Audioengine HD3 Bluetooth Speakers Review

 

Audioengine HD3 Pros&Cons:

AudioEngine HD3 Bluetooth Speaker Unboxing Video

Audioengine HD3 Specs:

• Power output: 60W peak
• Driver size: 2.75” Kevlar woofer, 3/4” silk dome tweeter
• Frequency response: 65 Hz~22 kHz +/- 2.0dB
• SNR: 95 dB (A-weighted)
• THD+N: <0.05%
• Crosstalk: <50dB

Read: Marshall Kilburn Bluetooth Speakers Review

Packaging

The Audioengine HD3 features some pretty standard packaging. The box is printed in full colour, and on the inside the speakers are protected with top and bottom foam layers. Each speaker, as well as the power cables have their own protective soft material pouches for storage/transportation.

What’s in the box?

• Audioengine HD3
• Power cable
• USB-to-MicroUSB cable
• 3.5mm auxiliary cable
• Stereo interconnect cables
• Signal extender aerial

  

Read: Audioengine A2+ Powered Desktop Speakers Review

Design:

There’s no denying it, Audioengine HD3 is quite an attractive package, especially with the wood finishes. The brushed aluminium strips also offer a touch of contrast, which works well aesthetically. AudioEngine have also included a number of connection options with the HD3. There is a set of RCA inputs, as well as outputs (to be used for an external subwoofer), separate 3.5mm input and outputs, as well as USB in. This means that Audioengine HD3 has a built-in DAC, which means you could have a very tidy desktop setup without the need for a dedicated external DAC or AMP. A big bonus here though is the inclusion of Bluetooth, as well as Apt-X. This means that you don’t need a separate wireless system to listen to, from your phone for example. Instead, it’ll play from your phone when it’s connected via Bluetooth, or from your computer. Quite nifty!

There’s also 1/4” threading at the bottom of each speaker, allowing you to place them on some speaker stands.

Read: Oppo Sonica Wireless Speakers Review

Sound

The HD3 offers a surprisingly big and refined sound for such a small package. It covers the entire spectrum above 65Hz rather well, but don’t expect any sort of deep bass with such small woofers. These weren’t intended to sound like your usual run-of-the-mill consumer speakers with big, bloated bass. Instead, AudioEngine have spent time refining the sound, giving you a relatively balanced sound signature. They certainly won’t be replacing proper studio monitors, though, but Audioengine HD3 also doesn’t seem to “miss” any of the sounds apart from the deeper bass areas). Instruments are rather well defined and spaced, albeit with slightly veiled vocals. Sibilance is well controlled too, so you could easily end up listening to these for a couple of hours on end without any fatigue.

Audioengine HD3 certainly prefers a cable connection for the audio. Over Bluetooth, the sound quality is perfectly acceptable, but there’s a noticeable increase in quality when utilising the line-in connection. The sound stage opens up a bit, and the overall sound is definitely even more refined.

 

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