The full review
Cambridge Audio Aero 2 Bookshelf Speakers Review
First Impressions
I had heard a lot about Cambridge Audio products, yet my first foray into their oeuvre was with the Aero 2 bookshelf speakers. From the moment I received them, I was struck by the fact that for 'bookshelf speakers', they're pretty large. When paired with their attractive black finish, they provided a commanding presence. That being said, my main concern wasn't with their aesthetic appeal, but rather their performance.
The first time I connected them, I must say I was slightly underwhelmed by the initial sound quality. But as other reviewers had mentioned, there seemed to be a 'breaking in' period involved. So, I decided to let them play at moderate volumes during my long working hours.
Audio Performance
As an audio system novice, I must tell you, that the Cambridge Audio Aero 2 speakers certainly blew me away with their beautiful detail and clarity. You need not be an audiophile to sense the superior quality of these bookshelf speakers. The feature that caught my attention was how well these speakers managed to keep the sound from distorting at high volumes. The bass is incredibly loud, belying the size of these bookshelf speakers, and yet doesn't sound harsh in any way.
Right out of the box, I'll be honest, I wasn't overly impressed. I had just switched from using Pioneer SP-BS22 speakers, which were fantastic in their own right. However, after allowing these Cambridge Audio Aero 2 speakers to break in for about 30-35 hours, I could already see an improvement. While the sound's improvement was gradual and not as significant as I had hoped, there was still a distinctive enhancement in the audio quality.
Comparisons
When I compared the Aero 2s with the Pioneer SP-BS22s in a back-to-back comparison, I have to admit, that the Pioneer SP-BS22s seemed to offer a bit more clarity and better imaging. The bass was also somewhat deeper on the former speakers. While the Cambridge Audio Aero 2 speakers can play louder and maintain the bass at higher volumes, it was a bit disappointing not to see any significant enhancements considering the price difference.
Now, I've tried a few speaker setups in the past, and the Cambridge Audio Aero 2 blows a lot of them out of the water. For instance, the Klipsch Reference speakers felt too harsh for my liking, while the Aero 2's sound was smoother and more pleasant to listen to.
The Good and The Bad
One of the aspects I loved about these speakers was their clarity. Whether it's the treble or the bass, the Aero 2s manage to ensure it's clear, clean, and not harsh at all. They truly sound amazing, with the sound permeating the room beautifully. There's a certain honeyed smoothness to the audio that came as a delightful surprise.
However, they are not without their downsides. Firstly, the build quality wasn't up to my expectations. The rubber around the woofers, for instance, were poorly pasted. Within a year, it had already come out, and fixing them back was a task. The size of the speakers was also a bit of a disappointment to me. They were significantly larger than my previous Pioneer SP-BS22 speakers, which was a bit of a letdown.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent audio clarity
- Solid bass performance
- Larger volumes with low distortion
- Smooth, pleasant sound
Cons
- Bulky design for a bookshelf speaker
- Poor quality of rubber around woofers
- Requires significant break-in period for better performance
In Conclusion
Whilst they're not perfect, these Cambridge Aero 2 speakers have a lot going for them. Provided you temper your expectations and don't expect to be blown away, these speakers deliver a good enough performance in line with their price tag. They come with both strengths and weaknesses, as you would expect from any product. The kind of raw power they provide, along with a reasonable level of audio detail and an aesthetically pleasing design, are admirable features. Adding the sheer richness and detail of the produced sound into the mix, overall, the Cambridge Aero 2 speakers are a decent purchase.