Short answer: the Audioengine A2+. It ranks #19 of 47 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $299; the Edifier M90 ranks #23, rated 3.3/5, and costs $369.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Audioengine A2+: Erin’s Klippel measurements give a 6.10 predicted preference score with an ideal subwoofer. The tradeoff: The 2.78 standalone score and roughly 106Hz measured -3dB point reveal how much bass is missing without reinforcement or a subwoofer.
What the Edifier M90 does well: A bi-amped two-way pair with a 4” long-throw aluminum mid-bass driver and a 1” silk dome tweeter per side, driven by 100W RMS in total (35W to each woofer, 15W to each tweeter). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Audioengine A2+ lacks. The catch: No independent anechoic or Spinorama measurements have been published yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Audioengine A2+. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Edifier M90 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
About the ratings: the Edifier M90’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.1 to 3.5, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A2+ | Edifier M90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 per pair | $369.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #19 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 47 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 | HDMI eARC, Optical, USB-C, Aux, Bluetooth |
| Drivers | 0.75” silk dome tweeter, 2.75” fiber woofer | 4” aluminum woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel | 100W RMS total (2x 35W woofer, 2x 15W tweeter) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| EQ | No (fixed volume knob only) | Yes |
| App | No | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Dimensions | 6” x 4” x 5.2” (152 x 102 x 133 mm) | 8.3”H x 5.2”W x 8.9”D (212 x 133 x 225 mm) |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) left / 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) right | 13.3 lbs (6.05 kg) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.78 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 | - |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | Yes |
| Outputs | RCA variable output (subwoofer) | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | Yes (eARC) |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, LDAC |
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- Edifier M60 vs Audioengine A2+
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Audioengine A2+: $299.00 per pair Amazon $299.00 Audioengine $269 eBay
Same family: the Audioengine A5+ Classic (larger bookshelf, rated 4/5).
Pros: Erin’s Klippel measurements give a 6.10 predicted preference score with an ideal subwoofer. The tiny footprint, multiple inputs and variable RCA output are useful for desktop listening. The existing review found desk placement more forgiving than free-space placement, with no major port-chuffing problem in its tests. Measured bass extension of 105.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 2.78 standalone score and roughly 106Hz measured -3dB point reveal how much bass is missing without reinforcement or a subwoofer. Midrange and crossover-region dips remain; desk gain is placement-dependent and cannot be assumed to correct them. Compression becomes substantial above roughly 87dB at 1m in the review, so this is a quiet nearfield option rather than a high-output monitor.
Full Audioengine A2+ review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2013 (12 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6” x 4” x 5.2” (152 x 102 x 133 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75” silk dome tweeter, 2.75” fiber woofer |
| EQ | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Optical Input | No |
| Outputs | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.10 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) left / 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) right |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
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Edifier M90: $369.99 per pair Estimated Amazon $369.99 eBay
Same family: the Edifier M60 (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4/5).
Pros: A bi-amped two-way pair with a 4” long-throw aluminum mid-bass driver and a 1” silk dome tweeter per side, driven by 100W RMS in total (35W to each woofer, 15W to each tweeter). The most connected Edifier desktop pair yet: HDMI eARC with TV remote control over CEC, optical, USB-C, aux and Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC, plus a subwoofer output for a 2.1 setup. Three sound presets on the included 2.4GHz remote and custom EQ in the Edifier ConneX app. Edifier rates the response down to 50Hz, against 55Hz for the smaller Edifier M60.
Cons: No independent anechoic or Spinorama measurements have been published yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. The only measurement so far is an in-room reading at the listening position (Pragmatic Audio), which showed bass reaching about 50 to 60Hz with a DSP limiter controlling the roll-off. A 4” woofer still needs a subwoofer for deep bass. It costs close to twice as much as the Edifier M60, and TechRadar found its output falls short of some rivals at the price.
Full Edifier M90 review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS total (2x 35W woofer, 2x 15W tweeter) |
| App | Yes (Edifier ConneX) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3”H x 5.2”W x 8.9”D (212 x 133 x 225 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” aluminum woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes (eARC) |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, Optical, USB-C, Aux, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | No |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 13.3 lbs (6.05 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons