In this review, we will be comparing A2+ Gen 3 and A1 Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Audioengine. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 and Audioengine A1 Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 | Audioengine A1 Wireless |
|---|
| Brand | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 30-watt RMS (60-watt peak) | 30-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2.75" Aramid fiber | 2.75" Aramid Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-22k Hz | 65-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 48 kHz | 16-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.3 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 1.51kg / 3.3lbs | 1.10kg / 2.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.25" x 4.1875" x 6.625"
158.8 x 106.4 x 168.3mm | 6.25" x 4.1875" x 7.125"
158.8 x 106.4 x 181.0mm |
|---|
A2+ Gen 3 and A1 Wireless are members of Audioengine's A series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Audioengine A Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both A2+ Gen 3 and A1 Wireless are 2-way speakers.
Audioengine A2+ Gen 3Audioengine A1 Wireless
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 |
Audioengine A1 Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
A2+ Gen 3 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Aramid fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the A1 Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Aramid Fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
A2+ Gen 3 and A1 Wireless has exactly the same frequency range of 65-22k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both A2+ Gen 3 and A1 Wireless have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Audioengine A2+ Gen 3's and Audioengine A1 Wireless's external dimensions. Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 has external dimensions of 158.8 x 106.4 x 168.3mm (6.25 x 4.1875 x 6.625inch) whereas Audioengine A1 Wireless has external dimensions of 158.8 x 106.4 x 181.0mm (6.25 x 4.1875 x 7.125inch).
Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 has the same height and width with Audioengine A1 Wireless. On the other hand, with a thickness of 168.3mm, it is 12.7mm less deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 is approximately 179.1cm2 / 27.8inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A1 Wireless is approximately 192.6cm2 / 29.9inch2. The A2+ Gen 3 requires 7% less surface area than the A1 Wireless which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 weighs 1.51kg / 3.3lbs and the Audioengine A1 Wireless weighs 1.10kg / 2.4lbs. This makes the A2+ Gen 3 37% heavier than the A1 Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how A2+ Gen 3 and A1 Wireless's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Audioengine A2+ Gen 3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A2+ Gen 3:
- Powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- Speaker wire (16 AWG)
- USB-C cable
- AC power cord
- Mini-jack audio cable
- 2 microfiber speaker bags
- Microfiber cable bag
- Setup guide
What's in the Box of Audioengine A1 Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A1 Wireless:
- Wireless powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 6.5-feet Length of 18 gauge speaker wire
- 6.5-feet Stereo minijack-to-RCA cable
- 6-feet Stereo minijack cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Audioengine product brochure
 Base Surface Area |
179cm2
vs
192cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 |
Audioengine A1 Wireless |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
65-22k Hz |
65-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
30-watt RMS |
30-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
60-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
16-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
2.75" |
2.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid fiber |
Aramid Fiber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
158.8mm (6.3") |
158.8mm (6.3") |
| Width |
106.4mm (4.2") |
106.4mm (4.2") |
| Depth |
168.3mm (6.6") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
1.51kg (3.3lbs) |
1.10kg (2.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-C |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Siblings in Audioengine's A series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (65Hz vs 65Hz). |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (30W vs 30W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Audioengine A2+ Gen 3: a sub output; Audioengine A1 Wireless: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Audioengine A1 Wireless is cheaper - $199 against $299, about 33% less. |
A Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 B Audioengine A1 Wireless
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $100 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.