightful to listen to it for a long time because the sound reaches a certain balance. The music brought out can feel a little airy.
Audioengine A2+ speakers are undoubtedly compelling for their performance when playing back “Conquest Of Paradise” tracks. The “1492 Conquest Of Paradise,” released in 1992, is the most widely circulated masterpiece of the Greek pioneer electronic composer Vangelis film soundtrack. It describes the musical concept of the film and has become a teaching material for many music schools.
The theme song “Conquest Of Paradise” in the album, the epic style, is completely shocking and incredible. This film about Columbus’s conquest of South America has also become an epic masterpiece. The status of this work is second only to Vangelis’ classic “Chariots of Fire.” Mainly because of his unique insights into the works’ connotation and his easy grasp of the macro. Mixing a large number of human voices with modern elements successfully created a fifteenth-century feeling.
Audioengine A2+ uses a wide range of dynamic sound effects to depict better effects than the intent of the Columbus character itself. In this outstanding album, Vangelis did his best to record perfection. With a modern electronic symphony, he perfectly reproduced the tragic story that explorers such as Columbus experienced stormy waves, deadly viruses, and all kinds of difficulties and obstacles 500 years ago and finally arrived in the New World. Audioengine A2+ is full of epic magnificence and grandeur. It can be called one of the most successful film soundtracks in the 1990s.
With the tumbling and surging breath of the works displayed by Audioengine A2+ speakers, the three-dimensional sense of depth and height of the sound field space is very in place. In particular, the taste of the vocal chant conveys very clear, brilliant, and magnificent epic flavors roaring.
Conclusion
Audioengine A2+ Wireless speakers, the considerable energy in the small cabinet is enough to fill a small listening space, exquisite artistry, minimalist appearance, and great accessories make Audioengine A2+ speakers able to meet the needs of users. I believe that the sweet and gentle listening style will not disappoint any users. If you ask me if I have any regrets about using Audioengine A2+ desktop speakers, maybe I have to start it earlier!
Audioengine A2+ Specs
- Type: Powered Bluetooth aptX speaker system
- Amplifier Type: Class AB
- Power Output: 60 W peak power total (15 W RMS / 30 W peak per channel), AES
- Drivers: 2.75” aramid fiber woofers, 0.75“ Silk dome tweeters
- Inputs: 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack, RCA L/R, USB, Bluetooth
- Outputs: RCA variable line-out
- Input Voltages: 100-240 V 50/60 Hz auto-switching
- SNR: >95 dB (typical A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.05% at all power settings
- Crosstalk: <50 dB
- Frequency Response: 65 Hz-22 kHz ±2.0 dB
- Input Impedence: 10K ohms unbalanced
- Protection: Output current limiting, thermal over-temperature, power on/off transient protection
- Power Consumption: Idle: 10W
