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Spotify Disclosure with B-Fi/A1-MR
In order to stream Spotify to the Audioengine B-FI or A1-MR, Spotify requires a paid Premium account. This unlocks the Spotify-Connect feature within the app to send the audio to your Audioengine B-FI/A1-MR. A single device using a personal (1 user only) Spotify Premium account cannot play multiple songs simultaneously. However, this would be possible with a family plan and more than 1 device (B-Fi or A1-MR) though.
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Can I connect the S6 to my powered speakers?
Yes! As long as your speakers have an analog output (either RCA outputs or a 3.5mm stereo mini output), you can absolutely connect the S6 to your powered speakers. With the exception of the B2, all of our powered speakers will have the outputs needed to connect the S6, this includes the original A2 and A5 models. You can simply use RCA cables to connect the S6 to the A2+, HD3, HD4, A5+, A5+Wireless, and HD6 speaker models. For the A1 and A1-MR speakers, you can use one side of your stereo RCA cables. Just use the left/white RCA cable, and leave the red RCA disconnected to prevent an accidental ground loop. ** Please note: a 3.5mm/stereo mini cable will not work with the ‘Subwoofer’ output on the back of your A1/A1-MR speakers. **
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Are firmware updates or driver downloads needed for my Audioengine product?
No, there are no firmware updates or special drivers needed unless you own our A1-MR multi-room speakers or our B-Fi multi-room wireless streaming device. If a firmware update is released for the A1-MR or the B-Fi, you will be notified of the update the next time you open the Audioengine Control App. If an update is needed, simply click "update" on the DEVICES page next to the product that needs to have the firmware update applied. The app will handle the rest of the process from there! Standard plug-n-play drivers that are provided by your computer's OS are utilized when using the USB input on our A2+, HD3, and HD4 speaker models. And all of our Bluetooth speakers/products are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, and the A2DP profile for streaming stereo audio. This includes most smartphones, tablets, and computers. For computers that don't include Bluetooth support out of the box, you can simply add a USB Bluetooth adapter.
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My speakers sound distorted, what can I do?
Applicable to our A2+, HD3, HD4, A5+, A5+Wireless, and HD6 speakers.
Start with power cycling your speakers by turning them off and then back on. From there:
- Determine if the distortion is due to your source by disconnecting all source devices from the speakers.
- Please make sure all of your connector cables are in working order. Try different cables as well as a different source device.
- Please try using each input available (mini-jack, RCA, USB, as well as Bluetooth), one at a time, to see how the speakers react. If the distortion is unique to one speaker, when testing via RCA switch the RCA jacks (red to white and white to red) to see if the issue remains in the same channel.
- Make sure it is not a power issue by trying a power outlet that is on a different circuit.
If the issue persists, please click on the following link and then click on the dropdown to submit an email to our Support team: Support Page
When doing so, please copy and paste the above troubleshooting steps along with the results of each and include this information when contacting us.
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How do I connect my HD3/HD4 speakers to my Bluetooth device?
Applicable to our HD3 and HD4 speakers
Turn on the speakers using the power switch located on the rear panel. The speakers will automatically go into Bluetooth "pair mode" and the Pair button on the front panel should start flashing.
- On your source device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc), turn on Bluetooth and go to Bluetooth preferences.
- Select "Audioengine HD3 (or HD4)" to pair and connect. The Pair indicator on the front panel should be solid. Play your music and adjust the volume levels on the speakers and your device.
To add additional devices put the speakers back into pair mode by disconnecting them from your device or by pressing and holding the Pair button on the front panel until the pair indicator starts flashing. Our speakers can wirelessly connect to only one device at a time, however it will remember up to six different devices.
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How do I connect my Bluetooth-ready Audioengine speakers to my Bluetooth device?
Applicable to our A1, A2+Wireless, B2, A5+Wireless, and HD6 speaker models
Turn on the speakers using the power switch located on the rear panel. The speakers will automatically go into Bluetooth "pair mode" and the Pair button on the back panel should start flashing.
- On your source device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc), turn on Bluetooth and go to Bluetooth preferences.
- Select "Audioengine (your speaker model)" from the list of available devices to pair and connect. The Pair indicator on the back panel should now be solid. Play your music and adjust the volume levels on the speakers and your device.
To add additional devices put the speakers back into pair mode by disconnecting them from your device or by pressing and holding the Pair button until the pair indicator starts flashing. Our speakers can wirelessly connect to only one device at a time, however it will remember up to six different devices.
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My A1/A1-MR speakers sound distorted, what should I do?
If your A1 or A1-MR speakers sound distorted, are buzzing, or just don't sound quite right, we'd recommend the following troubleshooting steps: Start with power cycling your speakers by turning them off and then back on. From there:
- Determine if the distortion is due to your source by disconnecting all source devices from the speakers.
- Please make sure all of your connector cables are in working order. Try different cables as well as a different source device.
- Please try using the stereo mini input and Bluetooth (or WiFi in the case of the A1-MR), one at a time, to see how the speakers react.
