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Audioengine N22 80W Mini Power Desktop Laptop Home Audio Amplifier - Analog Class AB Stereo Amplifier for Home Loudspeakers | Black

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Availability: Only 8 left in stock, order soon!
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Arrives Tuesday, Nov 26
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Style: Original


Features

  • VERSATILE: Designed for your desktop and smaller spaces, N22 is a compact, analog, and USB stereo power amplifier and high-quality headphone amp. Connect passive speakers and a subwoofer or your favorite headphones and your computer, turntable, DAC, or music streamer for a mini Hi-Fi music system.
  • YOUR MUSIC IS OUR PASSION: Powerful, but compact stereo amp in a hand-finished wood enclosure, Premium headphone amplifier, Two audio inputs, Subwoofer output, USB power port, and High-quality speaker terminals for solid connections to any passive bookshelf or desktop speakers.
  • IMPRESSIVE SPECS: Nominal Impedance 100 Ohms, Sensitivity 88dB (2.83v@1m), Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz (+/-1.5dB). Power Output 22W (40W peak per channel). Headphone enthusiasts will appreciate the high-performance, low-noise OPA2134-based amplifier, which was designed to drive a wide range of headphones.
  • WHATS IN THE BOX: Includes N22 analog stereo power amplifier with integrated stand, external power supply with detachable power cord, mini-jack and RCA audio cables, and 16AWG speaker wire.
  • WHY AUDIOENGINE: Stellar US-based customer support and 3-year product coverage. Based in Austin TX, Audioengine has been changing the way people listen to music since 2005. Our passion is creating products that sound great, are easy to use and inspire people to listen every day.

Product Dimensions: 8.66 x 3.15 x 1.18 inches


Item Weight: 3.52 pounds


Manufacturer: Audioengine


Country of Origin: China


Item model number: Audioengine N22


Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Date First Available: October 28, 2010


