AudioEngine 2 (A2) Premium Powered Desktop Speakers – Review

Over the past few weeks we’ve had a chance to get to know AudioEngine’s products and have, in the process, become huge fans!

This week we get to look at yet another product in their line- the Audioengine 2 (A2) Premium Powered Desktop Speakers- and, once again, are appropriately impressed.

Dimitri loved the big sound and excellent build on the high-end A5s. At about 1/3 the size of the A5s, the A2s are like the smaller sibling and while they don’t pack the SAME punch, they hold their own rather well.

Let’s take a look…

The Hype-

According to AudioEngine the A2s are-
The new standard for multimedia sound and closes the gap between computer speakers and home audio. Audioengine 2 is the perfect upgrade for your computer, iPod, and all your music.

The Reality-

The Specs–
2 audio inputs (RCA and mini-jack)
60W total peak power
Frequency response 65Hz-22kHz
Built-in power amps (left speaker)
Kevlar woofers for super low end
Silk tweeters for smooth highs
High-quality speaker connectors
Auto-sleep power-saving mode
Hand-built 18mm thick MDF cabinets with high-gloss polyurethane finish
Video-shielded
Dimensions: 6.00 x 4.00 x 5.25 inches
Weight: 3.55lbs (Left), 3.18lbs (Right)

In The Box–
Power supply
Speaker cable (16AWG), 2 meters (~6.5 feet)
1/8" mini-jack audio cable, 2 meters (~6.5 feet)
1/8" mini-jack audio cable, 20cm (~8 inches)
Drawstring power supply bag
Drawstring cable bag
Drawstring speaker bags (2)
Setup Guide

Having read Dimitri’s review of the A5s i was immediately clear that these were an AudioEngine product. The small black cases (they come in white too) are made out of sturdy wood with a hand-polished finish. While the A2s use the same custom tweeters as the A5s, they employ newly designed Kevlar woofers that, like the A5s, are "ungrilled".

Placing them next to the LogiTech speakers I have been using with my iMac serves to reinforce just how high-quality these small speakers are.

From the front the speakers look exactly the same. The back, however, tells a different story as the left speaker is chock full of connectors. The A2’s have two flavors of audio inputs– a set of RCA Left and Right jacks and another input that is a single 1/8" mini stereo jack. Typically, you would use the RCA jacks to connect this set to your computer, TV or stereo. A 1/8" mini jack makes connecting an iPod or other device. All of this makes setup a breeze!

All this is great but when it comes to speakers the real test is… sound. Fortunately the A2s are very much an AudioEngine product in this department… translation… they sound great.

I’m not an audiophile but I know what sounds good and what doesn’t. The AudioEngine A2s sound GOOD- really good! The highs sound quite nice and even the lows have a lot of punch. And the volume? The A2s prove that loud things can come in small packages. They sound and feel like a much bigger and more expensive set of speakers.

What I Like-
Small size but big sound
Very well built
Enough connectivity options to use them in a variety of ways

What I Don’t-
No gsm shielding makes them largely unusable with an iPhone unless it is in Airplane mode
Volume control around back and no remote
No power indicator

The Audioengine A2 are available for $199.00 and can be ordered directly from the Audioengine site.