THE WINNER Audioengine A2+

Compact and well built, yet punch way above their weight

While Q Acoustics’ M20 HD has the best connectivity and arguably the best sound, it is significantly more expensive than anything else on test and also a little large for a desktop speaker system. The Pioneer DJ DM-50D also sounds excellent but lacks anything by way of computer integration. Audioengine’s A2+ is compact and well-built yet punches way above its weight. Sitting comfortably on even a smaller desk, it supports USB streaming as well as aptX Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio input, and has an RCA input for other devices. There’s no headphone socket but the balance of inputs and outputs is good, and sonic performance excellent with a range of sources.

The Logitech and Klipsch systems are good for gamers, though less focused with movie and music playback. Creative’s Pebble V3 is very affordable with great connectivity – USB-C, aux in and Bluetooth – though sonically it can’t compete with the larger models on test. For a balance of price, connectivity and performance, Audioengine’s A2+ hits the sweet spot.