Short answer: the HiVi Swan X3. It ranks #10 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $179; the Audioengine A2+ ranks #19, rated 3.4/5, and costs $299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The HiVi Swan X3 is the more accurate choice. An affordable small coaxial desktop pair with fairly balanced sound for the money. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.04 against 2.78 for the Audioengine A2+. The catch: Not a flat reference monitor: the response spans 5.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and trends upward toward the treble.
Why pick the Audioengine A2+: Tiny desktop speakers with Bluetooth, USB and analog inputs and a variable RCA output. It keeps a wired aux input, which the HiVi Swan X3 lacks. The catch: The 2.78 standalone score and roughly 106Hz measured -3dB point reveal how much bass is missing without reinforcement or a subwoofer.
Buy the HiVi Swan X3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audioengine A2+ and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| HiVi Swan X3 | Audioengine A2+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 per pair | $299.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #10 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #19 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Active coaxial, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 3-inch coaxial woofer and tweeter | 0.75” silk dome tweeter, 2.75” fiber woofer |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 71Hz (measured, Spinorama) | - |
| Inputs | RCA | RCA, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Configuration | Powered desktop monitor | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.04 | 2.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.03 | 6.10 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 28W RMS Per Speaker | 15W RMS / 30W peak per channel |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 5” x 4.8” x 7.1” (128 x 123 x 181 mm) (W x D x H) | 6” x 4” x 5.2” (152 x 102 x 133 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 22kHz (+-2dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) each | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) left / 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) right |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 105.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| EQ | - | No (fixed volume knob only) |
| App | - | No |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | RCA variable output (subwoofer) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How HiVi Swan X3 compares with other leading options: