Bluetooth speakers are seemingly everywhere these days. So much so that they’ve become almost as ubiquitous as USB keys were back in the day, circa 2010. Available in all shapes in sizes, most to date have competed heavily on price, and mostly trumped up portability as a key feature. But what about the serious listener? There’s Sonos, of course. It’s brilliant. And with a refined app, the Sonos experience is pretty hard to beat. Yet, for many a Bluetooth-based system offers greater simplicity and flexibility when it comes to pairing and ease of streaming.
That’s where Audioengine comes in.
Dubbed the “B2” I was able to get some in-depth listening time with the company’s $299 premium Bluetooth speaker. Still portable enough to bring over to a friends place, or tuck away in a bookshelf, but powerful enough to pack some serious amplification and quality performance.
UNBOXING
The first thing to know about the B2 is it–like Sonos–needs to be plugged in. No battery option. And that, thankfully, is likely why this relatively small speaker (4″H x 12″W x 5.25″D) can pack such a punch. Pulling the speaker out of the box I was immediately taken aback by its heft. This is no puny, plastic Bluetooth soda can. A quick scan of the specs indicates the B2 weighs 10 pounds. So it may not be the best option to fling into a carry-on for your next Vegas jaunt.
AUDIOENGINE B2 Premium Bluetooth Speaker
Type: 2.0 powered Bluetooth speaker
Amplifier type: Dual class AB monolithic
Power output: 60W peak total (15W RMS/30W peak per channel)
Drivers: 2.75″ Kevlar woofers, 3/4″ Silk dome tweeters
Inputs: Bluetooth (supports aptX, A2DP and AVRCP profiiles), 3.5mm mini-jack
XNR: >90dB
THD: <0.05%
Crosstalk: -50dB
Frequency response: 65Hz-22kHz (+/- 2.0dB)
Dimensions: 4″H x 12″W x 5.25″D, 10lbs
Source: Audioengine USA
DESIGN
Removing the cleverly magnetized cloth grill cover reveals a pair of 2.75″ kevlar woofers and a pair of 3/4″ tweeters (silk dome). Power output is rated at 60W — much higher than your traditional $99 bluetooth speaker. Along the back you’ll find a volume knob (with wonderful, smooth, old school action), a Power/Pair indicator light, a rotatable antenna, 3.5mm input jack, power switch and power cord connection.
Our demo came in a classy black ash finish. Other available wood finishes include Walnut and Zebrawood. Yes, this is a speaker that will likely enrich your decor. Overall, the B2 evokes quality construction. It’s a solid bit of kit that will likely appeal to those who value aesthetics, and modern, clean designs.
We managed to pair the Audioengine speaker with a variety of Android and iOS-powered devices including a Nexus 6, iPhone 6, and several iPads. Unlike other Bluetooth devices, the B2 appeared almost instantly. Pairing was a snap, and we experienced no hiccups. A nice bonus that audiophiles will appreciate: the B2 supports the high quality aptX Bluetooth profile (in addition to A2DP and AVRCP). This should result in higher quality streams.
PERFORMANCE
And the sound?
Gorgeous, rich, full bodied.
The B2 easily lives up to its name, and will blow away lower priced Bluetooth speakers out of the water. Increasing volume did surprisingly little to distort the output, save for the most bass intense rave tracks. Nice! Running the test gamut, from Imagine Dragons (“Smoke + Mirrors”), and Drake (“Energy”) to AC/DC (“Hells Bells”) and even some classical (Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor), to really test the details in the mids and the highs. Performance was sublime.
At $299, the B2 competes with the likes of the Sonos Play:3 which retails for the same price. In our lab we only had available a Play:5, the step-up, larger model ($399), making a direct comparison a little unfair. Still I was curious to hear them head-to-head. Here, it’s clear, the Play:5 does add slightly more oomph on the bottom end, and can crank it just a bit more in terms of output (but not by much). Sonos doesn’t publish its frequency response specs, but to my ear at least I feel the Play:5 does reach down a little lower than the B2’s 65Hz bottom end. Again, don’t give this too much weight in your decision — if you’re cross shopping you’d likely be comparing the B2 to the Play:3, a model with much smaller tweeters and woofers.
In the end the B2 is a championship caliber speaker for its price and size. It will look right at home in an office, a dorm room, or a family room. And, despite its (glorious) aforementioned heft, you can easily toss this speaker into the car, and bring it over to your friend’s place, or to a special event.
THE COMPETITION
For something more portable with solid sound I’d look at the Boss SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker ($199). And for a system that you might want to expand, and run throughout the home, the Sonos would be my first pick.
However, if I was looking at a standalone speaker approaching audiophile performance, and valued design, and simplicity (Bluetooth over proprietary mesh network, for example), the Audioengine B2 would be right at the top of my list. At $299 you won’t break the bank, but you’ll get exponentially better performance than you would from something like, say, the Jawbone Jambox (though, decent).
The B2 really hits the sweet spot when it comes to price-performance. With quality Bluetooth performance thanks to the aptX profile and 60W of output you won’t be lacking in distortion-free power. Nice touches such as the gorgeous wood finishes and solid engineering touches (that volume knob!) are icing on the cake on a package that truly impresses.
Audioengine B2 Premium Bluetooth Speaker
5 out of 5 stars. Highly Recommended.
Research/Buy: Amazon
IN PHOTOS: Audioengine B2 Premium Bluetooth Speaker
