In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM3 and A2+ Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from PSB and 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 PSB Alpha AM3 and Audioengine A2+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
PSB Alpha AM3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 70-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Polypropylene Woofer
- 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.7" x 5.1875" x 8.125"( 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm )
Audioengine A2+ Wireless Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 30-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2.75" Kevlar Woofer
- 65-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 16-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:1.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 158.8" x 4.1875" x 6.625"( 158.8 x 106.4 x 168.3mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Alpha AM3 and Audioengine A2+ Wireless compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Alpha AM3 and A2+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Audioengine A2+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the A2+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas A2+ Wireless has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Alpha AM3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A2+ Wireless's min frequency of 65Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Alpha AM3 has a rear firing port whereas A2+ Wireless has a front firing ports. Audioengine A2+ Wireless's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to PSB Alpha AM3 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare PSB Alpha AM3's and Audioengine A2+ Wireless's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm ( 8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) whereas Audioengine A2+ Wireless has external dimensions of 158.8 x 106.4 x 168.3mm ( 6.25 x 4.1875 x 6.625inch) .
PSB Alpha AM3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25.4mm wider, 61.9mm taller and 38.1mm deeper than Audioengine A2+ Wireless.
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 PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A2+ Wireless is approximately 179.1cm2 / 27.8inch2. The Alpha AM3 requires 52% more surface area than the A2+ Wireless which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.