- Make sure it is not a power issue by trying a power outlet that is on a different circuit.
If the issue persists, please click on the following link and then click on the dropdown to submit an email to our Support team: Support Page
When doing so, please copy and paste the above troubleshooting steps along with the results of each and include this information when contacting us.
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How do I connect a subwoofer to the A1 or A1-MR ?
You can use either a single LFE RCA cable or stereo white/red RCA cable. Connect FROM your powered speaker's 'Subwoofer' output TO your subwoofer's 'Left' RCA input or the subwoofer's LFE input. For stereo RCA cables, just use the left/white RCA cable, and leave the red RCA disconnected to prevent an accidental ground loop. ** Please note: a 3.5mm/stereo mini cable will not work with the 'Subwoofer' output on the back of your A1/A1-MR speakers. **
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Where's the speakers' EQ control?
There are no EQ controls on Audioengine speakers, but EQ can be controlled in software for your digital audio sources, and from preamp EQ hardware, legacy receivers, etc. for analog sources.
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How to connect speakers to a TV?
Our options for connecting speakers to the TV are likely more limited, depending on what kind of audio output options the TV has. Most older televisions have an analog audio output, and this can be connected to any of our powered speakers. However, most newer TVs have removed the analog output option and only provide optical or HDMI Arc outputs. Many also have Bluetooth. If you are OK using Bluetooth for the TV, any of our Bluetooth capable speakers would work. That said, depending on the implementation on the TV, there is the possibility of lag and you may have to manually connect each time you turn off the TV. For a wired connection, only our HD6 speakers have an optical input. These were designed to provide easier connectivity to a TV, and to be used as medium to large room speakers. For a wired connection from the TV to any other speakers we make, an external digital to analog converter (DAC) would be needed to convert the optical output to analog, and then that could be connected to our powered speakers. The drawback of using the optical output is that normally it is a fixed output and the TV remote will not control the volume. The volume would have to be controlled at the speakers or at the DAC if a separate one is being used.
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Low volume from my speakers?
It's important to note that your source device (whatever you are using to send audio TO your speakers) can impact the volume of the speakers as well. For instance, if you have them connected to a computer/laptop/tablet, you would need to make sure your device's system volume is raised. If it's only set to 25% or 50%, that will limit how loud the speakers can get. This is true when using either a wired connection or when connected via Bluetooth. If you are using the speakers with a turntable that has a built in pre-amp, then double check and make sure the switch is set to “line” instead of “phono.” If you do not have a phono pre-amp, you would need to pick one up to properly connect our speakers to the turntable.
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Common Audio File Formats
AAC
AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) refers to digital audio coding standard that represent audio files based on lossy audio compression. It was launched as successor of MP3 file format. AAC achieves better sound quality as compared to MP3 at the same bit rate. The format was adopted as default media format by YouTube, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple iTunes and several other platforms.
WMAA .WMA file is a Windows Media Audio file. WMA is an acronym for Windows Media Audio. The files that contain the .wma extension are audio files that are used mostly for music. The WMA file format is proprietary to Microsoft. WMA files are compressed, similar to MP3 files. A lossless version of WMA does exist (WMA-L), but most WMA files use a lossy compression system.
MP3
The MP3 format is a compression system for music. The goal of using MP3 is to compress a CD-quality song by a factor of 10 to 14 without noticeably affecting the CD-quality sound. With MP3, a 32-megabyte song on a CD compresses down to about 3 MB. This lets you download a song much more quickly, and store hundreds of songs on your computer's hard disk. MP3 files are commonly used to store audio tracks, podcasts, lectures, sermons, and audiobooks.
OGG
An OGG file is a compressed audio file that uses free, unpatented Ogg Vorbis audio compression. It is similar to an .MP3 file, but sounds better than an MP3 file of equal size, and may include song metadata, such as artist information and track data. OGG files are supported by many software music players and some portable music players.
Vorbis is the most popular and common type of .ogg file, but there are numerous others. In addition to the .ogg extension, you may also see .ogv, .oga, .ogx, .ogm, .spx, and .opus.
FLAC
A FLAC file is an audio file compressed in the Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) format, which is an open-source lossless audio compression format. It is similar to an .MP3 file, but is compressed without any loss in quality or loss of any original audio data.
ALAC
The ALAC file extension is short for Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). These files use M4A format because ALAC is a codec used for encoding audio data and not an audio file container format like an MPEG-4 file. These are audio files used for storing digital music in lossless format without losing any sound quality from the original audio data.
WAV
A WAV file is a raw audio format created by Microsoft and IBM. The format uses containers to store audio data, track numbers, sample rate, and bit rate. WAV files are uncompressed lossless audio and as such can take up quite a bit of space, coming in around 10 MB per minute with a maximum file size of 4 GB.
WAV files are generally going to be much larger than other popular audio file types, like MP3, due to the fact they are typically uncompressed (compression is supported, though). Because of this, they’re mainly used in the professional music recording industry to retain the maximum quality of audio.
