Tech
After a Long Frozen Winter of Gray, Audioengine’s Limoncello Yellow Is the First Sign of Spring for 2026
After a winter that still refuses to end with record-breaking cold, snow stacked on top of more snow, and the uncomfortable realization that even escaping to the Florida Keys in late-January didn’t feel like enough distance, Audioengine has decided to change the mood. The company just announced its 2026 Color of the Year: Limoncello Yellow, a limited-edition high-gloss finish rolled out across a complete, coordinated listening system created with Crosley.
Call it seasonal defiance. After an industry-wide 2025 where color quietly became the most obvious form of innovation, Audioengine is leaning hard into the idea that design matters when your gear lives in the open and not buried in a rack.
Instead of slapping a fresh coat of paint on one product and calling it a launch, Audioengine went all in. Limoncello Yellow spans the A2+ Home Music System, S6 Subwoofer, DS1M speaker stands, and the Crosley C6 turntable, all finished to match. The result looks intentional rather than improvised; bright without being gimmicky, and perfectly timed for anyone who has seen enough gray skies to last a lifetime. Spring can’t get here fast enough.
And while we’re at it, would it be too much to ask for someone to pass the Limoncello? Not the sad, sugary stuff they sell at the Venice airport, but the real kind that actually takes the edge off while you’re staring across a stone courtyard at Nicole Grimaudo and briefly forgetting that winter still has you in a headlock.
If Audioengine can’t fix the weather, at least they can fix the mood. And honestly, that’s progress.
Each Audioengine product in the collection uses real wood cabinets finished through a 13-step, piano-grade painting process. That means sealing, layered color application, curing, hand polishing, and final inspection done the slow way, because shortcuts show. The same high-gloss finish is applied across the A2+ Home Music System, S6 Subwoofer, and DS1M speaker stands, so the color actually matches instead of playing “close enough” under different lighting.
The Back Story
When Audioengine first introduced the A2 Powered Speaker System, it was conceived as a true desktop audio solution; compact enough to sit comfortably beside a computer monitor, measuring only slightly taller than a modern iPhone, yet capable of delivering sound that felt far larger than its footprint suggested.
Back in 2007, that idea wasn’t obvious or common. Dedicated desktop speaker systems barely existed, and most compact speakers were designed to be accessories for larger hi-fi rigs, not standalone solutions. If you wanted better sound at a desk, you usually gave up space, added boxes, or both. The A2 flipped that logic, proving that a small, self-contained system could be practical, intentional, and good enough to live on a desktop without apology.
The goal of Audioengine was to design a desktop audio speaker solution that would provide more than what was expected. As a result of their efforts, the A2 and A2+ have enjoyed the success that inspired Audioengine to provide additional high-performance compact speaker systems such as the A5+, HD3, HD4, HD5, HD6, A1-MR, and more.
Audioengine A2+ Home Music System
The Audioengine A2+ Home Music System ($279 at Amazon) is a compact, powered speaker system designed for desks, shelves, and smaller rooms where space is tight but expectations aren’t. Each speaker delivers 20 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms, with 30 watts peak, for a total of 60 watts peak output. That’s more than enough for nearfield listening, apartments, or office setups without pretending it’s trying to replace a full-size system.
Connectivity is straightforward and flexible. Bluetooth 5.3 is on board with support for aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, standard aptX, AAC, and SBC, so wireless playback works well whether you’re on Android, iOS, or a laptop. Wireless range stretches to about 100 feet (30 meters) under good conditions, which is genuinely useful unless you’re trying to stream through walls. For wired sources, you get USB-C digital audio supporting up to 24-bit/96kHz, plus RCA and 3.5mm analog inputs, making it easy to connect computers, streamers, turntables with built-in phono stages, or just about anything else with an output.
Digital conversion is handled by a PCM5100A DAC, chosen for reliability and clean performance. Noise and distortion stay well under control, with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 95 dB and THD+N below 0.05 percent at all power levels. Frequency response runs from 65 Hz to 22 kHz, which is realistic for a speaker this size and pairs naturally with a subwoofer like Audioengine’s S6 if you want more low-end weight.
Driver duties are handled by 2.75-inch aramid fiber woofers and 0.75-inch silk dome tweeters with neodymium magnets, tuned for clarity and balance rather than artificial hype. Protection circuits cover output current, thermal limits, and power on or off transients, so the system behaves itself even when pushed.
Physically, each speaker measures 6 x 4 x 5.25 inches (H x W x D), which explains why the A2+ works so well on desks without turning into visual clutter. In the Limoncello Yellow edition, those real wood cabinets go through Audioengine’s 13-step, piano-grade finishing process, resulting in a deep, high-gloss surface that actually holds up over time.
Audioengine S6 Compact Subwoofer
The Audioengine S6 Compact Subwoofer ($299 at Amazon) is designed for small spaces and compact systems, and yes—it actually works on a desk. Measuring 10 x 8.7 x 10 inches and weighing just over 15 pounds, it fits under or beside a desk without getting in the way, something we’ve done ourselves without regret.
A front-firing 6-inch driver in a sealed cabinet is powered by a Class D amplifier rated at 140 watts RMS (210 watts peak), delivering controlled bass down to 33 Hz. Adjustable volume, crossover (40-130 Hz), and phase (0-180 degrees) controls make it easy to integrate with small powered speakers or compact systems from Audioengine and other brands.
Connectivity is straightforward with RCA/LFE and 3.5 mm inputs, and while the S6 isn’t wireless by default, it can be made wireless using Audioengine’s W3 transmitter/receiver kit ($149). Power consumption drops below 1 watt at idle thanks to auto-sensing standby, and the 15 mm MDF cabinet keeps things solid without adding bulk. It’s a practical subwoofer for desks, apartments, and small rooms where space matters as much as sound.
Crosley C6 Turntable
The Crosley C6 Turntable is a manual, two-speed record player built around a straightforward analog design. It uses an audio-grade MDF plinth paired with a heavy steel platter to provide a stable platform for vinyl playback. A belt-driven, low-vibration motor sits beneath the platter and supports 33-1/3 and 45 RPM records, keeping operation simple and consistent without automation getting in the way.
Setup is hands-on but not complicated. The tonearm features an adjustable counterweight and anti-skate, and the table comes with a pre-mounted Audio-Technica cartridge, so you’re not starting from scratch. Connectivity is flexible, with a built-in, switchable phono preamp for direct connection to powered speakers or integrated amplifiers, along with RCA outputs for systems that already have a phono stage. Bluetooth is also built in for wireless playback when convenience matters more than cabling.
The C6 isn’t trying to be clever or overdesigned. It’s a clean, manual turntable that fits neatly into compact systems, especially paired with powered speakers, and does its job without demanding constant attention. In the Limoncello Yellow finish, it adds visual cohesion to the setup while keeping the focus where it belongs—on playing records.
The Bottom Line
What you’re buying here is a cohesive compact system that handles both analog and digital sources without setup issues. The Audioengine A2+ speakers are a time-tested design that many audiophiles and more than a few hi-fi editors still rely on for desktops and secondary systems because they’re consistent, balanced, and easy to live with. They’re only “underrated” by people who haven’t lived with them.
This setup is for listeners who want vinyl, streaming, and computer audio in one small footprint for desks, offices, apartments, or second systems where space matters but sound still counts. Add the S6 for low-end support and the Crosley C6 for analog playback, and you get a system that covers real-world listening needs without excess, complexity, or pretending to be a full-scale hi-fi rig.