Tower of power
There’s no shortage of Bluetooth speakers
available for iOS devices, but Creative’s new Sound Blaster-Axx is a versatile
speaker system that uses Bluetooth to work with mobile devices while also
providing a USB option for connecting to your Mac.
The
Axx SBX 20’s tall, thin design doesn’t take up much space on your desk when
connected to your Mac via USB
It’s neatly designed, shaped as a tall,
slim pedestal that doesn’t take up much space at all. Which is just as well, as
the Axx draws its power supply from a USB port on your Mac and transmits sound
to the Mac via the same USB cable which means you’ll need to keep it close to
your computer. Fortunately, the USB cable provided is a good five feet long
(150cm), so you’ve got some room for manoeuvre. And, of course, it’s also
possible to plug it into the mains using a suitable adaptor, such as those
provided with the iPhone and iPad.
At $270, it’s a bit pricey, but there are
two less-expensive models in the range as well. The SBX 10 is about a third
smaller and costs $195, while the half-size portable model, the SBX 8, is
designed for use with laptops and lacks Bluetooth, and is priced at $119.99.
Sound quality is quite impressive for such
a compact unit. Higher frequencies ring out bright and clear, and while the
bass isn’t quite as thumbing as Creative’s marketing blurb suggests, it does
sound solid enough when playing bass-heavy tracks. It’s not quite loud enough
for a full-on rave, but certainly provides enough volume to liven up a dinner
party.
THERE ARE MICROPHONE and headphone sockets around the back of the unit, but the Axx also
has a pair of built-in microphones that provide some useful communications
features. You can pair the Axx with an iPhone over Bluetooth and use it to make
voice calls, but you can also download Creative’s Sound-Blaster software, which
provides additional features for both music playback and voice communications.
The Sound Blaster software includes a
graphic equalizer with a number of presets for different types of music, and
lets you save your own presets.
There are some unusual voice features, too,
such as Voice Focus – similar in principle to the dual microphone system in the
Retina MacBook Pro – that allows the mics to focus on a specified region, such
as a 450 arc in front of the unit. We tried out this
option for Skype calls with the Axx sitting right next to the iMac’s screen,
and it really did fade out our voice as soon as we moved our head out of the
specified zone. This will be useful if you want to make calls on Skype or iChat
and need to cut out any background noise.
Creative also has an iOS app that puts
features such as the graphic equalizer onto your device. Equalizer settings
applied within the Sound Blaster app are also applied to music that you play
through the iPhone’s Music app, so you can use all your usual playlists.
Our only complaint was that things got a
bit confusing when we had the Axx plugged into the iMac’s USB port to provide
power and then tried to control it via Bluetooth on the iPhone. The completing
bits of software on the iMac and iPhone got confused, and it wasn’t always
clear which device was controlling the Axx.
If you just want a straightforward speaker
for listening to music, there are plenty of lower-cost alternatives. But if
you’re looking for something a little more versatile that can also be used for
calls on an iPhone or with Skype and iChat on your Mac, the Sound BlasterAxx
will earn its keep.
Price: $270
Website:
soundblaster.com
Needs Mac
with USB. iOS or Android device with Bluetooth.
Pro Good
sound quality. Useful voice comms features
Con No mains
adaptor included. Switching control can be confusing.