AIFF
An AIFF file is an audio file saved in the Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF). It contains high-quality audio saved in an uncompressed, lossless format. AIFF files may also be saved as .AIF files or .AIFC files (if they are compressed).
Unlike .MP3 files, AIFF files are uncompressed. Because AIFF files' data is not compressed, AIFF files typically contain higher-quality audio than similar MP3 files. However, the files also take up more disk space since they contain more data.
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My volume knob has become loose/unresponsive - what should I do?
You may have a loose volume pot. This can happen when the nut that holds the volume pot in place becomes loose. This can be easily accessed and tightened without opening the speakers up. Try this: 1) Pull the plastic volume knob off the volume pot. Depending on how tight it's on, you might be able to pull it off with just your fingers. If not, you may need to cover the knob with a soft cloth and pull out with pliers.
2) Use a deep well 10mm socket (or socket driver) to tighten the nut around the volume pots shaft.
3) Press the plastic volume knob back over the volume pot's shaft, and retest.
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Why is Windows 10 is asking me for PIN when I try to pair my computer to your speakers/B1 via Bluetooth?
Although we do not require a PIN for pairing to any of our products via Bluetooth, there are instances in which Windows requests this info. Entering '0000' should resolve this issue when you are prompted to do so.
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Why do my speakers hum when connected to my turntable?
-Make sure your speakers are not sitting on the same surface as your turntable as this can cause distortion in the audio. -Check your tone arm to assure it is calibrated and balanced. -If your turntable has a grounding cable, make sure it's attached to a nearby metallic source like an external phono preamp/stereo receiver/etc. -If your turntable has a built-in bluetooth transmitter, make sure it is not both hardwired and bluetooth-connected to your Audioengine speaker system as this will cause a feedback loop. You can manually disconnect any bluetooth-connected source from your Audioengine speakers by holding down the bluetooth LED button for a few seconds till it starts blinking.
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What fuse do my A5+ or HD6 speakers use?
In countries such as the US, Canada, and Japan the fuse is a 110-120V AC power is a 5mm x 20mm 3.15 amp @ 250 - slow blow fuse. If you are outside those mentioned countries, please use a 220-240v is a 5mm x 20mm 1.6 amp @250 - slow blow fuse.
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Can I connect the powered speaker to the passive one wirelessly?
No. There is not a way to do this wirelessly. Our speakers require speaker wire to connect the left and right channels together.
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The included speaker wire doesn't look like it will fit. What gives?
Don't worry! It will fit. Some of our speakers include speaker wire that is terminated with "banana plugs". It's important for this connection to be very tight; so, the metal ends of the banana plugs make good contact against the inside of the 5-way binding post. It's for this reason that the Banana plugs we use on the included speaker wire utilize a spring style connection. The ends may appear too large to fit in the hole at the end of the 5-way binding post, but the plug will compress as you insert them. Some amount of force may be necessary to get the plug to go in, but know that this is normal, and won't damage the plug or the 5-way binding post. Click here to view a video demonstration
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Can I use Audioengine speakers with an existing Sonos setup?
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Can I connect Alexa to my wireless Audioengine speakers?
Absolutely! To do so:
- Open the Alexa App on your smartphone or tablet (Apple link | Google Play Link)
- Tap the “Devices” icon and select the Echo/Alexa device you want to connect to speakers
- Select “Bluetooth Devices”
- Select “Pair New Device”
- Find your Audioengine wireless speaker on the list of available Bluetooth devices, and select it
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Will I hear buzz from the speakers if I place my phone near them?
All Audioengine speakers are video and magnetically-shielded, however "GSM buzz" cannot be blocked by magnetic shielding. What actually causes this is your phone being in 2G or "EDGE" instead of 3G or 4G. For best results when using your phone as a music source, ensure that it's operating on 3G (or 4G).
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What could be causing the crackling/popping sound coming from my speakers?
It's tough to say what could cause a symptom like this because there are several possibilities.
A common cause is the proximity to things like wifi routers, halogen lamps, cordless phones, ect whose interference could cause a crackling sound. If you have an Audioengine product with analog volume pot like the original A5, A2 / A2+, HD3, or N22 - the crackling/popping could be the result of a dirty volume pot! To clean it, Try this - unplug the power cord and interconnects from your active speaker or N22 and turn the volume knob quickly from 0% to 100% 20-30 times. After that, plug it back in and give it a listen. If this shows any noticeable improvement, it can be repeated and should restore the set back to normal after a few cycles. If the issue persists, please let us know and we will be happy to help you out!
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The back of my powered speaker gets really hot! Is that normal?
Yes! Our amplifiers are all analog "class A/B", which run at higher temperatures than other amp designs. Because of this, they sound SO MUCH better! The active speaker's rear panel may get hot to the touch, but it's certainly within safety agency standards. If it's truly overheating, (which is extraordinarily rare) you will likely notice a metallic smell. Then, the speakers will likely auto power off. If this happens, please contact customer support right away.
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My order confirmation shows the same address for billing and shipping, but they should be different. What should I do?
Don't worry! No change is necessary! When an order is placed, it often will show the same address for both billing and shipping on our end. But again, don't worry. Since the payment went through PayPal, Bolt or Amazon Pay, the payment itself is the only part that must have the correct billing address to submit successfully. This means that you would have had to have entered the correct billing address at the time of the payment for the order to go through. As long as the shipping address is correct, we will get it to the right place.
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I'm using a turntable with my Audioengine speakers, but one speaker sounds very distorted. What can I do?
There are a few things that could cause this issue. You may need to adjust the counter balance weight on your turntable's tonearm. If there's too much or too little tracking weight, this can cause issues like distortion. It could also be bad for your records! You can also test your speakers with a different source. This would help you confirm whether the issue is with the speakers themselves or the turntable. If you find that the issue persists across different types of devices, be sure to reach out to our customer support team for assistance!
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Are Audioengine subwoofers magnetically shielded?
Yes! All of our speakers and subwoofers are directly video shielded. They also allow the user to place the speakers or subwoofer within a few inches of a video monitor. In addition, this shielding offers protection for hard-drive digital music players.
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Audio and video aren't in sync when using Bluetooth. This wasn't happening before. What happened?
Don't worry! Your Audioengine product is most likely not the problem. Audioengine Bluetooth products are designed to have very low latency (<30ms). It's important to know that your source device has an impact on latency as well. Issues with the sound being out of sync can sometimes happen when your source's software is not up-to-date; so, be sure to update your source's operating system (OS) if an update is available. Rebooting your source and speakers can help correct issues with sound delay as well.
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Can I use my Amazon gift card balance if I'm using AmazonPay?
No. Amazon will allow the use of any stored method of payment, but gift card balances can only be used on purchases made directly on Amazon.
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The LED indicator on my power supply is not on and solid. What does this mean?
If the LED indicator on your power supply is off, then you may simply need a replacement power supply. You can find replacement power supplies for the original A2s and N22 here.Also, you can find A2+ or HD3 replacement power supplies here.
However, please contact customer support if the LED indicator on your power supply is blinking on and off. This may indicate an issue with the speakers.
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What are the "silk dome" tweeters and woofers really made of?
Our silk dome tweeters and woofers are made of a synthetic silk that performs much better than real silk would. This also means that no animals are harmed in the making of our products!
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How do I connect bare speaker wire to my speakers?
1. Use your thumb and finger to unscrew the connectors. 2. Insert each speaker wire into the holes on the side of connectors. 3. Retighten the connectors with your fingers. 4. The bare portion of the wire should be secured firmly in each connector. Repeat the procedure to connect the other end of the speaker wire to the other speaker. Check to make sure none of the speaker wire strands have come in contact with a nearby connector. As the A2+ speakers have the power amplifiers built inside, do not connect the speaker terminals to the speaker outputs of a stereo receiver.
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Can I turn Bluetooth off so my neighbors can't connect to my speakers or B1?
It’s not possible to completely disable Bluetooth, but when in Pair or Discovery mode (when the button is flashing) Pair mode will automatically turn off after 5 minutes. Your speaker/B1 will be undiscoverable to unpaired devices but will remain visible to any device previously paired, so you can easily connect and disconnect from your phone, computer, or tablet. If you want to pair more devices, you can wake up Bluetooth again by pressing the Pair button on the speaker or B1, which will then start flashing to indicate it's ready to pair.
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Why do I hear my phone's notifications over Bluetooth?
Your Bluetooth connection works by projecting the sound from your phone. So, if your ringtone volume is on, that sound will come through Bluetooth too. This is a simple fix by changing the phone's ringtone settings to either vibrate or silent.
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I'm using a turntable with my Audioengine speakers, and it gets noisy when I turn the volume up. What gives?
This sometimes happens when the speakers and turntable share the same surface. The vibrations from the speakers playing feedback into the turntables stylus, causing unwanted noise. The best way to mitigate this would be to place the speakers on a different surface. If that's not an option, we'd recommend trying out some isolation stands. For larger speakers like A5+ and HD6, the ones made by Isoacoustics work well.
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Are Audioengine products compatible with Bluetooth 5.0?
Yes! We incorporate all the relevant functions and features from Bluetooth 5.0 that apply to our products! These features include; extended range, low latency (so that video and audio sync properly), as well as higher level aptX-HD, aptX, and AAC codecs (with the exception of our 512 portable speaker which supports SBC only). Keep in mind that the capability of the source is what controls the Bluetooth experience.
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Why don't my speakers have more bass?
If the speaker wire connections on one side are swapped, this can result in a sound that is "scooped" where the lower frequency sounds that are mostly equal between the left and right speakers are reaching you out of phase with one another. This can result in the speakers sounding like they are lacking in bass. To check for this, make sure that the speaker wires are connected to the same color 5-way binding post on each side.
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If I connect my turntable to Audioengine speakers, do I need a phono preamp? Or can I simply connect the turntable directly to the analog input?
All turntables require a phono preamp stage before connecting to Audioengine speakers. Many turntables have this built-in , while others do not and would require an external phono preamp. Check the turntable manufacturer’s website or user manual. Some turntables may even include Bluetooth, in which case you can pair and connect them to the speakers wirelessly!
