I read that new speakers take a few months to break in so I waited until I owned these for a while before writing this review. I’ve had these for almost a year.
Executive summary:
I upgraded to these AudioEngine A2+ speakers from the $20 speakers I’d been using since I got my desktop PC. These are so much better. These sound as good or better than any speakers I’ve ever owned, even ones that are much more expensive. They are worth every penny. I have zero regrets and would recommend them to anybody. I am not an audio expert and I have not done exhaustive comparisons between these and a lot of other kinds of speakers.
Details:
My $20 speakers were OK but after 6 months of pandemic working-at-home I was definitely ready for a sound improvement. I read a bunch of reviews of different computer speakers. There were a lot of speakers around the $100-150 price point, but I decided to splurge on these at over $250 because the reviews were good and I figured that you get what you pay for. I have no idea whether these are better than any of the ones I didn’t buy.
My first take upon unboxing was that these folks care about what they’re selling. The packaging was extremely well done. Each speaker came in its own individual cloth bag, and the rest of the box was very well put together. Obviously this has nothing to do with the sound quality, but when people pay so much attention to what’s on the outside, chances are pretty good that they care a lot about the insides too.
The physical size of these is perfect for my limited desktop. I had considered getting the larger A5 instead and after seeing these, I’m glad I didn’t, they would have been much too bulky for my particular setup. The wiring setup is very easy. All inputs plug in to the left speaker and the right speaker is just a slave that connects to the right via speaker wire. The left speaker also contains all of the electronics like the Bluetooth, USB DAC, and amplifier. So it tends to run a bit warmer than the right speaker but not overly hot. They give you every cable you’ll need for all the different inputs.
I turned them on and started listening. My music source is Amazon Music HD. They immediately sounded fantastic, but after making this investment I decided to do a bit of research and figure out how to optimize them for the best listening.
First I got equalizer software for my PC. I use the APO equalizer, with the Peace GUI. This is an amazing piece of software for the price ($0), and it lets you customize just about every aspect of your sound. Everybody has different preferences, and ears with different ages, and varying sensitivities at different frequencies, and Peace/APO lets you tweak the equalization so you can get it sounding just right for you. It’s a huge improvement over the flat response that a computer gives you by default, and far more capable than the equalizer that came with my sound card.
Next I tilted the speakers upwards so that they point directly at my head from where they’re sitting on my desk. This made a huge difference in the mid-to-high frequencies. I ended up buying the AudioEngine DS1 speaker stands. They’re custom fitted to the A2+ speakers and even though their angle is not adjustable, it’s perfect for my specific layout. This brings up the point that a PC sound system is usually used by just one person, so you can position the speakers so that your head is in the perfect “sweet spot” of the sound field. Of course that is possible with any PC speakers.
These speakers have a bunch of different inputs, all of which can operate simultaneously. From my desktop PC I connect them to the on-board sound card via the provided 3.5mm cable. From my laptop I connect via a dedicated USB DAC that I bought because otherwise my laptop just wasn’t able to produce anything like the great sound I was getting from my desktop. I knew before I bought them that they had multiple inputs but that turned out to be an unexpectedly nice feature because I can switch seamlessly between audio from both computers, and even hear sound effects from both systems at the same time when I need to. I am only using the analog inputs. I did not try the built-in Bluetooth. I did try the built-in USB DAC, and I was unable to get it to sound as good as either of my other sources.
Overall the sound from these is superb - the highs are crystal clear with zero tinniness and I can’t think about any aspect of the sound that I’m unhappy with. One comment I see in a lot of the A2 reviews is that people think the bass is lacking. It’s true that these don’t thump you out of your seat like a dedicated subwoofer would, or even speakers with bigger drivers. But the bass they deliver is super clear. I can hear every nuance of a jazz bassline, and low drum beats with no problem at all. I personally have no issue with the bass on these, but if that ever changes they also have RCA outputs that can be used to drive a dedicated subwoofer if I feel like adding one some day.
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Audioengine HD3 Home Music System - Wireless Speakers with Bluetooth - 60W Powered Computer and Desktop Speakers with aptX HD Bluetooth, AUX, USB, RCA, 24-bit DAC
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Audioengine HD3 Powered Bluetooth Speakers and DS1 Desktop Speaker Stands Bundle (White)$378.00This bundle contains 2 items -
Audioengine HD3 Powered Bluetooth Speakers and DS1M Metal Desktop Speaker Stands Bundle (White)$388.00This bundle contains 2 items -
Audioengine HD3 Powered Bluetooth Speakers and S6 Subwoofer Bundle (White)$648.00This bundle contains 2 items -
Audioengine HD3 White Powered Bluetooth Speakers and S8 White Subwoofer Bundle$698.00This bundle contains 2 items -
Audioengine HD3 White Home Music System with S6 Subwoofer and DS1M Stands$687.00This bundle contains 3 items -
Audioengine HD3 White Home Music System with S8 Subwoofer and DS1M Stands$737.00This bundle contains 3 items -
Audioengine HD3 White Home Music System with S8 White Subwoofer and DS1 Stands$727.00This bundle contains 3 items
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From the brand
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Gamers, Music and Movie Lovers
Award winning professional hardware sold at consumer prices.