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Tuesday, Nov 26

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • N22 (version I) - a budget, gorgeously amp that brings you into the world of the Audiophile
Style: Original
Before I begin, do note that this review is on the earlier version of the N22. Audio Engine has recently released (finally) their Gen 2 version which "ups" the power output and adds blue tooth - plus some miscellaneous cosmetic improvements. As a matter of background information, I held off purchasing the N22 for a long time - for a number of reasons. The main reason being is that at the time of this initial writing, I already had a total of 8 other amplifiers (two Class AB and 6 Class D models). All of these are being used on a desktop, near-field arrangement. From time to time, for some odd reason, I kept coming across the N22 - whether on Amazon or on other sites. After all, the N22 has been around for well over 10-12 years now. My attraction to the N22 was its desktop design (small size plus it stands vertically). Since it is a Class AB amp, this design typically sounds warmer and fuller than many of the Chinese made class D models that you see permeating a variety of sites - unless you do some op-amp upgrades. So I finally decided to purchase the N22 and when it arrived, I was impressed right off the bat to see the packaging - a real work of art. Everything looks to be made of metal (I don't know where the wood is that reviewers keep talking about, unless the wood is the actual enclosure - who knows). All the accessories are an added bonus, but I made sure to use only upgraded World's Best (WBC) RCA cables, along with Blue Jeans 10-gauge audiophile level speaker cables and banana connectors. These were then connected to the KEF Q150 and Wharfedale D320 bookshelf speakers (switching between them to test the audio). For the purposes of this review, I also fed the N22 with a variety of DAC and Head Amp units - both Tube and transistor units from Schiit Audio, FX-Audio, Nobsound, xDuoo, iFi, Topping, and JDS Labs. What caught my ear right away was that upon immediately turning on the N22, it had a full and warmish sound signature. Usually, with many amps on the market, you'd have to leave them on for 12 - 48 hours (depending on model) before the sound begins to become warmer. Not so with the N22 - it was immediate. Of course, it is a class AB model so that explains some of those results. I should add that the N22 appears a bit warmer than the two class AB amplifiers that I currently own - now go figure? As an aside, this would be an excellent amp to pair with components that have a bright sound signature. Now let's talk sound qualities and overally impressions: 1. Overall sound signature/tonality: Overly warm, especially in the bass regions. Actually sounds warmer than several of the tube amps I have - now go figure? For some, this warm tonality may be too warm and I would tend to agree. However, this is an amp that you can listen to for a long, long time without getting listening fatigue. 2. Sound-Staging, Air, and Ambiance: All I can say is "exemplary" at this price-point. The sound is wide open and there is air and separation around the instruments that I previously didn't notice with some of my other amps (mostly the class D models). Instrumental placement was spot-on with sound-staging that extended beyond the left, right, and on top of the speakers I was using (both KEF and Wharfedale). With this amp, you seemingly can look right through to the performance at hand. I tend to listen to classical music and jazz only. It's as if an audio veil has been lifted and one more obstacle was removed between you and the performance at hand - uncanny really for a $200 small unit like this. Now do be aware, that the quality of the ancillary components and other accessories being used will contribute to the audio experience of the N22. Use cheap entry level cables, or less than stellar ancillary components and your sound may suffer a bit. Likewise, increase the quality of everything else in the music chain, and it winds up having a synergistic effect on the audio qualities (read "improvement" here) on the N22. 3. Bass: Here again, the performance of bass instruments is unique in that there is separation among bass instruments, and that proverbial air around the bass instruments is exemplary for such an inexpensive and small amplifier. On the bottom end, there is plenty of wallop when needed. Bass is well-defined, a bit warm, and dynamic when called upon. So you won't be lacking in the bass department. However, again - I must stress that this amp leans unusually to the warm side of things, especially in the bass department. This warmth doesn't mean the bass is mushy - rather, it is tight where it needs to be, but the overall tonality will be even warmer than what you might get with various tube amps. 4. Mids and highs: As I mentioned, I tend to listen to classical (mainly large orchestral stuff), along with jazz (prefer big band jazz). The highs among many of the classical music instruments were reproduced with a delicious silky quality, along with warm textures. Strings were silky smooth and warm - not edgy or grainy. It's not coloration, but again - it's like a veil had been lifted - truly musical. Brass instruments had that requisite bite, yet weren't harsh nor grating. Just listen to the brass chorale in Mahler's Symphony #2, and you'll be awe-struck to be sure, or Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man. Now do be aware that in some recordings/performances, instruments such as cymbals, may come off a bit rolled off in the upper registers (that shimmering sparkle lacking) due to the warmth that this amp projects. 