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How much latency do Audioengine Bluetooth products have?
Though overall latency can be affected by some external factors (including things like signal strength, how well the source device's manufacturer has implemented it's Bluetooth, and even simply from being physically further away from the speakers) Audioengine Bluetooth products have very low latency when compared to most Bluetooth receivers, 30ms or less. Here are some tips you can use to minimize any latency issues you may run into with your Bluetooth setup: 1) Try restarting both your device as well as the speakers (by switching them off, and back on, with the power switch on the rear of the speakers). 2) Check to make sure your source device is running the most up to date version of software available. 3) Try disconnecting from and forgetting the your Bluetooth speaker or device through your source’s Bluetooth settings, and then re-pair to your Bluetooth speaker/device. 4) If you have multiple apps or windows open when the delay occurs, try closing all of the apps that are not currently in use. The more multitasking your system is having to do, the greater the potential delay in audio when using Bluetooth -- this would apply to both your smart phone and computer. 5) When using your iPhone, we've found that resetting your network settings can help improve the overall functionality of Bluetooth with your device -- including the latency.
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Do I need a separate receiver for Audioengine powered speakers?
Nope! Audioengine powered speakers have amplifiers built-in. This means you don't need any extra equipment, other than a source to play music on (smartphone, tablet, computer, CD player, turntable, etc). Just plug your source directly into the inputs on the rear panel of the left speaker with the included cables, or connect to them via Bluetooth, and voila! You're listening to music!
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Can Audioengine speakers be used outside?
Absolutely! It's tough to protect speakers and electronics from extreme changes in temperature and humidity. Due to that, we don't recommend the permanent installation of our speakers outdoors. It's fine though (encouraged even) to bring them outside with you all day, and our speakers are simple to set up and take down, making them perfect for this!
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Is it true that speaker placement really can make a difference in sound quality?
There are different theories, but rooms and tastes are different so it's tough to specify a "correct" placement. We suggest you experiment with different locations to see what works for you. As a general rule of thumb for the best sound stage balance, the speakers should be equidistant from side walls and a different distance from rear walls. Our front-ported speakers (such as the A2+, A2+ Wireless, HD3, and P4 speakers) do not need any rear panel clearance for better bass but recommend keeping them a few inches from the rear wall for adequate ventilation.
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Will my music have a delay if I’m watching a movie or music video?
Technically, yes. But thankfully, it won't really be noticeable! Our Bluetooth implementation only has a latency/delay of ~30ms (milliseconds). So for example, you can watch videos from apps like YouTube and stream the audio through your speakers without any noticeable lag. Your source does play a role in the latency response time though.
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I'm connected to the optical output of my TV but I'm not getting any sound. What can I do?
In your TV menu verify that "PCM STEREO" is selected and "DOLBY DIGITAL" is off.
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If I connect my Audioengine speakers to a computer, smartphone, tablet, or other music player, what volume level should I set on the player and speakers and what is the ideal overall volume level on the music source to get the cleanest distortion-free sound?
Every setup is different, so some experimentation will be necessary to find your preferred settings, but putting the volume knob around 11 or 12 o'clock is a good starting place if you plan on using your music source (smartphone, computer, TV, etc.) as the master volume control.
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Can I use a subwoofer with Audioengine powered speakers?
Even though Audioengine speakers have big and tight low end (which will easily fill a room and rival floor standing speakers many times their size), you can also connect an external sub if you wish. You can do so by connecting your Audioengine speakers to your sub's line-level input, or you can even add our W3 wireless adapter for a wireless subwoofer!
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Do Audioengine speakers come with speaker grills?
Our woofers are made of aramid fiber and the tweeter domes are silk. Both of these materials are very robust and can handle quite a bit, therefore we decided against grill covers for most of our speakers as they tend to negatively color the sound. The HD6 and HD3 speakers do come with magnetically attachable grills for customers to decide whether or not they would like to use them!
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If my speakers are in idle mode, why can I still hear a faint hum or hiss if I put my ear very close to the speaker?
Even though the final amp stage is shut down during sleep, the pre-amp stage is still powered up so a slight hiss is not uncommon. If you have an analog audio cable plugged in to the speakers but not into anything else, it's possible this could be picking up some noise as well.
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Do Audioengine speakers have an auto-sleep, idle, or auto-power-off function? Can I leave them on all the time?
Yes they do! They are equipped with a power-saving circuit that turns off the speaker's final stage amp. This idle mode activates right after you stop playing music. Due to this power-saving function, it's perfectly fine for the speakers to stay on all the time!
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Can I drill holes in my Audioengine speakers and mount them to a wall?
Due to the electronics, cabinet materials and finish, it's not a good idea to drill into your speakers, but you can use side clamping mounts as an alternative. Mounts that clamp from the front and back may obstruct the bass port.
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Are two separate stereo speakers better?
