Audio-Technica AT-SP3X Active compact speakers

Was using Klipsch "The Sevens" powered Bluetooth speakers, which have great sound but turn out to be extremely unreliable. First pair arrived DOA - second pair failed after only two years. I thought these Audio-Technica AT-SP3X might fill the gap whilst waiting for the Klipsch to be repaired or replaced. With cheap bookshelf speakers, the question always is: will they turn out to be cheap, thin, tinny-sounding computer speakers? VERY FAR FROM IT! Immediately I got them fired up, just - wow!! I listen to jazz and classical and they're perfectly loud enough with the volume knob not half way around its travel. At full volume, they're way too loud for general listening. They have a subtle, transparent, fluid, spacious, captivating sound - simply a pleasure to listen to. I'm completely shocked! So great to have beautiful music again! I'm running them on speaker stands about 40 cm from the walls in a 2.5 meter equilateral triangle from the listening position. The sound stage is more dimensional with the speakers toed outwards slightly. Sources are via phono inputs from a CD player and Bluetooth from a laptop. Once Bluetooth is paired (quick and fuss-free), just click the ON/OFF button to toggle the inputs through wired and Bluetooth (two sources). (Holding the button down for 3 secs puts the speakers into standby.) A little LED on the button changes from green for wired input, blue for Bluetooth (with a little boop-boop sound confirming connection) and red for standby. They have the speaker pair's serial number on the back of each unit and the manufacturing date on the bottom. The only downsides I can see are just slightly less powerful bass than larger speakers, the lack of a remote control, meaning you have to walk over to the speaker to adjust volume or change input, and Bluetooth running only the most basic SBC codec (although in fact sounding absolutely fine). At this price, Audio-Technica have pared them down to the essentials and made the right choices. The supplied inter-speaker connecting cable is only 2 meters long so I'm using an old 4.5 meters long Atlas Hyper 1.5 cable to reach down to the floor and between the speaker stands. (Banana plugs don't fit the AT-SP3X's cable clamps. You have to improvise some way of bridging the gaps.) My mind is blown, frankly. Totally recommended.

These sound great for small bookshelf speakers. Really impressive sound quality and plenty of bass response. I bought them for my wife to match her record player she wanted for Christmas. I had to set it all up for her and both Bluetooth and the rca connection work well. Definitely glad I went with the matching speakers and not a different brand. They came with a few international plug adapters if anyone travels or is outside the USA you should be able to use these anywhere you are.

Très bien

Die Boxen haben mich in jeder Hinsicht überzeugt und ich kann sie guten Gewissens weiterempfehlen.

excellent