Fine, aesthetically pleasing, but expensive 2.0 system: the FIFINE AmpliGame A20 Gaming Speakers

Over the past five years, FIFINE Microphone, an audio firm based in China, has been growing covertly. As the name might imply, they specialize mostly in microphones, but they also provide a variety of items that include wireless kits, gaming headsets, and audio interfaces.

They have recently expanded into audio output to better appeal to the gaming population. The launching of their AmpliGame A20 speakers is an attempt to create a statement in a competitive market — but will the quality be adequate for the avid gamer? Let’s have a look.

Box’s Contents

The A20 box includes the speaker pair and a brief guidebook outlining all you’ll need to know. The USB power and 3.5mm output wires are connected to the speakers themselves. This is a no-frills offering, but it’s priced pretty high for a 2.0 speaker system, at just under $50.

The Aesthetic

Despite their low price, the speakers feel solid and well-built. They measure 5.1″(H) x 3.8″(W) x 3.4″(D), so they won’t take up too much space on your desk. The USB connection (5.9′ long) receives power from the laptop, PC, TV, power bank, or whatever device you plug it into. The 3.5mm jack (4.9′ in length) is utilized for output, and the weight is approximately 1.2kg, making them easy to transport.

The key feature of the A20’s design will be the RGB strip lighting on each speaker. This has seven modes: six that cycle through different patterns and one that lets you to select a solid color from the seven offered. They appear sleek and unobtrusive, but the finest feature is that the color settings are controlled by a touch button located on top of one of the speakers. The previous option you used is saved in memory, so you don’t have to keep cycling through to find your chosen pattern every time you disconnect or turn off the power. Pressing the touch button for a few seconds turns off the lights completely.

Furthermore, one of the speakers has a power button (which can be used to mute with a rapid press) and the other has a volume control. The rubberized buttons allow you to rapidly lower or raise the music level, or turn the volume completely off while preserving the RGB colour. There are also rubberised feet to protect the surfaces they are placed on. The speakers can be mounted horizontally or vertically, but the protection is only present when used vertically.

Connectivity

The A20 lacks Bluetooth, which is surprising given the price, and the loss of a USB-C connection will likely be an issue for newer laptops that no longer have USB-A slots. Both of these features can be found on other speakers in the same price range.

Sound

They may be attractive, but the goal of a speaker is, of course, sound. Here, the A20 is struggling. They can output at a high volume, making them ideal for casual listening, such as many games, podcasts, and TV shows that do not require intensive music. This is a 2.0 system, after all, but the lack of a subwoofer is a major drawback for audiophiles and will undoubtedly deter many from purchasing one. Elden Ring simply isn’t the same without thunderous bass.

What the A20 may be more suited for is increasing your Switch audio experience: the speakers’ portability would make them a suitable addition to your luggage if you found yourself in a hotel room for a week and wanted to boost the Switch’s sound. However, the A20 will not suffice for rhythm games or anything else that requires decent bass to be appreciated. FIFINE appears to have understood this, as it also sells a bundle with a subwoofer for under $20 less. For a full 2.1 experience, this is likely to be a superior choice for many players.

Nonetheless, for such a little set of speakers, the A20’s sound quality is quite amazing. I didn’t notice any distortion, even at the highest volumes. The same cannot be true for a faint underlying whining noise I heard, which appeared to be tied to RGB cycling. When the computer’s sound was muffled in the sixth mode, one of the speakers produced a distinct, low-level hum. Unplugging and reconnecting them halted it, but it restarted when the problem mode was selected. It wasn’t loud enough to dominate any genuine sound output, and it didn’t appear to impair any other mode, but it was obviously present – though it could be limited to the review device we received.

Overall

FIFINE has created a strong pair of speakers in the AmpliGame A20. They look and feel great, and the variety of lighting options should satisfy any aesthetic. However, they fall short in a few instances. The connectivity is insufficient, especially given that for little over a tenner extra, you can get the Creative T60 speakers, which contain both USB-C and Bluetooth. They don’t compare well in pricing to much cheaper 2.0 choices, or even Creative’s Pebble Plus 2.1 bundle, which costs $15 less and includes a subwoofer. On the plus side, they are distortion-free and capable of producing loud audio. At a lower price point, they could be a far more competitive option, but the A20 may struggle in its present price range.