Short answer: the Audioengine A2+. It ranks #11 of 23 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $279; the Fiio SP3 ranks #19 and costs $299.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Audioengine A2+ offers: Genuinely small footprint for real desktop use, with a wide input selection (RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth) plus a rear volume knob and variable RCA output. Watch for: Raw anechoic response has an on-axis midrange dip the reviewer called “too much” at about 6dB peak-to-peak, and a persistent 2dB dip from 3-5kHz that desk placement doesn’t fix - possibly a crossover integration issue.
What the Fiio SP3 offers: Solid build quality that feels more substantial than the ribbed, 3D-printed-looking exterior would suggest. Watch for: Treble runs too hot and the mid-range is heavily scooped out on-axis, the supposedly ideal listening position.
Buy the Audioengine A2+. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Fiio SP3 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Fiio SP3. It ranks near the bottom of the 23 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audioengine A2+ | Fiio SP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #11 of 23 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #19 of 23 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 | AUX, RCA |
| Drivers | 0.75" silk dome tweeter, 2.75" fiber woofer | 3.5" carbon fiber midwoofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Output Power | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel | 40W total (30W midwoofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| EQ | No (fixed volume knob only) | - |
| App | No | - |
| Dimensions | 6"H x 4"W x 5.25"D (152 x 102 x 133mm) | 6.4"H x 4.7"W x 5.2"D (163 x 120 x 132 mm) |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs / 1.6 kg (3.55 lb) left / 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg (3.15 lb) right | 4.3 lbs / 1.95 kg each |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Audioengine A2+:
- Genelec 8010A vs Audioengine A2+
- Adam Audio D3v vs Audioengine A2+
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor vs Audioengine A2+
- Edifier M60 vs Audioengine A2+
- Edifier MR3 vs Audioengine A2+
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The Two Speakers In Full
Audioengine A2+: $279.00 Amazon Audioengine eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel measurements give a 5.39 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.
Cons: The 2.07 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 →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 6"H x 4"W x 5.25"D (152 x 102 x 133mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75" silk dome tweeter, 2.75" fiber woofer |
| EQ | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Output Power | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs / 1.6 kg (3.55 lb) left / 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg (3.15 lb) right |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audioengine A2+ vs Monacor SOUND-4BT
- Audioengine A2+ vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Audioengine A2+ vs Edifier MR3
- Audioengine A2+ vs Edifier M60
- Audioengine A2+ vs Mackie CR3-X
- Audioengine A2+ vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Audioengine A2+ vs Adam Audio D3v
- Audioengine A2+ vs Genelec 8010A
- See all 9 comparisons
Fiio SP3: $299.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact cabinets and angled bases fit a small desk. The existing review found useful dynamic capability at higher frequencies, so lack of output is not the only issue. Erin’s Klippel data shows a measured -3dB bass point around 60Hz, deeper than several similarly sized alternatives.
Cons: The response rises strongly toward the treble, about 1.13dB per octave, with a recessed midrange and problematic crossover behavior. Its 2.71 standalone and 5.32 ideal-subwoofer scores do not capture the full practical impact of the review’s boomy bass and off-axis tonal problems. Changing angle trades one coloration for another. Those audible limitations weigh against it more heavily than its numerical score or build quality.
Full Fiio SP3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 6.4"H x 4.7"W x 5.2"D (163 x 120 x 132 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5" carbon fiber midwoofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| Inputs | AUX, RCA |
| Output Power | 40W total (30W midwoofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Weight | 4.3 lbs / 1.95 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons