Audio Engines A2+ And Etc.

[jyl]

The speakers connected to my kitchen Mac died. They were an Altec-Lansing speaker/sub set, bought at Best Buy. Decent, lasted ten years.

I was going to run down to Costco and buy whatever computer speakers they had. But I thought, you know, most of my music listening is done in the kitchen, from this Mac, and even though I am firmly in my "post-audiophile" stage, I think I will visit my local "hi fi" store and see what they have.

Came home with a pair of Audioengines A2+ powered speakers. They are so cute, and seem of solid quality, and sound good. More like a mini stereo, than like computer speakers plugged into a Mac.

I see that this company also sells a wireless device that would let me send music from the Mac to speakers in another room, without going through the house wifi network. Anyone have experience with that? Work well?

[aschen]

They are beyond fantastic for computer audio listening, ive had a set for many years so they predate the version with built in dac, but I would get a set with the USB dac for a great bargain in computer audio and near field listening

[aschen]

Never tried the wireless dac but definitely a neat looking product I image they don't limit Fidelity for most applications.


If you want to go back to your audiophiles stage dynaudio makes wireless speakers that stay digital all the way to the speakers voice coils with focus on Fidelity

[campbellcj]

I have the A2's on one of the home 'puters and they are really great. It also has a 10" powered sub for bass.

[jyl]

In the alcove where my Mac lives, the A2+ had too much mid bass. So I set iTunes to lower mid bass and raise treble. I'm now very happy.

[jyl]

I'm thinking about buying the larger one (A5) for the living room. You audiophiles, what would you recommend to get music from Mac (iTunes) in kitchen to the living room, for total cost of $700 or less? Living room is 20 x 30. Listen mostly to jazz, some vocals, some non-thunderous classical (more Debussy than Mahler), at moderate volume. Like a bright sound. I'm always turning treble up and bass down. Maybe hearing is deteriorating. Have the normal encoding, no lossless. Used to have an Airport Express to stream over WiFi but too many dropouts. Prefer smaller speakers. Likely will place them on the built-in shelving, or mount to wall.

[jyl]

This is the room. Thought I'd mount speakers at the upper right and left corners. Get some corner loading maybe?

[dedbird]

Sonos. I just installed the play bar on the tv, sub, and the play 5 for the living room. It is fantastic. All you would need is the play 3 or 5 for less than $400. The ability to play music wirelessly from the computer, phone, or whatever is great. Took me a while to figure out that I didn't need an amp. Play 5 was good on its' own. I added the sub and do like it but it will push your budget. My ears aren't what they used to be but to me it sounds really good.