My first website was an iPhone app review site. When we expanded into covering hardware, I was fortunate enough to get a pair of Audioengine A2 speakers as my first review item. Now Audioengine has refreshed the line and added Bluetooth. The new Audioengine A2+ has a classic look, but they are an entirely new offering from a fantastic company.
The original A2 speakers were great. Despite being small desktop speakers, they put out an impressive sound. They immediately turned me into an Audioengine fan. The speakers were excellent but not without their shortcomings. The lack of Bluetooth meant the speakers had to be connected to your laptop or phone via cable. That wasn’t an issue if most of your music was delivered from your computer, but it certainly limited one’s location and device options. Also, they lacked the shielding that would keep a phone’s cellular signal from interfering with the audio. In other words, if a phone were placed too close to the speakers, you would still get the music you selected, but it would come with an added buzzing sound. That was, of course, easily resolved by simply keeping phones away from the speakers. So, while the A2 was excellent, they weren’t perfect.
Now Audioengine is back with a refreshed version of the A2 speakers that resolve both these issues. The A2+ has the same small design but add Bluetooth 5.0 and shielding. As the company notes, "A2+ Wireless Speakers provide clear, full stereo sound and can easily connect to all your music in seconds. Great for your desktop or smaller rooms. The perfect mini music system with wireless that works. Our most-versatile wireless Bluetooth speakers. A2+ Wireless Computer Speakers work with all your apps, music, and devices so no matter how you listen, A2+ has you covered. The ultimate mini music system with wireless that works."
Audioengine makes it clear that the A2+ are designed for desktops and small spaces. They are small (6”[H] x 4”[W] x 5.25”[D]) but they produce big sound thanks to the 30w each of the two speakers can deliver.
And while the speakers still have analog inputs and a USB computer input, the company added Bluetooth 5.0 and support for codecs such as aptX low latency, aptX, AAC, SBC, so the speakers deliver excellent wireless sound.
Excellent audio was of paramount importance to the company when designing the A2+ speakers. Ease-of-use was also an important element factored into the equation, and Audioengine delivered. Thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth, there are, “No network setup, no passwords, no hassle. No buttons to push & inputs are always ready to go.”
And, because there are two speakers wired to one another, the A2+ deliver real stereo sound as opposed to the machinations some companies employ to make a single speaker sound like they are delivering a stereo experience.
"Don’t let their size fool you as these little speakers are packed with much more sound than you would expect," says Audioengine. "Clear, full and powerful audio ideal for your computer and smaller rooms. The A2+ Wireless Computer Speakers are constructed with custom Audioengine components: aramid fiber woofers, silk tweeters, Premium Bluetooth aptX-HD, and built-in power amps wrapped in precision-tuned, hand-crafted cabinets."
We haven’t had a chance to check out the Audioengine A2+ in person but, having reviewed pretty much every other offering from the company, I’m going to assume they sound great.
To read the full review, click here.