We are firm believers that two quality speakers will always sound better than one or more speakers together in a single cabinet, regardless of the amplifier or sound enhancing technology used. There are some decent one-piece speaker systems that simulate stereo and surround sound from a single source but most fall short as they can’t accurately duplicate a wide sound stage with imaging as complete and rich as Audioengine speakers.
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Some people want to upgrade the audio on their TV's but aren't necessarily interested in surround sound. Can I hook up Audioengine speakers to my TV instead of buying a surround sound system or soundbar?
Audioengine speakers can be easily connected to your TV set as long as there are analog outputs available. Any of our speakers will provide a greatly enhanced TV audio experience with a wider soundstage and better imaging than most sound bars.
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If I connect my Audioengine speakers to a computer, phone, or other music player, what is the ideal volume level on the speakers and music source to get the cleanest distortion-free sound?
Every setup is different but we generally recommend leaving your speaker volume at around 11 or 12 o'clock and then using your music source (phone, tablet, computer, TV, etc.) as the master volume control.
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What if my speakers or subwoofer have a hum or buzzing sound?
Hum or buzz in the speakers is usually caused by something external to the speakers which is coupling noise into the speaker system (either through the AC lines, cordless phone, wireless router, or directly from the source input). A common reason is that the entire system is set up such that a "ground loop" results. Basically, a ground loop occurs when the AC power grounds and the system signal grounds are not at the same electrical potential. Refer to our online Setup Guides for a list of things to try.
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If my speakers are in sleep or idle mode, why can I still hear a faint hum or hiss if I put my ear very close to the speaker?
Even though the final amp stage is shut down during sleep, the pre-amp stage is still powered up so a slight hiss is not uncommon. If you have an analog audio cable plugged in to the speakers but not into anything else, it's also possible this could be picking up some noise as well.
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How can such small speakers have such clean-sounding, deep, tight bass?
One of the reasons Audioengine active and passive speakers have such amazing bass in such a small package are the designs of the bass ports on each speaker. These aren’t just holes or slots in the cabinets, but specifically shaped openings with tubes designed with precise calculations. The result is incredible low end with minimal audible air turbulence. These are effectively mini-subs built into each speaker, allowing Audioengine speakers to be used with or without a separate subwoofer. It's also worth mentioning that we don’t use any enhancement circuits to add fake bass, so what you’ll hear is real bass- low and clean.
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Can I control Audioengine speakers with my TV remote control? What if my TV only has one audio output that cannot be controlled with the TV remote?
Although many TVs have only one L/R audio output, which typically defaults to fixed, this setting can be sometimes be changed via the on-screen menu so please check your manual to see which outputs are variable. If your TV has multiple audio outputs, the most commonly variable output would be the headphone output. If your TV doesn't have a variable output at all, no worries; for larger speakers like the A5+ and HD6 we include a remote control that can adjust the volume of the speakers directly for just such a purpose.
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Are two separate speakers really better than one boombox or soundbar?
We are firm believers that two quality speakers will always sound better than one or more speakers together in a single cabinet, regardless of the amplifier or sound enhancing technology used. There are some decent one-piece speaker systems that simulate stereo and surround sound from a single source, but most fall way short as they can’t accurately duplicate a wide sound stage with imaging as complete and rich as Audioengine speakers.
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Some people want to upgrade the audio on their TV's but aren't necessarily interested in surround sound. Can I hook up some Audioengine speakers to my TV instead of buying a surround sound system or soundbar?
Audioengine speakers can be easily connected to the audio output on your TV set. Any of our speakers will provide an easy setup and a greatly enhanced TV audio experience with a wider soundstage and better imaging than most sound bars!
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I would like to connect my speakers to my Panasonic DVD player or TV or even my Denon stereo. Is this possible?
Yes, absolutely. All your A/V gear with an RCA or mini-jack 1/8" connector (even a headphone jack) will work great with Audioengine powered speakers.
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How can I stream music from my computer to multiple Audioengine speakers or other stereo systems?
Check out our W3 Wireless Adapter set. These adapters allow you to stream wireless audio from any program/website/player to our speakers and subwoofer. Apple's AirPort Express, the SONOS Connect, and Google's Chromecast Audio are other options that can be added to Audioengine speakers. Where the W3 is a self-contained solution, these products instead rely on your existing home network to send music to multiple speakers at once.
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I have an Android phone that includes an IR transmitter. Can I use my phone to control the them?
Yes! We've been notified that several Android IR Remote Apps support Audioengine remote commands. So if you have a phone with an IR blaster, you can use the App to raise or lower the volume on your A5+/A5+ Wireless or HD6 speakers with your phone! Simply download one of the many IR Remote Apps on Google Play, and test them out.
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If I connect my Audioengine speakers to a computer, smartphone, or other music player, what volume level should I set on the player and speakers? What is the ideal overall volume level on the music source to get the cleanest distortion-free sound?
Every setup is different, so some experimentation will be necessary to find your prefered settings, but around 11 or 12 o'clock is a good starting place if you plan on using your music source (smartphone, computer, TV, etc.) as the master volume control.
