Tweaks for AudioEngine2 Desktop System?

I can't tell what kind of feet if any the A2s are equipped with stock. I've put my Visonik desktop speakers on Herbie's Thick Grungebuster pads. That damps and isolates them and the sound gets an inexpensive but worthwhile improvement.

Herbie's Grungebuster page

There's a limit to how much money you want to put into cables for little things like the A2s. For example the best mini-to-mini interconnect I know is the Zu Pivot but one of those might run you half the A2s' cost by itself. If you plan someday to upgrade the A2s, you might be better off saving the money. If not, well, try a Pivot then.

Zu Pivot page

Hi Headshrinker2, no they didn't, stock. I glued the Herbie's pads on with rubber cement ( my very favourite glue ).

FWIW the Visonik Davids aren't square and can be mounted upright, on their sides beaming up or on the wall with a matching bracket, and maybe that's why they don't have feet.

Short speaker stands would be cool. Market opportunity here. You could also tilt the A2s upward. You could buy a sheet of Herbie's Thick Grungebuster and cut pieces to fit under the front edge. Maple platforms à la Mapleshade might be another option. They would not even have to be three inches thick, I think.

You'll have to experiment to see which volume control method sounds better, if either one does. IME putting the source at max and adjusting the amp volume has been the best, but YMMV as always.

I'm guessing that adding a remote volume control would be a big, big pain unless you got very lucky with component sizes and working space. Most convenient scenario is using the iPod's volume control, hope that works out to be best-sounding.

I think that 'single visible wire' is a mini-to-mini cable and if it is, an upgrade would make a difference.