One of the Best Desktop Speaker Systems Is Now Extra Affordable

But act fast. The sale ends today.

Pair of wooden bookshelf speakers with black drivers and tweeters against an orange background.

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Published March 31, 2026

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Audioengine’s “Big Spring Sale” is coming to an end. And with that, it’s your last chance (at least for some time) to get a really good deal on some of the brand’s best affordable desktop speakers.

Specifically, the Audioengine HD3 Next Gen.

Wooden Audioengine speaker with black grille and silver control panel on a rustic wooden table next to a laptop and smartphone. — The Audioengine HD3 Next Gen is a new powered speaker system. It was just released last summer.

The Audioengine HD3 Next Gen is a pair of compact powered speakers that are optimized for desktop use. Released last summer, in August 2025, they are the successors to the brand’s HD3, which was first introduced in 2016.

Black bookshelf speaker with silver control knob and connected brown and silver headphones on a wooden desk with a laptop in the background. — The Audioengine HD3 Next Gen comes with a built-in headphone amplifier and removable grilles.

Next Gen desktop speakers

These “Next Gen” speakers look quite similar to their predecessors, but have been updated with a new USB-C connection (as well as 3.5mm), so they are easier to connect to modern desktops and laptops.

More importantly, they have a new 24-bit DAC (a big upgrade from the previous 16-bit DAC), and promise to sound significantly better than the original HD3 system.

Both support updated Bluetooth connectivity, too, so you can stream music to them if you don’t want to play computer audio.

(Note: Because the HD3 Next Gen and the A2+ Next Gen are so similar, Audioengine has started referring to the former as the A2-HD.)

Pair of white Audioengine speakers with black drivers and silver control panel on an orange surface. — The Audioengine HD3 Next Gen comes in three colors: white, black or walnut.

Compared to the rest of the company’s powered speaker systems, the HD3 Next Gen is basically identical to the A2+ Next Gen. Both systems are the same size, feature the same driver array and the same 60-watt amplification.

The difference is that the HD3 Next Gen comes in more premium finishes (including an option with a real wood veneer), features detachable speaker grilles, and includes a dedicated headphone amplifier. That’s right, you can plug in your wired headphones for a more private listening session.

Black desktop speaker with fabric front and silver control knobs connected to a laptop on a wooden desk. — Audioengine’s spring sale ends today.

Sale ends today

These differences make the HD3 Next Gen slightly more expensive. The system typically costs $359, while the A2+ Next Gen costs $279.

But thanks to the current sale, Audioengine’s HD3 Next Gen is much closer in price. You can pick up a pair for $299. All three color options (black, white, walnut) are available.

The sale ends after today.

Audioengine HD3 Next Gen (2025)

$299 at Audioengine

$359 (17% off)
$299 at Amazon

$359 (17% off)

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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