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Can I have more than one source connected to the speakers? If I have 2 inputs plugged in at the same time, how do I switch between them?
Absolutely! Audioengine self-powered speakers include multiple analog inputs (in addition to digital inputs like USB, optical, or Bluetooth). These analog inputs are "open," or active, meaning there isn't any sort of switching built into the speakers; if both sources were playing while connected to the speakers, both would be audible. This makes it so you can leave 2 analog audio sources plugged in at the same time with no need to flip any switches!
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Is it OK to connect Audioengine active speakers to my stereo receiver or integrated amplifier?
Because Audioengine active speakers already have an amp built in, you never want to connect it to the amplifier output of a stereo amp or AV receiver that would typically connect with bare speaker wire or banana plugs. If you want to use an existing AV receiver as an input switcher and that system has preamp outputs (these would typically be RCA), you could connect these to the RCA inputs on your Audioengine powered speakers.
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The headphone jack on my computer is noisy but I want to connect my Audioengine speakers to my Mac. What do I do?
Some computer headphone outputs are noisy and have poor audio quality. If this is your computer, try streaming wirelessly to your A5+ Wireless. Or, check out our D1 or D3 wired DACs for 24-bit playback.
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Why do digital music files sound better with Audioengine speakers?
Audioengine speakers were specially designed and tuned to make MP3 and other digital music files sound great. We spent many months tuning each speaker and almost exclusively used various compresses and lossless files types encoded at different bitrates during this process. Even though we are big fans of digital music, your turntable or reel-to-reel tape player will sound equally great.
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Will Audioengine speakers work with a PC or Mac?
Absolutely! Use the computer's headphone output, soundcard, or DAC audio output from your Mac or PC directly into Audioengine speakers and you're good to go. PC, Mac, laptop or any computer.
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What makes Audioengine wireless Bluetooth speakers and receivers better than other Bluetooth systems?
Some of the features we feel make our products better are overall ease of setup, high-quality audio components and design, as well as high interference tolerance - all the good stuff that's important for a wireless product to be of any real use. Audioengine Bluetooth products also features a higher signal-to-noise ratio due to the inclusion of a 24-bit high-performance DAC and much better wireless range than most Bluetooth products - up to 100 FT in most cases.
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Can Audioengine speakers be placed on their sides?
Yes, and we recommend that you position each so the tweeters are facing outward.
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Will the sound be affected if I place the left (active) speaker on the right side and the right speaker on the left?
Swapping sides will not have any negative effect on the soundstage or quality/clarity of the speakers. This will simply give you the reverse of what the artist intended for you to hear.
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Can I increase the length or change the speaker wire between each speaker?
Sure. For the best audio performance we’ve included 6.5 feet of 16 gauge wire with each powered speaker system but any "stranded" speaker wire will work. The speaker binding posts on the back of each cabinet will accept bare stranded wire, however you can also use wires terminated with spade lugs, banana plugs, or pins.
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Is it true that speaker placement really can make a difference in sound quality?
There are different theories but rooms and tastes are different so it's tough to specify a correct placement. We suggest you experiment with different locations to see what works for you. As a general rule of thumb for the best sound stage balance, the speakers should be equidistant from side walls and a different distance from rear walls. Our rear-ported speakers (such as the A5+, HD6, and HDP6) pretty forgiving when it come to being placed near walls, but we do recommend keeping them at least a few inches from the rear wall for adequate ventilation.
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Do higher power output ratings for audio gear mean louder or better sounding speakers?
Not necessarily. Audioengine speakers and amplifiers are very efficient and designed together as a system so therefore we get more volume output than stereo receivers or amplifiers that might higher wattage or power numbers. Due to this tuning we achieve big sound outputs with a fraction of the power required by other systems.
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Can I take my Audioengine speakers to another country with a different voltage?
Yes, just switch the voltage selector on the rear panel to match the AC power for the country you are in before powering them on. We recommend changing the fuse when using a different voltage. For 220 volts, here's the value you would need: 5mm x 20mm - 1.6 amps @ 250 volts. The power cable is detachable on our powered speakers which makes it convenient to replace the AC plug with a different type if you don't want to use an adapter plug.
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Can I use a power inverter with Audioengine speakers?
Sure! You will need about 100-120 watts.
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What is the AC power cable type for Audioengine powered speakers?
We use non-polarized 2-Pin IEC 320-C7 cables. These are fairly standard cables, and you should be able to find them locally if needed. You can also find them in the Accessories section in our store.
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What is the difference between powered and active speakers?
There are a few notable differences but both designs function basically the same. “Active” and “powered” speakers refer to speakers with power amplifiers built into either one speaker or both. Audioengine speakers were designed with the power amps in the left speaker to make connections easier as they only require one power cord and all connections are on the same speaker.
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Why do I have to plug one speaker into the wall?
Audioengine powered speaker models have a built-in power amplifier in the left speaker so you won’t need a stereo receiver or other extra components for power.
