US speaker maker Audioengine has released a desktop version of its integrated-amplifier A5 shelf speaker set. The A2 set incorporate materials like kevlar and silk to produce a sound that the company claimed belied the speakers' low cost.

Audioengine's A2: desktops for audiophiles?

The glossy 15 x 10 x 13.1cm speakers incorporate a kevlar-cone 6.9cm woofer and a silk-dome 2cm tweeter into a 1.8cm-thick fibreboard casing that makes for a more solid unit that the typical plastic-cased desktop speaker.

The left-hand unit is home to the class AB linear amp, which boosts the signal from the set's gold-plated RCA ports and 3.5mm jack socket.

Integrated linear amp

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The amp provides 60W peak power, Audioengine said: 30W peak and 15W RMS per channel.

The speakers are shielded so they can be placed either side of a TV or monitor without distorting the picture.

Like the A5s - reviewed here - the A2s are available in a choice of white or black, both sets to two speakers retailing for $199 (£97/€139), a price that includes speaker and input cables. The speakers come with a three-year warranty. They're available from Audioengine's online store.