Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 Just Got a Bigger Upgrade Than Its Tiny Size Suggests
Audioengine has introduced a new generation of its compact active speakers, the A2+ Gen 3, bringing several important changes to one of the company’s longest-running desktop audio designs.
The A2+ series has been around for years, beginning in 2007 with the original desktop A2 system. Over time, Audioengine added features such as a USB DAC and wireless connectivity, turning the compact speakers into a surprisingly versatile desktop audio system.
With the new A2+ Gen 3, Audioengine has kept the basic concept almost exactly as it was. The left speaker remains the active unit, housing the electronics, amplifiers, and connections, while the right speaker connects to it using a standard speaker cable.
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That familiar design makes the new generation look more like an evolution than a complete redesign. But Audioengine has made some significant changes underneath the enclosure.
So What Actually Changed With the Audioengine A2+ Gen 3?
One of the biggest updates is the move to Bluetooth 5.3, with support for Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec.
The A2+ Gen 3 also supports aptX HD, aptX, AAC, and LC3, giving the compact speakers considerably broader wireless compatibility than the original A2 design could offer.
With compatible devices, the wireless connection can receive audio with a bit depth of up to 24 bits. Audioengine is using Qualcomm’s QCC3040 chip to handle the Bluetooth connection.
The company also says it has improved USB interface compatibility with a wider range of audio sources.
For a desktop speaker system that is designed to remain simple, those changes could make the A2+ Gen 3 considerably easier to integrate into a modern computer-based listening setup.
Audioengine Finally Switched the A2+ to Class D
The other major change is hiding inside the amplifier section.
Previous versions of the A2+ used Class A/B amplification, but the new A2+ Gen 3 switches to Class D.
Audioengine has also increased the nominal output from 15 watts per channel to 20 watts per channel.
That is a meaningful change for such a small speaker. According to Audioengine, the new amplifier design is intended to provide greater power capability while retaining the compact dimensions and straightforward operation that have defined the A2+ series for years.
The company has therefore managed to increase both the amplifier output and wireless capabilities without turning the A2+ into a much larger desktop system.
The A2+ Gen 3 Still Doesn’t Want an App or Complicated Setup
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the A2+ Gen 3 is what Audioengine has not changed.
The company continues to position the speakers primarily as a compact desktop audio system that does not require an app, account registration, or complicated setup.
That simplicity has always been part of the appeal of the A2+.
You can place the speakers on a desk, connect the two cabinets, connect your source, and start listening without having to build an ecosystem around them.
For people who want better sound from a computer or desktop setup without filling the room with a traditional hi-fi system, that remains the basic idea behind the A2+.
How Much Does the Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 Cost?
The Audioengine A2+ Gen 3 has a recommended retail price of $299.
At that price, Audioengine is taking one of its best-known compact active speaker designs and giving it a more modern wireless platform, a new Class D amplifier section, and higher nominal power while keeping the same straightforward desktop-focused concept.
The result is still unmistakably an A2+, but the third generation brings some of the most substantial technical changes the series has seen.
