Here at The Mac Observer and iPod Observer, we've heaped about as much praise as we could manage on upstart speaker manufacturer AudioEngine. We rated their A5 bookshelf speakers 5/5, and just about everyone on the staff who's into audio has lauded their performance, including Misha, Bryan, and me.

AudioEngine got originally got our attention by building speakers that were slickly designed, rugged, feature-rich, and competed in sound with products many times their price. That's why we're excited that AudioEngine has released a less expensive, more consumer-targeted product, the A2 desktop speakers. More compact, with the same rugged construction, and a saucy sound for their size, these are built to please.

The new A2 Desktop Speakers from AudioEngine USA

Sound
The A2s cost US$199, or about $150 less than the A5s. That price puts them in competition with systems like the Harman/Kardon SoundSticks, Altec Lansing FX6021, iHome iH52, and plenty of other stereo and 2.1 style speaker systems.

Now, I'm not really familiar with all the specific products in this price range, but I do know the sound of the speaker technology that most of them use. The tweeters look like shallow dishes of silvery aluminum, each about the size of a half-dollar. That technology can produce really clear, mid-focused sound, and in the better-engineered products (particularly those by Harman/Kardon), it's delightfully crisp.

The downside is that the technology can't produce much volume, so to avoid distorting those systems have four (like the SoundSticks), or even six (like the FX6021) tweeters in each satellite. Most systems also require a dedicated subwoofer to handle the bass.

AudioEngine, on the other hand, uses a more classic technology: dome tweeters and 5-inch woofers in each satellite. There's no subwoofer. The result is a more classic sound. The highs are clear, mids have a solid growl, and the bass has a nice punch. If you're used to that mid-focused, clear sound championed by companies like Harman/Kardon, you might find the A2s too warm for your taste. But more likely your reaction would be, "Wow, that sounds full."

It's also worth pointing out that the A2s, like their big-brother A5s, can get dang loud. They aren't as full or punch as they A5s, but we don't know of any other speaker in this price range that can get this sound, or this volume.

Functionality
If the A5s were canonical bookshelf speakers, the A2s are definitely desktop speakers. They have a thinner footprint than a CD album, and are about as tall as a hand is long. They'll easily fit on most desks, or could be tucked inconspicuously into corners of a larger space like a bedroom or living room.

Shown with an iSight camera for scale. The A2's few controls and inputs are all on the back of the left speaker.

Unlike many competitors in this category, they are not even remotely portable. They're heavy for their size, have no handles, need AC power, and have no design touches to help pack them up for transport. Your best bet is to place them back in the box they shipped in, which does have a built-in handle.

They also eschew all the extras built into the A5s. There are no knobs or controls on the front, sides, or tops of the speakers. The back of the left speaker hides the solid-feeling power/volume knob, and offers the A2s only inputs: RCA or 1/8" mini. In other words, these speakers play what you pipe in, and that's it. No remote, no equalizer controls, no julienne fries.

Even so, the A2s get points for solid, sleek design. The cabinet molding is crisp and tough. The bass port -- a thin slit along the bottom of the cabinet's front face -- is quite elegant. The speaker bottoms have a firmly-attached, vibration-absorbing and slip-resisting foam. The audio connections are gold-plated and the speaker wire connections are satisfyingly hefty.

The AudioEngine A2 speakers are available in black or white.

The Bottom Line
The AudioEngine A2s aren't flashy or feature-rich, but in this price range they're one of a kind for classic stereo sound. If you're cramped for space, or want an understated set of great-sounding speakers, we heartily recommend the A2. If you want a portable set of iPod speakers, or if you're constantly fiddling with treble and bass knobs, you'll want to look elsewhere.