Audioengine 2 (white)
Manufacturer: Audioengine Corp. Part number: A2W
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though they're not cheap, the Audioengine 2 speakers are an ideal combination of compact size and good looks, delivering great sound for their size.
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CNET editors' review
Audioengine 2 (white) price range: $199.00
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 03/26/2010
The good: These compact powered speakers deliver phenomenal sound for their size. They offer simple, attractive styling, and two audio inputs.
The bad: The speakers lack a remote control, and the volume control is inconveniently located on the backside, and there's no way to toggle between inputs. The Audioengines are also a bit pricey compared with less refined PC speakers.
The bottom line: Though they're not cheap, the Audioengine 2 speakers are an ideal combination of compact size and good looks, delivering great sound for their size.
We've been a little tardy in reviewing Audioengine's PC speakers, but we're glad we finally got our hands on both the 2 series ($199) reviewed here and the step-up Audioengine 5 series (about $325 online) because they really are quite impressive.
The key thing to note about both sets of speakers is that they are bookshelf-style speakers masquerading as PC or "multimedia" speakers (as these things are apt to be labeled). But unlike classic bookshelf speakers, these Audioengine models are powered (via a standard AC plug); there's no need for a separate receiver or amplifier, so you can use them with any audio source. The smaller 2 series is more stylish-looking (and looks less like a monitor speaker) and comes in both black and white, as do the 5s.
The Audioengine 2 speakers measure 6 inches high by 4 inches wide by 5.25 inches deep. They each have a 2.75-inch Kevlar woofer and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter. Because the left speaker houses the amplifier (15 watts per channel), it's heavier than the right speaker. What's kind of interesting is that they're ported on the front--there's a slit at the bottom, below the driver--and when you're listening to movies, music, or games, you can feel plenty of air moving through that slit.
It's worth noting that both the 2 and 5 series Audioengine speakers come nicely packaged, with cloth covers over the speakers and cables. The two speakers connect to each other with "real" speaker wire (included) and you also get an input cable that allows you to connect your PC to the 3.5mm aux input on the back of the left speaker. The use of standard cables means that--unlike some speakers with proprietary connections and cables--you can invest in custom-length cables that are as long or short as you'd like. The left speaker also has a set of red/white RCA inputs to connect other devices, such as a game system, iPod or iPhone, or even a TV.
Note that you can't toggle between inputs; both are always active. That's either going to be a feature (say, the ability to listen to music from an iPod while being able to hear the bleeping and blooping from your PC) or a bug (the constant need to mute one audio source while listening to the other), depending on your point of view. Speaking of controls: no remote is included and we should point out that the volume control button is on the back of the right speaker (as opposed to the front, where it would be slightly easier to access). Another small drawback: the power adapter is kind of beefy.
Audioengine makes some accessories, including the S8 subwoofer and a couple of wireless adapters (the W1 and W2) for its speaker line. The subwoofer would obviously allow you to get significantly more bass and richer sound, but the downside is that the sub is actually pretty pricey ($350) and bringing in that extra speaker somewhat diminishes the sleek, minimalist effect these speakers offer (for Apple systems like the iMac, the white version of the 2 series tends to match up better than the black does).
Luckily, the appeal of these speakers is that you do without the sub. For their size, Audioengine 2s deliver deep, tight bass, and offer excellent detail and relatively big sound, even though they're so compact. True, the Audioengine 5s deliver a richer, fuller experience, but for many, the step-up model will just seem too bulky to leave sitting on a desk (they truly are bookshelf speakers with a more industrial, monitor flair to them).
As we said, we liked what we heard from these guys and so did Steve Guttenberg, who writes the Audiophiliac blog and reviews home theater speakers for CNET. He, too, praised the bass and noted that "the midrange and treble refinement are exceptional." You can crank the volume on the 2s but he, like this reviewer, thought they sounded better at more moderate volume levels.
Because they deliver such good sound for their size, we were tempted to give the Audioengines Series 2 speakers an Editors' Choice award, but ultimately we felt the higher-end 5s were more worthy, mainly because they offer even better sound and such niceties as a USB port for charging devices like iPods and iPhones, an extra 3.5mm input on the top of the speaker, and even a power outlet on the back of the speaker for plugging in additional audio sources, such as the Apple Airport Express. (Alas, the 5s don't include a remote either, which is too bad.)
In the final analysis, if you're looking for a set of compact, good-looking PC speakers that deliver great sound for their size, look no further. We should also mention that the Audioengine 2s perform better than most of the iPod speaker docks in this price range. Of course, it helps that you can separate the speakers to your liking, which allows for much better stereo imaging.
User reviews
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Best In Class
by myles1192 on November 4, 2010
Pros: By "Best In Class" I mean that you will NOT find better speakers in this price range, period.
-Great clarity
-Punchy and dynamic bass
-Crisp trebles
-Very nice designCons: -Bass can be a bit over-powering (Easily fixed with an EQ)
-No speaker grill to protect drivers
-Mid-Range can be a bit recessed at timesSummary: Overall, I would highly recommend these speakers to anyone. For the price, they're absolutely unbeatable. I would venture to say that, at their price of $200, these speakers are ...
Summary: Overall, I would highly recommend these speakers to anyone. For the price, they're absolutely unbeatable. I would venture to say that, at their price of $200, these speakers are superior to anything else in the sub $300 range. Audioengine has managed to get a relatively "Big" sound out of small speakers with these little buggers, this makes them very impressive. Of course, they won't stand to higher priced full-sized Hi-Fi systems... but in this size and price range, they're unbeatable.
I'm very pleased with the sound I'm getting out of these speakers on my computer, however, when plugged into an Ipod the sound is not quite up to par. Despite that, I really enjoy the sound of these speakers when used with other sources.
In conclusion, I'm extremely pleased with these speakers, go try a set!!!!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Superb (for the price and size)
by pontificator2 on September 18, 2010
Pros: Excellent sound throughout the range for everyday use. Fill up a 200 ft2 room magnificantly. Rock solid heavy quality equipment.
Cons: You may have to apend more money on a sub if you're into "thumping" music. No way to switch between sources - although you can have 2 sources plugged in at once (you must mute the other source).
Summary: Find a store that has these and listen to a demo - you'll be looking for where they're hiding the "big" speakers. I've been a sound engineer/ ...
Summary: Find a store that has these and listen to a demo - you'll be looking for where they're hiding the "big" speakers. I've been a sound engineer/ musician/ audiophile for 20+ years and I would highly recommend these speakers. Reviewers get bogged down with subjective comments while I sit here with superb sounding speakers for under $200! GO GET SOME.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The BEST PC speakers I have ever heard.
by mackbakker on September 17, 2010
Pros: They were very easy to set up right out of the box. Fantastic highs, mids, and lows.
Cons: Cost. Also the speaker volume is located on the backside of the left speaker. very odd placement. It seems there should have been a remote with these.
Summary: Its the kind of sound you don't expect out of speakers this size. They really are the best I've ever heard at this price point. People that say ...
Summary: Its the kind of sound you don't expect out of speakers this size. They really are the best I've ever heard at this price point. People that say that they have muddy sound need to check their ears. These sound incredibly balanced. They seem like they will last forever, they are really well made and feel extremely solid. Tough to beat.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent sounding PC speakers
by rmiller1959 on March 29, 2010
Pros: Small, attractive (I have the black model), tight, accurate sound and be played as loud as my ears can stand.
Cons: They cost more than most 2.0 PC speakers
Summary: The first criteria for any speaker system should be how it sounds, and these easily pass muster. They aren't overly bright or bass-heavy; they're perfectly balanced and clear, ...
Summary: The first criteria for any speaker system should be how it sounds, and these easily pass muster. They aren't overly bright or bass-heavy; they're perfectly balanced and clear, with a good stereo soundstage. Their size is about the max you would want for a PC speaker system.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Don't believe the hype
by kcmatt on May 12, 2011
Pros: They look nice
Cons: I basically stopped using this website for research after buying these. Muffled sound, no clarity, no punch whatsoever.
I was couldn't wait to get these in the mail after I ordered them from BHPhoto. They were packaged very nicely in individual velvety bSummary: Who are these folks who rave about these speakers???
Summary: Who are these folks who rave about these speakers???
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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muddy sound that comes from it tying to sound big
by shotimer on March 29, 2010
Pros: compact, nicely integrated electronics, easy to use and configure
Cons: Tries to sound much bigger than it is with a massively boosted mid bass which causes it to lose all resolution and finesse in that range, without adding any real bass.
Summary: I find most computer speakers unlistenable because any speaker gets judged against my 5 figure home audio rig. I don't expect that level of quality, but I am pretty ...
Summary: I find most computer speakers unlistenable because any speaker gets judged against my 5 figure home audio rig. I don't expect that level of quality, but I am pretty clear on what minimum level of sound quality counts as hi fi. the Audioengine 2 is a lousy speaker that does not deserve to be called "high fidelity speaker." the degree to which is messes with the midbass range in order to (presumably) sound bigger than it is, it just cannot be termed a remotely accurate speaker. it has no real bass and in the region immediately above the bass, it drones and blubs and flubs, and generally muddies the whole range of sound.
I returned mine because the sound quality was disgusting for a product being touted by supposed experts as a high quality product.
sure, its not bad compared to other junk that passes for computer speakers, but that doesn't make it good.
The old Cambridge Soundworks speakers I had sitting around from over 12 years ago blew the audioengine 2 away. so the latter went in the box and went back to the manufacturer.3 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Proud User Here!!!
by ProudA2User on November 22, 2011
Pros: Define bass
Refine middle and treble
large sonic visual
neutral soundingCons: volume knob at backside but for me there is no problem at all...cuz i control sound using my keyboard...
a bit expensive but still worth the money...Summary: i'm really glad cuz has chosen this speaker instead of m-audio av40....it obsolutely fair with my creative x-fi hd usb sound cad....creative well known to make sound ...
Summary: i'm really glad cuz has chosen this speaker instead of m-audio av40....it obsolutely fair with my creative x-fi hd usb sound cad....creative well known to make sound crisp and it's perfect combination with ae2(a bit lack at high frequency)....i'm not agree with people who say ae2 sound muddy...it not muddy at all....u all need to study more about frequency response.....when seeing a2 frequency response....the highest frequency is at 90-200(there is where bass rythim)....at this point it make ae2 become more punchy and define bass...not make sound muddy...sound will become muddy if frequency at 20-60 is highest...but it not come with ae2....frequency setting in ae2 had perfect and no need to change it anymore...it's so neautral...try to looking carefully how well audioengine company has setting sound in this small speakers....
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Audioengine Corp.
- Part number: A2W
- Description: The Audioengine 2 is a great introduction to high-quality audio and the perfect upgrade for your computer or select play. The Audioengine 2 (A2) is about one-third the size of Audioengine's flagship Audioengine 5 system and is an excellent computer audio upgrade or small room speaker. Audioengine used the same custom tweeters as the Audioengine 5, matched them with newly designed compact Kevlar woofers and then added high-performance amplifiers with gold-plated speaker connectors. All this great engineering is wrapped in wood cabinets with a hand-polished finish to create a premium quality desktop multimedia speaker system that puts those plastic computer speakers to shame! To say that the bass on Audioengine 2 is substantial for their size may be an understatement, but you should be the judge. The bass comes from some very clever acoustic and electrical design and without using any DSP or fake bass boost circuits. Wood remains a preferred speaker enclosure material for its stiffness at higher volume levels and the sealed cabinet focuses just the right amount of low end from the tuned front port slots. The A2 was designed for your desktop but is also perfect for smaller rooms. Well-suited for all types of music, movies, and videogames, the A2 sounds great with or without a subwoofer. Using a similar design as the Audioengine 5, the A2 power amplifiers are built inside the left speaker, providing a very efficient system. An auto-sleep standby circuit was also included to conserve power. Audioengine has included 1/8 mini jack and RCA inputs so connecting A2 is easy. No software installs, plug-ins, or sound card upgrades. The Audioengine 2 sets a new level of audio and aesthetic quality for powered multimedia speakers and further closes the gap between computer speakers and home audio.
General
- Product Type PC multimedia speakers
- Speakers included 2 speakers
- Enclosure Material MDF
Speaker Features
- Speaker Type 2-way - Active
- Woofer size (inches) 2.75 in
- Nominal Output Power (Total) 30 Watt
- Max (RMS) Output Power (Total) 60 Watt
- Response Bandwidth 65 - 22000 Hz
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio 95 dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion 0.05%
- Sensitivity 88 dB
- Magnetic Shield Yes
- Audio Amplifier Integrated
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Controls Volume
Speaker Details
- Features 2 x Right/left channel speaker - 2-way - 15 Watt - 65 - 22000 Hz - Wired
- Driver Details Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Woofer driver - 2.75 in - Kevlar,
Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Tweeter driver - Silk Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ),
1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ),
1 x Speakers output
PC Speakers (Extended Specs)
- Width 4 in
- Depth 5.2 in
- Height 6 in
- Enclosure Color High-gloss white
- Cable(s) Included 1xSpeaker cable 6.6 ft,
1xAudio cable 6.6 ft,
1xAudio cable 8 in - Cables included qty 1
- Cables length 6.6 ft,
8 in - Cables type Speaker cable,
Audio cable - Full contract period 3 years
- Power device form factor External
- Power device type Power adapter
- Service & support details type Limited warranty
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Speaker cable - 6.6 ft,
1 x Audio cable - 6.6 ft,
1 x Audio cable - 8 in Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 3 years warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 3 years
Product series
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Manufacturer: Audioengine Corp.
Specs: PC multimedia speakers,
Wired,
High-gloss white,
2-way - Active,
88 dB,
15 Watt -
Manufacturer: Audioengine Corp.
Specs: PC multimedia speakers,
Wired,
Satin black,
2-way - Active,
88 dB,
15 Watt
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Audioengine Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Audioengine Corp.
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