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Subwoofers Add More Audio
Complete your sound stage by adding one of our subwoofers and hear the audio you've been missing.
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Hear More Audio via 24 bit
Hi-Fi audio files and professional equipment enhance music, gaming, movies, podcasts and more.
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Speaker Stands Enhance Audio
Improve your sound stage by elevating your speakers at 15 degree angles to enhance your audio by up to 20%.
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Wood vs Plastic vs Metal
Enclosures made of wood offer less distortion than metal or plastic, which leads to greater clarity and more enjoyment.
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13 Step Hand Painted Process
Our piano gloss finishes will impress. They look great anywhere in the home or office and are built to last.
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Superior Craftsmanship
Real wood that lasts. The variety in the wood grain makes each set unique. Quality inside and out.
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Professional Components
Our amplifiers, Bluetooth receivers, and Wi-Fi products are built with ease of use in mind. Most are plug and play out of the box.
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A veteran owned company with engineering, design and phone support all based in the USA.
Compare with similar items
This Item  Audioengine HD3 Home Music System - Wireless Speakers with Bluetooth - 60W Powered Computer and Desktop Speakers with aptX HD Bluetooth, AUX, USB, RCA, 24-bit DAC |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $349.00 | $349.00 | $129.99 | $179.99 | $399.00 | $549.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Quality of material | ||||||
| Volume control | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Bass quality | ||||||
| Sold By | Audioengine LLC | Audioengine LLC | Edifier Online Store | Edifier Online Store | Audioengine LLC | Audioengine LLC |
| speaker size | 8 inches | 7 inches | 100.25 millimeters | 4 inches | 9 inches | 10 inches |
| power source | AC | AC | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | AC | Corded Electric |
| connectivity tech | USB, Auxiliary, Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, USB-A, Aux-in,Edifier Connect APP | Bluetooth | Bluetooth aptX HD, USB Audio, RCA Analog Input/Output | Bluetooth |
| speaker type | Subwoofer | Subwoofer | Monitor, Bookshelf, Woofer, Tweeter | Shelf Mount/Tabletop Mount | Bookshelf | Bookshelf |
| mounting type | Table Top | Table Top | Shelf Mount | — | Table Top | Tabletop |
| weight | 4 pounds | 4 pounds | 4.5 kilograms | 6.6 kilograms | 7.2 pounds | — |
Product Description
Why the HD3 Wireless Home Music System?
The HD3 is a powerful music system that delivers exceptional stereo sound and is perfect for small rooms, desktops, or gaming setups. Choose between wired or wireless connections, like USB audio from your computer, aptX-HD Bluetooth from your phone, tablet or computer, or analog from your turntable or cassette player. And the HD3 features an exceptional headphone amplifier, so your music sounds great, no matter how you listen to it.
Amplifier Type Class AB
Input Voltages 110-240 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
Frequency Response w/ Bass Reduction Switch selected 100Hz-22kHz ±2.0dB (<5dB down)
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| A1 | A2+ | HD3 | |
| Customer Reviews |
301
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3,011
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3,011
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| Price | $199.00 | $269.00 | $349.00 |
| DAC | CD Quality | CD Quality | CD Quality, & 24 Bit |
| Input Options | Bluetooth, 3.5mm | Bluetooth, USB, 3.5mm, RCA | Bluetooth, USB, 3.5mm, RCA |
| Output | Subwoofer, RCA | RCA | RCA |
| 2.75 Woofer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| .75 Tweeter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 60 Watts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Headphone Jack | ✓ | ||
| Subwoofer Output | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Physical Size | 6" x 4" x 5.25" | 6" x 4" x 5.25" | 7" x 4.25" x 5.5" |
| FInish | Space Gray Vinyl | Hand Painted | Hand Painted or Wood Veneer |
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Speaker SystemThe HD3 Home Music System delivers up to 24 Bit audio at 60 Watts. The sound is so crisp and clear, you'll hear new details in music you never heard before. It comes in 3 finishes, Real Wood Walnut Veneer, High Gloss White and Satin Black. |
Speaker StandsGet a scientifically proven 20% enhanced audio increase by using stands tilted at 15 degrees. |
SubwooferSubwoofers add up to 38hz more audio that you're not hearing without one. Pro Tip: Add a W3 Wireless Transmitter and make your subwoofer wireless. |
SetupQuality In, Quality Out. High-resolution audio files combined with proper connections for your devices ensures that you're hearing music and gaming audio as it was intended. |
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Reviews with images
I’m really happy with them
Just needed good sounding powered speakers in a small profile for my turntable setup. They’re heavy for the size so they feel well made. They get loud but stay crisp sounding. I didn’t expect crazy bass and they don’t slam which is good considering how close they are to my record player but I still feel like the mids are very strong for metal rock and punk. If you listen to bass heavy music and want that feel you probably want something bigger and with a sub. All in all couldn’t be happier for the purpose I got them for.
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Top reviews from other countries
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Better than ever
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Excelentes bocinas para su tamaño y su precio
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Sonido muy nítido, no esperen mucho en frecuencias bajas.
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