Review: Auric Soundscape X2 – The New Standard for All-in-One Bookshelf HiFi Monitors in 2026

Before we dive into the listening tests, let's look at what makes the Auric Soundscape X2 a contender for the best all-in-one bookshelf HiFi monitor speaker of the year. In 2026, the standard for entry-level premium audio has shifted. Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 7 are now expectations, not luxuries, ensuring ultra-low latency and true lossless transmission.

Key Specifications

• Driver Configuration: Uni-Q style Coaxial Driver (1-inch Silk Dome Tweeter, 5.25-inch Magnesium-Alloy Woofer)

• Amplification: Dual Class-D GaN (Gallium Nitride) Amps – 100W LF / 30W HF per speaker

• Connectivity: HDMI eARC 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 (Auracast supported), USB-C Audio Class 3.0, Optical, Analog RCA

• DSP: 64-bit Floating Point proprietary engine

• Room Correction: AI-driven "SonicMap" (Lidar-assisted via mobile app)

• Frequency Response: 42Hz – 28kHz (±3dB)

What jumps out here is the use of GaN amplification. This technology allows the X2 to run incredibly cool while delivering massive power in a compact cabinet, a trend we are seeing dominate the premium active monitors market this year.

Pulling the X2s out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the density. Each speaker weighs in at a hefty 16 lbs, a good sign of rigid bracing and quality magnets. The cabinet is finished in a matte, fingerprint-resistant bio-polymer composite—a big step up from the glossy plastics of the early 2020s.

The aesthetic is strictly minimalist. There are no visible screws on the front baffle, and the coaxial driver sits within a scientifically modeled waveguide designed to smooth out dispersion.

From a studio perspective, I appreciate the rear port design. While rear ports can be tricky for near field listening if placed too close to a wall, Auric includes bespoke foam bungs that, when combined with their DSP settings, effectively mitigate boominess in tight setups. The inputs are recessed nicely, allowing for clean cable management, which is essential for that floating-shelf look.

The biggest friction point for active speakers has always been the software experience. I am happy to report that the setup process for the X2 took exactly three minutes.

The companion app immediately recognized the speakers via Matter over Wi-Fi 7. But the real star here is the room correction technology called SonicMap. Unlike older systems that required you to wave your phone around the room for five minutes, SonicMap utilizes the Lidar sensors in standard 2026 smartphones to scan the room's geometry instantly.

The Calibration Process

1. Placement: I placed the speakers on my desk, just 6 inches from the rear wall (a torture test for bass).

2. Scan: The app mapped the distance to the walls and the reflection points on my desk.

3. Result: The DSP automatically applied a shelf filter to the low end and tweaked the high-frequency roll-off to account for the desk reflection.

The difference was night and day. Without calibration, the bass was muddy and overpowering in the 120Hz region. With SonicMap active, the mud vanished, revealing a tight, punchy kick drum that I could feel in my chest without it clouding the mids.

Now for the fun part. I tested these speakers in two scenarios: a near-field desktop setup (connected via USB-C) and a living room setup (on stands, connected via HDMI eARC).

High Frequencies and Soundstage

The coaxial design shines here. The imaging is razor-sharp. When listening to complex jazz recordings, I could pinpoint exactly where the drummer was sitting relative to the bassist. The digital signal processing handles the crossover point between the tweeter and woofer seamlessly, eliminating that "phasey" dip often found in cheaper active speakers. The highs are detailed but not fatiguing—a crucial trait if you plan on using these for work all day.

Midrange and Vocals

Because the DSP controls the power delivery so precisely, vocals sit right in the pocket. There is a texture to male vocals that often gets lost in passive setups unless you have a very high-end amplifier matching the speakers. This is the inherent advantage of wireless bookshelf speakers where the amp is matched to the driver at the factory.

Bass Response

For a 5.25-inch driver, the extension is impressive, hitting a usable 42Hz. In a small to medium room, you do not need a subwoofer. However, if you are using these for home theater in a large open space, you might miss the sub-30Hz rumble. Fortunately, there is a sub-out port, and the internal crossover automatically high-passes the main speakers when a sub is detected.

Near Field vs. Far Field

In a near field listening environment (under 1 meter), the X2s are incredibly revealing. They act almost like studio monitors, exposing bad mixes ruthlessly. Move them to the living room, engage the "Wide Mode" in the app, and the soundstage expands effectively to fill the room, though you lose a tiny bit of that center-image precision.

We can't talk about active speakers in 2026 without discussing the ecosystem. The X2 supports every major protocol: AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect Max.

I encountered zero dropouts during my week of testing, likely thanks to the Wi-Fi 7 radio handling high-bandwidth lossless streams with ease.

For TV users, the HDMI eARC 2.1 connection is flawless. I plugged it into my OLED, and the CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) worked instantly—volume on the TV remote controlled the speakers. This "set it and forget it" convenience is exactly why people are moving away from AV receivers.

How does the Auric Soundscape X2 compare to the heavy hitters of 2026?

• Vs. KEF LS50 Wireless III: The KEF still holds the crown for absolute midrange purity, but the X2 offers 95% of the performance for about 70% of the price, and the X2's app interface is arguably more intuitive.

• Vs. Sonos Era 500 Stereo Pair: The Sonos ecosystem is unbeatable for multi-room audio, but strictly in terms of two-channel stereo separation and fidelity, the X2 blows the Era 500s out of the water. The X2 is a HiFi product; the Sonos is a lifestyle product.

• Vs. Audioengine HD7: The HD7 is a fantastic analog-focused active speaker, but it lacks the advanced room correction and Wi-Fi 7 capabilities of the X2. If you have a difficult room, the X2 is the safer bet.

The Auric Soundscape X2 represents a maturity in the wireless bookshelf speakers market. It is no longer just about convenience; it is about performance optimization that passive systems struggle to match without spending thousands more on outboard gear.

Pros:

• Incredible imaging and soundstage.

• SonicMap room correction is a game-changer for untreated rooms.

• Wi-Fi 7 ensures future-proof connectivity.

• Build quality feels premium and substantial.

Cons:

• No phono stage included (turntable users will need an external preamp).

• Rear port requires careful placement or use of provided bungs.

• Price point is high for an entry-level enthusiast, though fair for the performance.