5. Dynamic Range capabilities: What I found exemplary with the N22 is that not only does it have a full, warm bodied sound signature, but it is also very dynamic. Dynamic range comes through superbly and things don't feel compressed (unless the music you are listening to has been compressed in the recording). Dynamics can be quite satisfying, and the musical clarity holds up, especially during full crescendos of an orchestra. Now do use some common sense here. Unless you are listening to speakers that have above a 90 db efficiency rating (like most of the Klipsch speakers), the N22 is not the amp to use in a large room with huge floor-standing speakers - let's be realistic here. But it is a superb amplifier for smaller settings such as desktop environments, bedrooms, etc. So how can this be? I'm an audiophile - have been one for over 55 years - but my audiophile endeavors are now confined to a desktop arrangement. Everything I listened to with the N22 was confined to a desktop scenario with higher end cables, great gear and excellent speaker cables. I came away gob-smacked, marveling at the sound qualities of the N22 - and for a $200 compact amp that has been around for a long while? You get many qualities of great tube amps with the N22 - keep that in mind. Well, how about some negatives you may ask? Well, there is one - and it's minor - however, it can become annoying. And that involves the volume knob. There are virtually no volume level indicators either on the knob, or around the knob on the amp body, and this can get frustrating as you try to determine where to set your volume. The body of the amp is all black, and the volume knob is silver/gray. The instruction manual suggests keeping the volume knob at around 3 o'clock position and then just control your volume with your input device. Well, "no-sh_t" Sherlock - how can you determine what the 3 PM indicator is without any markings whatsoever? You can't! So if there is one recommendation that I'd like to make, it would be to add a notch on the volume knob - either a red or black mark, so you know where you're at volume-wise. The knob scenario can easily be remedied as both Amazon and eBay have tons of different style audio volume knobs for sale - and all different colors. I purchased several packs of 2 (silver, red, and black) that had the indicator lines on them from Amazon. I just changed out the volume knob on my N22, now all is fine. Also, that grainy feel that some talked about in their personal reviews when turning the volume knob, is NOT present with my N22 - it was all smooth turning. If you do have a grainy feel with the N22 you are using, just gently pull out on the knob slightly to get the end (facing the amp) away slightly from rubbing metal on metal. So color me impressed. Now I realize that all reviews are subjective, and no two folks will hear things the same way. Keep in mind that depending on all the other equipment you are using, along with the quality of your interconnect cables, your mileage may vary. My evaluation/review was done as a result of having the N22 on a desktop environment. I just enjoyed sitting there with my eyes closed, imagining I was at a live performance and that is perhaps, the finest compliment one can advance with regard to audio components. EDIT #1 - 31 March 2023. Alright, it's been quite some time now and I felt I had to chime in after having used this amp for almost a year, along with comparing it with a wide variety of other class AB and Class D amplifiers. The one variable that stuck out from the moment I purchased the N22 was it's rendering of an overall warmth in the sound signature. Of course, initially this becomes very pleasant - after all, you won't experience high frequency distortion/shrills (unless it's present in the recording), and it reminds me more of a tube amplifier. I'm still listening to the N22 through my KEF Q150's and Wharfedale D320 bookshelf speakers, and to my ears - on a desktop, near-field arrangement and adding the Schiit components, the sound signature is just right - very pleasing, a bit of warmth, plenty of definition, and powerful transients. In the end - as of this first edit - I've now tried 22 different compact amplifiers - both class D and class AB, and all I can say is that the N22 shines compared to many of them. Granted, you are not going to use this lower powered amplifier with huge speakers in a large room (which would be unrealistic). But as a smaller room amplifier, or one to be used on a desk-top near-field scenario, this delightful audio component punches, far, far above its weight. Need I say more! FINAL EDIT/ADDITION - 11 August 2023 Alright - those of you who've taken the time to read my review/comments about this remarkable N22 are probably sick of seeing additions to my earlier remarks. But sorry - I just can't help it with this amplifier. After 2-3 years of trying out and carefully listening to countless Chi-Fi (and US) branded Class D amps (some of which, admittedly, sound good to halfway good), every time I come back to the N22, I'm just stunned at how superior this Audio Engine design really is. The sound differences between this inexpensively priced and gorgeously designed N22 from the myriad of class D designs on the market, cannot be more pronounced. Coming back to the N22 is like a breath of fresh air - the warmth, the relaxing (and dynamic when called upon) qualities, just make you sigh with relief. I recently completed reviews on two highly anticipated US branded class D amps - the Rogersound Labs (RSL) ia255.1 (price: $110), and the Dayton Audio DTA-100ST (price: $139) - both designed in the US, but produced in China. They sound halfway decent, offering improved depth and sound-staging capabilities, however, both still exhibited that bright and thin sound that budget priced class D amps tend to exhibit. Returning to the Audio Engine N22 caused me to breathe a sigh of relief. There's no other way to explain this. Folks - if you haven't made up your minds yet, getting the N22 is a no-brainer, unless of course, you want to fill a large room with floor standing speakers, and want to blast them. For everything else, this N22 should do just fine! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2022 by Bernd W. Herrmann

  • Class AB vs Class A Tube
Style: Original
Budget audio quality has dramatically risen in recent years. The Class D amplifier, Chinese made DACs and headphone amps opened up the world of high quality audio playback to a new generation who had once thought listening to a cell phone speaker at high volume and car audio sub-bass so powerful it peels the facades off buildings, rattles windows and trunk lids was the best. As we have grown use to inexpensive audio devices with a level of fidelity many were unaccustomed to, so too has the interest in older technologies. Vinyl, tube amps, Class A and Class AB amps are making a come back using venerable circuits. Class D has a reputation for being analytic and brittle, fatiguing for long days of work from home near field listening. Headphone use is discouraged and can damage hearing listening at even comfortable levels, not to mention the discomfort of long hours with a headset on. I prefer near field listening at low levels, so the demands on budget gear in my office is great. The Audioengine N22 caught my eye as I was looking for a solid state, non-digital alternative to my Nobsound 6p1 tube amp, which I very much enjoy. I became very familiar with the performance of this amp over the past two years of near continuous listening 10-12 hours a day from November to late May. Starting another winter season I wanted to mix things up and try something different and I didn't want to go class D. I realized the major difference between Class D and AB after trying to "upgrade" a Fusion marine stereo from an older iPod based model to a newer modern model for the sailboat I live and work from May to November. I discovered the newer models utilize class D amps and the old model I had was Class AB. The difference hit me like a brick. I returned the new model after only two days of listening. I went back to the old model. It was heavier and better built and the reason was the amp itself. I had upgraded to Wharfdale D320s for the cabin on the boat and thought the update would be be warranted. How wrong I was. The oder amp was far superior is many ways. - *the D320's are in my office for the winter as seen in the photo. N22...I bought the N22 after reading the excellent review here and decided to pull the trigger. I will say I was very pleasantly surprised and perplexed. I thought the 6p1 sound was detailed, smooth, and had a tremendously life like sound stage. Listening to the N22 after a bit of dial in I was shocked at the level of detail and clarity in the bass and up through most of entire dynamic range. What I saw in comparison to the 6p1 was higher detail, with some areas far surpassing the 6p1 capabilities but on other coming up just short...but not so short to be bad or unpleasant....just different. The similarities were warmth, smoothness, and detail, the differences were in various bands and presentation of complex modern music. The bass on the N22 is more detailed and present for electronic music but seems to be less defined with jazz and acoustic. The N22 drives the 80th Dentons to an extension of 29 Hrz. The 6p1 max is 38 hrz. A significant difference. The upper midrange seems to lack the forward presentation that the 6p1 has which makes the 6p1 stand out on older acoustic music genres. Acoustic bass, horns and female vocals are more detailed on the 6p1 but mostly on jazz and classical tracks. Modern quality recordings sound more cohesive on the N22. The 6p1 sometimes cannot handle complex atonal harmonics, particularly very crisp distorted layers of electric guitars come off confused and dissonant. The N22 keeps things together in this regard by minimizing the colorization of the midrange frequencies. But on sparse jazz..the 6p1 is incredibly moving. The N22 also maintains the drive of modern pop, EDM and electronica with a slight edge over the 6p1. (Makes one understand that the evolution of the amp capitulates to the development of music, at some point tube tech was not capable of presenting the complexity found in some forms of new recorded musical themes) But the n22 is as detailed in presentation if not more, it comes off just "different". The biggest difference I hear is in the sound stage width. The 6p1 seems to present instruments in a space much larger than my office. It is uncanny sometimes. However the 6p1 lacks some of the clarity making that space somewhat nebulous at time and very dependent on listening position. The N22 is narrower but deeper forward and back, The detail and separation of instruments is rather consistent off axis but does so in a way that is transparent. What this means is the N22 is easier to listen to while "doing something else" it is not as demanding as the 6p1 is. Sometimes the 6p1 makes me stop what I am doing and listen and sometimes I don't want to do that. It comes down to the music I am playing as I work. So my plan to to make the N22 my daily all day driver and use the 6p1 for critical vinyl, classical and jazz listening. Don't get me wrong...the N22 is no lesser of amp than the 6p1 class A single ended tube amp...The N22 is a wonderful amp...not surprising why it is still available after all these years in pretty much the same configuration it simply is already a venerable classic. I think the paring of these two budget amps is a wonderful example of doing more with less and doing it well from two very different perspectives which also balance out my varied listening requirements. Much satisfaction is to be had here. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2022 by Eva Odland Eva Odland

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