To celebrate 20 years in the desktop speaker game, Audioengine has decided to mark the occasion not with radical new tech, but with… color. Specifically, a blazing Matte Orange take on its popular A2+ Next Gen speakers. Limited to 250 individually numbered units, the Audioengine A2+ Next Gen Anniversary Edition isn’t reinventing the wheel—but it is giving it a fresh coat of traffic-cone flair.
Built on the same platform as the award-winning A2+ Next Gen, this bright, bold version sticks with what works: punchy, full-range sound in a compact package, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX, and a clean, minimalist design. The only real change? A finish you’ll see coming from across the room—and a special-edition box that’s hand-signed and numbered, because collectibility never goes out of style.
2025 “innovation”? Forget circuitry. The bleeding edge of high-end audio is apparently… pastels. Seriously. Olive green. Muted sky blue. Burnt Sienna. Off-white that someone in marketing insists on calling “Digital Lavender.” This year’s High End Munich felt less like a summit of audio engineering and more like an over-curated lifestyle catalog. If your speakers don’t match your throw pillows, are you even listening?
Let’s call this what it is: a pivot. Not because of chip shortages, not because of tariffs, and definitely not because of “macro-economic headwinds.” It’s because the legacy audio industry ran out of steam. They stopped taking real risks a decade ago. So now? They’re digging through their marketing war rooms like it’s the last IKEA catalog before Doomsday.
And frankly, it’s not a bad thing. After building gear exclusively for guys like Ken — 61, owns four DACs, polishes speaker terminals on Sundays, and says “synergy” with a straight face — the industry is waking up to the idea that other people exist. People who want great sound and something that doesn’t look like it escaped from a 2004 tech rack.
Women. Younger listeners. Apartment dwellers. Folks who don’t care what Stereophile said in 1989 but do care what’s sitting in their living room.
So if you’re still clutching your Schiit stack in Ford Model T black (or… silver) and thinking “this is all I need,” great. But just know: not everyone wants their system to look like a Cold War communications terminal or a prop from The Expanse.
Audioengine A2+ Matte Orange Next Gen: Limited Edition Powered Desktop Speakers
When Audioengine first introduced the A2 Powered Speaker System, it was designed to be a compact desktop audio solution, measuring slightly taller than a modern iPhone, yet delivering powerful sound that belied its compact size.
In 2007, there were very few, if any dedicated desktop speaker systems. Typically, compact speakers needed to be connected to a larger audio system that took up more space.
The goal of Audioengine was to design a desktop audio speaker solution that would provide more than what was expected. As a result of their efforts, the A2 and A2+ have enjoyed the success that inspired Audioengine to provide additional high-performance compact speaker systems such as the A5+, HD3, HD4, HD5, HD6, A1-MR, and more.
With 18 years under its belt, the A2 (now known as the A2+) is a proven product. With over 300,000 having been sold and 10,000 reviews, the A2+ is not going away anytime soon, but Audioengine did determine that for 2025, an update was needed.
The next generation A2+ Home Music System now includes 24-bit audio and Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD, providing a definite audio quality boost. Also, the addition of USB-C connectivity makes it easier to connect to modern devices, providing more use flexibility.
Key Features
System Configuration: The A2+ consists of a speaker pair. The primary speaker (left speaker) incorporates the wireless and wired source connectivity, as well as the amplifiers needed for both speakers. The secondary speaker (right speaker) is passive, connecting to the primary speaker via standard speaker connections.
Enhanced Audio Quality: With 24-bit audio, audio is captured with more precision resulting in a more natural listening experience after it goes through the A2+’s built-in DAC.
Connectivity: The A2+ Home Music System features both digital (including USB-C) and analog inputs. To connect a turntable, you may need to place an external phono preamp between the turntable and analog audio input of the A2+.
Built-in USB DAC: The built-in digital-to-analog converter enhances your digital music, while the analog amplifiers ensure you get the most out of your analog formats, like vinyl records.
Bluetooth with aptX HD: This elevates Bluetooth access to be able to stream hi-resolution audio (when available) from up to 100 feet away without sacrificing audio quality.
Handcrafted Design: The A2+ incorporates real wood, and hand-painted cabinets which are painted using the same 13-step process as a baby grand piano.
Technical Specifications
- Amplifier
- Type: Class AB
- Output Power:
- 15W RMS per channel (FTC compliant)
- 30W per channel (AES)
- 60W total peak power (AES)
- Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
- 24-bit resolution
- USB-C input
- TI PCM2704C chipset
- Drivers
- Woofer: 2.75″ aramid fiber
- Tweeter: 0.75″ silk dome
- Cabinet
- Material: 0.24″ MDF
- Finish: Anniversary Edition Matte Orange
- Inputs
- 3.5mm stereo mini-jack
- RCA L/R
- USB-C
- Bluetooth 5.3 with support for aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC
- Outputs
- RCA variable line-out
- Power & Connectivity
- Input Voltage: 100–240V, 50/60 Hz auto-switching
- Performance Specs
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): >95 dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N): <0.05%
- Crosstalk: <50 dB
- Frequency Response: 65 Hz – 22 kHz (±2.0 dB)
What’s in the Box
- Bluetooth antenna
- Speakers
- Speaker wire
- Power supply with detachable AC cord
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable
- USB-C cable
- Quick start guide
- Protective microfiber bags for speakers and accessories
The Bottom Line
The Audioengine A2+ Next Gen Anniversary Edition in Matte Orange isn’t just a fresh coat of paint—it’s a savvy blend of proven tech and smart desktop design, wrapped in a limited-edition finish that finally acknowledges people might want their gear to look as good as it sounds. With Class A/B amplification, a built-in 24-bit DAC, Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD, and a compact form factor that punches well above its size, this $269 USD system is an absolute value play. Sure, the color might raise eyebrows—but once you hear it, you’ll understand why the A2+ remains a go-to for serious listeners who don’t need bookshelf bricks to prove their hi-fi credentials.
Price & Availability
The 20th Anniversary Edition Audioengine A2+ Next Gen in orange is available for $279 at Audioengine, along with other colors also available at Amazon.
Related Reading:
- The New Hi-Fi “Innovation”? Paint. And Maybe That’s Genius
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