Genelec 8010A vs Audioengine A2+

Short answer: the Genelec 8010A for better sound quality, the Audioengine A2+ for the lower price. The Genelec 8010A ranks #1 of 12 powered bookshelf speakers at $700. The Audioengine A2+ ranks #8 at $279, $421 cheaper.

The case for the Genelec 8010A: An extremely neutral speaker for mastering and mixing recordings. The tradeoff: Not as deep of bass as the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor.

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 Genelec 8010A if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Audioengine A2+ if the price matters more than sound quality.

Specifications Side By Side

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The Two Speakers In Full

Genelec 8010A: $700 Bhphotovideo

Pros: An extremely neutral speaker for mastering and mixing recordings. Although for mastering, it’s highly recommended to use a larger speaker with deeper bass extension or add a subwoofer

Cons: Not as deep of bass as the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor. Probably not the best choice for general music listening due to the price and limited bass extension.

Full Genelec 8010A review and specifications →

App	No
Bass Extension (-10dB)	67Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	74Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bluetooth	No
Dimensions	7.7"H x 4.8"W x 4.5"D (195.6 x 121.9 x 114.3 mm)
Drivers	3" woofer, 0.75" metal dome tweeter
EQ	Yes (Bass tilt, Desk proximity)
Frequency Response	67 Hz-25 kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified)
Inputs	XLR
Max SPL	96dB @ 1m
Output Power	50W (25W woofer + 25W tweeter)
Weight	3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg

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• Links
  • Official Genelec 8010A Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Audio Science Review Measurements
  • DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs iLoud Micro Monitor Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
  • DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs Presonus Eris E4.5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
  • DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (G One) vs JBL LSR305 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
  • DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs Audioengine A2+ Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
  • DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs Yamaha HS5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
  • Reddit Search for Genelec 8010A Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Genelec 8010A vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
  • Genelec 8010A vs Adam Audio D3v
  • Genelec 8010A vs Edifier MR3
  • Genelec 8010A vs Audioengine HD3
  • Genelec 8010A vs Edifier M60
  • Genelec 8010A vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
  • Genelec 8010A vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
  • Genelec 8010A vs Mackie CR3-X
  • See all 10 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
  • Official Audioengine A2+ Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Erin’s Audio Corner: Are the $269 Audioengine A2+ Speakers Worth Your Money?
  • Reddit Search for Audioengine A2+ Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Audioengine A2+ vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
  • Audioengine A2+ vs Edifier M60
  • Audioengine A2+ vs Mackie CR3-X
  • Audioengine A2+ vs Fiio SP3
  • Audioengine A2+ vs Edifier MR3
  • Audioengine A2+ vs Adam Audio D3v
  • Audioengine A2+ vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor