If you’re short on time and just want the highlights of this article, here it is:
The Audioengine A1 Bluetooth Speaker System is a great option for those looking for good sound quality without breaking the bank. It offers an 1/8″ input and Bluetooth connectivity with aptX support, which allows for wireless connectivity with compatible devices. The speakers consist of a 2.75″ woofer and a 0.75″ tweeter and output up to 15W per channel RMS, or 30W per channel peak.
The sound quality of the A1 speakers is very good with great clarity and balance. The bass could be better, and there’s a slight lack of treble at higher volumes, but overall the sound is satisfying. The connectivity options are also great, making it easy to integrate the system into any setup.
The most ideal users for the A1 speakers are those who are looking for a compact speaker system that offers good sound and connectivity. However, those looking for advanced features such as multi-room audio or voice control may find the A1 speakers lacking in this regard.
In conclusion, the Audioengine A1 Bluetooth Speaker System is a great product that offers good sound quality and easy setup at an affordable price. It’s perfect for audiophiles on a budget and casual users alike, although it lacks certain advanced features which may put off some users who are looking for a more sophisticated audio system.
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Now let’s get to its bolts and nuts.
Audioengine A1 Review: Sound quality
Let me tell you something right off the bat.
The sound quality performance you'll end up getting from a speaker will always depend on your room acoustics - particularly room dimensions and speaker positions.
The impact of the combination of these two is actually so strong that in most cases, it doesn't even make sense to utter a single word on sound quality without speaking of them.
This is also why it's not unusual to see completely different reviews of the same speaker.
In one case the speaker might be placed in a sweet spot inside the room and hence the user might be satisfied. In other cases the same speaker might be ill placed and hence user might even have returned it.
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The point most people miss here is that it mostly isn't even about the engineering behind the speaker itself. It's about where you place the speaker inside which room.
So, in order to solve this problem, I've partnered with Acoustics and Audio Engineering PhD Andrea Cicero from AC Acustica and created Soundton - a simple, 2D, browser accessible online speaker placement calculator.
With Soundton, now there's a way to figure the sound quality of most speakers before you buy them.
Read more about its working principles at soundton.com.
The end colormap provides you the locations with the best (green) and worst (red) acoustics.