Who says listening to quality hi-fi
while you’re working isn’t a realistic option? We don’t, but then we’ve tested
four pairs of top desktop speakers
As our beloved music continues to reach
beyond our living room hi-fi systems out into the wider world, quality music
reproduction is now available almost everywhere. And that includes the office.
While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend choosing Slipknot to provide a
soundtrack to your company board meeting, most of us have plenty of
opportunities for whistling while we work.
What’s more, as well as helping you balance
those budgets or write that report, your computer is also a great source of
music from streaming via Spotify to playing high-res files.
That’s where desktop speakers come in, and
our quartet here proves you don’t need to skimp on sound quality just because
you’re sitting at a desk. So, can the Monitor Audio AirStream better the
Award-winning, iPod dock equipped Epoz Aktimate, or will Bose or AQ Audio steal
the crown? Read on.
AQ Audio SmartSpeaker A1
Price: $442
Rating: 3/5
The AQ Audios provide a curveball entry in
this test. They look like a standard, albeit distinctive, pair of desktop speakers,
but the SmartSpeakers offer more than you might at first think.
For starters, each of the identical A1
speakers is just as happy working on its own as it is as part of a stereo pair.
AQ
Audio SmartSpeaker A1
Opt for just one unit and you get a speaker
that offers a 3.5mm input, plus wireless connectivity via Apple AirPlay or Wi-Fi
Direct. So you can stream music wirelessly over your internet network from
iTunes or Windows Media Player on a laptop, from iOS devices, from Android
devices and from compatible Windows Phone devices.
You can also put two A1s together to form a
stereo pair. A switch on the back of each unit allows you to set it as a left,
right or mono speaker. Add more for a multi-room system, all playing the same
track (only from iTunes, however).
To use two as a stereo pair you need to
stream from iTunes on a laptop – you can’t select the ‘Multiple Speakers’
option from a smartphone or tablet.
The speakers also have integrated
rechargeable batteries, good for around 10 hours of wireless playback.
So far, so good. The first signs of trouble
appear in the set-up procedure. The simplest way to get up and running
wirelessly is by connecting an iOS device via USB to the speaker. Hold down
buttons on the A1 and your phone or tablet will send over your internet
settings. Hey presto, you’re connected.
Otherwise, you’ll have to set up the
speakers using a computer. This proved more complex – we needed multiple
attempts to get it working.
Features over sound
The wireless connection from a laptop to
the speakers in stereo mode proved none too robust. We experienced sporadic
interference and drop-outs – admittedly in a busy Wi-Fi environment. Sound
quality proves underwhelming once we get up and running, too. There are so many
features that we half expected audio performance to lag behind rivals and so it
proved. The SmartSpeakers sound lightweight in comparison with others.
The
A1s are extremely versatile – but sound suffers a touch as a consequence
Disclosure’s Latch lacks dynamic punch and
bass weight, bass notes struggling in terms of depth and power. Vocals, too,
lack clarity and the overall level of detail is a step below rivals here. The
A1s do avoid harshness in the treble and offer a fairly open sound. There’s
decent scale for a small speaker, but really they’re a step below the rest.
Connect via the 3.5mm input and you will
enjoy a sound that’s clearer, a little more solid and a little more detailed.
The A1s are undoubtedly smart. The speakers
make most sense used individually – two wireless speakers for this money
represent better value. Bought as a pair, they’re highly versatile, thanks to
the wireless connectivity and pairing option – even if set up and the limits of
the features are frustrating.
If flexibility at a relatively affordable
price means more to you than sound quality, they’re worthy of consideration.
But, for most, we’d suggest better sonic options should take precedence.
Rating: 3/5
For: Versatile speakers; AirPlay and Wi-Fi
Direct connectivity for streaming
Against: Sound can be bettered; set-up can
be fiddly; inconsistent wireless connection
Verdict: Fine levels of functionality, but
the level of performance lets the side down
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AQ Audio
Smartspeakers A1 specs
·
Power: 25W
·
3.5mm input: Yes
·
Charging: Yes
·
Radio: No
·
Subwoofer out: No
·
Headphone out: No
·
Remote control: No
·
Detachable speakers: Yes
·
Battery: Yes
·
Finishes: One
·
Dimensions (H x W x D): 24 x 14 x 11cm
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