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Connecting a Bluetooth turntable to an Audioengine Bluetooth device
Setting up your Bluetooth turntable with your Bluetooth-ready Audioengine speakers/components should be simple! First, you would also need to make sure your Audioengine Bluetooth device is on, in pair mode (LED light flashing), and near the turntable. Next, you would need to use the pairing button to send the turntable into pairing mode. Depending on the turntable, you will need to either press and release the turntable's pair button or press and hold it; for example, on the Audio Technica AT-LP60-BT you would need to hold the turntable's pairing button for about two seconds, until the light flashes different colors. Once the turntable is in pairing mode, it will search and connect to the nearest available Bluetooth device. Once the turntable if paired and connected to your Audioengine Bluetooth device, the pair light on the receiver should turn solid.
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Why is the Bluetooth LED orange instead of white?
If the Bluetooth LED is illuminated orange that means you are streaming in aptX HD which is a higher grade of Bluetooth signal.
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Where can I find the serial number?
Here's how to find the serial number of your Audioengine product: On powered speakers (such as the A5+, A2+ HD6, HD3, S8, and B2) you can find the serial number on the back of the powered speaker underneath the barcode.
- The P4s will have a white sticker located near the binding posts on the back of either speaker, which will have the serial number underneath the barcode.
- On products like the D1, B1, and D2, you can find the serial number on the bottom of the unit after "Serial Number".
- On the W3, the serial number can be found on the white sticker on the packaging on both the outer and inner box.
- The N22 serial number can be found on the silver sticker on the back of the amplifier.
With the exception of the D1, B1, D2, and both the DS1 and DS2 desktop stands, you can also find the serial number on the packaging on the white square sticker.
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Are your refurbished products covered by your warranty?
Yes! All of our refurbished products carry the same three-year warranty as our new products.
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Interference from my wireless modem?
If you're running into noise issues with nothing plugged into your speakers, it's possible this could be due to interference from a nearby wireless source, such as a modem or phone; typically this presents itself as a hum or buzz. One thing we'd recommend is turning off nearby components one by one to see how that affects things; this can help narrow down the culprit. If a particular component, like a nearby modem, is causing interference with the speakers, we'd recommend experimenting with placement of either the device or the speakers to see if moving things around alleviates the problem. If you continue to have problems, don't hesitate to open a support ticket at the main support page.
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Tell us more about the LINK cables offered on your website
We've partnered with a company called LINK and as a result, we now offer LINK brand cables on our webpage. LINK cables are high quality cables hand-assembled here in the States using quality materials. If you're wanting to upgrade your audio cables, LINK cables are definitely a solid choice!
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Would there be any difference in sound quality between mini-stereo (3.5mm) and RCA?
There shouldn't be. Both mini-stereo and RCA send out the same analog signal, just in a different way.
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Are there any plans to incorporate Airplay technology into Audioengine products?
At this time, we are actively collecting information to answer inquiries about Airplay 2 and Homekit. Please stay tuned for more info by signing up for our newsletter here.
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What's so great about TIDAL?
Here in the Audioengine offices, we've been using TIDAL and think it's a great service, especially for those who want to stream high quality audio. TIDAL tracks and albums are streamed at 1411 Kbps instead of 256-320 Kbps (used by Apple Music, Spotify and others). There’s more bits in the stream, so you hear details and ambient cues that are missing on lower bit services. Tidal is a true music lovers dream featuring over 35 million tracks and 75,000 high definition videos. You can even download as much music as your devices can handle and listen off-line.
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The headphone jack on my computer is noisy but I want to connect my Audioengine speakers to it. What do I do?
Some computer headphone outputs are noisy and have poor audio quality. If this is your computer, try our W3 wireless adapter (basically a wireless DAC with an analog output) or our D1 or D3 wired DACs for 24-bit playback.
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How can one of your external computer DACs improve my music?
An external DAC is essentially a very high end external sound card. Its components, and the implementation of those components, make it more capable than what might be built into a computer, not to mention the benefit of moving those sensitive components outside and away from the potentially noisy interior of your computer. All of this means that the signal your speakers receive will be clearer, with a lower noise-floor. Also, the signal will have a more pronounced dynamic range over your internal sound card.
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How do I find out more information about DACs and computer audio?
There are some excellent online computer audio forums. A quick search will turn up everything you need to know about the best hardware and software. Computer audio is quickly evolving; however, so we suggest to check and make sure the information you find is up to date.
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What's the difference between your factory refurbished products and new stock?
Audioengine Factory Refurbished Products are customer returns or new items with slight cosmetic blemishes that undergo Audioengine’s stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. Each Refurbished Product:
- is fully tested.
- is refurbished with replacement parts for any defects identified in testing.
- is put through a thorough cleaning process and inspection.
- is repackaged (including appropriate manuals, cables, etc.).
- is placed into a Final QA inspection prior to being added to sellable refurbished stock.
Refurbishment procedures follow the same basic technical guidelines as Audioengine’s Finished Goods testing procedures. We test and certify all Audioengine refurbished products and include our standard 3-year warranty and are eligible for our 30 Day Audition Period.
Please note that promotional discount codes do not apply to refurbished products.
