Short answer: the Edifier M60. It ranks #6 of 12 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $199.99; the Audioengine A2+ ranks #8 and costs $279, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Edifier M60: 1” dome tweeter paired with a 3” cone midwoofer, in a distinctively styled desktop cabinet with illuminated touch controls and a textured finish. The tradeoff: Trends noticeably brighter moving from midrange into treble; best tamed by seating position (tweeter slightly below ear level, no more than about 10° above the tweeter line) rather than relying on EQ.
What the Audioengine A2+ gets right: 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. The catch: 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.
Buy the Edifier M60. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Audioengine A2+ and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier M60 | Audioengine A2+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #6 of 12 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #8 of 12 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 6.6"H x 3.9"W x 5.8"D (167.6 x 99.1 x 147.3 mm) | 6"H x 4"W x 5.25"D (152 x 102 x 133mm) |
| EQ | Yes | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter | 0.75" silk dome tweeter, 2.75" fiber woofer |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg | 3.5 lbs / 1.6 kg (3.55 lb) left / 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg (3.15 lb) right |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Max SPL | 96dB @ 1m | - |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Output Power | 66W total (33W per speaker) | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Klipsch ProMedia Lumina vs Mackie CR3-X
- Audioengine HD3 vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- Audioengine HD3 vs Edifier MR3
- Edifier M60 vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Edifier MR3 vs Audioengine A2+
The Two Speakers In Full
Edifier M60: $199.99 Amazon
Pros: 1” dome tweeter paired with a 3” cone midwoofer, in a distinctively styled desktop cabinet with illuminated touch controls and a textured finish. USB-C, aux input, and a speaker-level output for the passive companion unit, plus small tilting stands (about 15°) for desk positioning. Horizontal dispersion of about ±60° through the upper midrange, right in the reviewer’s preferred range for near-field desktop use. Reasonably neutral through the midrange. Sound quality falls between Edifier’s own MR3 (better) and MR4 (worse) in the reviewer’s estimation, at an attractive price for the segment. Multiple input options make it easy to integrate into a desktop setup.
Cons: Trends noticeably brighter moving from midrange into treble; best tamed by seating position (tweeter slightly below ear level, no more than about 10° above the tweeter line) rather than relying on EQ. Sitting below the tweeter axis causes a significant suckout in the 2-4kHz crossover region and should be avoided entirely. F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 57Hz mean bass falls off a cliff below the mid-60s Hz, with essentially no low-end punch or tactile bass. Built-in limiting caps real-world output well below the theoretical 96dB target - effective maximum is closer to 86-90dB at 1 meter (low 90s dB for a pair on a desk), and multitone distortion testing suggests 78-88dB is the practical ceiling before the sound turns grainy and compressed. Strictly a near-field speaker - not intended for listening beyond arm’s length (about 2.5 feet); farther or louder use calls for a larger speaker like the Kali LP-UNF.
Full Edifier M60 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 6.6"H x 3.9"W x 5.8"D (167.6 x 99.1 x 147.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C |
| Max SPL | 96dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 66W total (33W per speaker) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audioengine A2+: $279.00 Amazon Audioengine
Pros: 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. Sound is well-behaved in its intended use case - sitting on the desk below ear level, where the natural desk-boundary reinforcement fills in the midrange the way the design expects. No port chuffing or major excursion issues noted. Better native tonal balance than its closest same-size, same-price rival tested alongside it (which had a severe 70Hz resonant boom and overly hot treble); at this size and price, a solid, inoffensive pick for background/nearfield desktop use.
Cons: 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. Bass rolls off below about 100Hz with real authority, so don’t expect low-end weight. Compression/limiting kicks in hard above roughly 87dB at 1m, well before most full-size monitors, so these aren’t for anyone who wants to push real volume. Do not put these on stands at ear level - that exposes the raw nonlinear response and makes them sound notably worse; desktop placement below ear level is required to sound right. Kali Audio’s similarly-priced LP-UNF is meaningfully more linear and extends lower, at roughly twice the cabinet size.
Full Audioengine A2+ review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| 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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons