Audioengine has recently released the "little brother" of its popular A5 speakers - the A2 Desktop Speakers - and we have today a pair of the Audioengine A2W (White) speakers. They are marketed as the "little brother" because they are smaller, less expensive and deliver less power.

Accurate and clear sound; high-quality construction and design; all needed accessories included

Relatively limited power; directional sound

(1 items) I've made no secret of my love for Audioengine's Audioengine 5 powered speakers. That $349 system, although lacking an iPod dock and remote control, packs glorious sound quality (and volume) via two mid-sized, bookshelf speakers.

If the only prerequisite for desktop speakers were size, then the Audioengine A2s could confidently look forward to retaining their 2008 What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Award as Best Budget Desktop Speakers. Measuring just 15 x 10 x 13cm, they're almost frivolously small.

Compact; nicely finished; fearsomely dynamic and attacking given their size

Some midrange coarseness; an expected lack of scale

Resembling regular two-way hi-fi speakers the compact Audioengine 2 speakers bear the proper build-quality hallmarks of serious audio components. Read our Audioengine 2 review to find out more - REVISED 10 APRIL 2013

Pair these or the A2 (no USB) with a good DAC, one that has a remote and you'll love the sound of your digital music collection.

Amazing sound for the price

Volume control is in the back but my DAC has a remote

In terms of competitors, there are plenty of other swanky multimedia speakers out there, several of which we haven't reviewed. One set we did review, the Bowers & Wilkins MM-1, looks great but the A2+ sounds better and costs half the price. Other competitors incorporate Bluetooth connections.

The Audioengine A2+ is compact set of attractively style powered stereo speakers that delivers impressive sound for its size; This new "plus" version adds a digital USB connection, an output for an optional subwoofer to the existing two audio inputs, and a redesigned smaller power connector

The speakers lack a remote control; the volume control is inconveniently located on the backside; and there's no way to toggle between inputs.

The AudioEngine A2 speakers are a really nice powered set. I have them setup at work and am using a Schiit Magni & Modi dac and preamp. The sound is accurate if the A2s are set to low or medium volume, but distortion is introduced if theyre pushed too hard which is hardly ever the case in my office.

If you're serious about music but you currently listen to tunes through a pair of tinny, cheapo PC speakers, check out Audioengine's $319.00 A2 speakers. They can fill a room with sound without taking up much physical space.

Accurate music reproduction

Need a subwoofer if you're after tooth-rattling bass for movies and games

hooked up to my mini mac and looks nice

We're fans of Audioengine's original 2 series speaker, the A2, which came out a few years ago and retails for $199.99. Now the company's released the A2+, an enhanced version of the same speaker that adds a USB digital converter, so you can plug the speakers right into the USB port on your computer.

While they'll cost you $50 more, Audioengine A2+ multimedia speakers improve on an already great product (the A2) with slightly better sound when hooked up to your computer via a new USB connection.

The Audioengine A2+ is compact set of attractively style powered stereo speakers that delivers impressive sound for its size; This new "plus" version adds a digital USB connection, an output for an optional subwoofer to the existing two audio inputs, and a redesigned smaller power connector.

The speakers lack a remote control, 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.