Monitor Audio AirStream WS100
Price: $375
Rating: 5/5
Monitor Audio was one of the first
traditional speaker companies to embrace the age of digital music with the
excellent i-deck iPod speaker docks. So it was no surprise that the AirStream
WS100 speakers hit the mark so successfully when it came to the desktop market.
They received a five-star review at First Test, but how do they fare against
some new rivals?
Monitor
Audio AirStream WS100
This is a compact pair of desktop speakers
with the bonus of wireless music streaming. There are two ways to connect your
music source. A 3.5mm mini-jack input allows you to play music from a laptop or
other audio device. The wireless option, meanwhile, comes via a supplied USB
dongle. Connect this to your computer and it will sniff out the WS100 speakers
using SKAA wireless technology. A same-room system, SKAA uses the 2.4 GHz radio
frequency to form its own network – no internet required and promises a robust
connection thanks to proprietary technology that avoids conflicts with other
devices.
One thing’s for sure: the wireless system
is truly plug and play. We connect the USB transmitter, wait a moment for the
drivers to install and then see our iTunes software switching to output audio
via the transmitter. Switch to the appropriate input on the WS100 speakers
using the curvaceous remote control and you’re done.
Useful design, fine components
The WS100 speakers are every bit as smart
as we remember. They also have a neat design feature: Tilt the speakers back
and the hinge design of the stand allows them to sit in a laid-back position,
aimed more at the listener’s ears.
Inside the diminutive cabinets are Gold
Dome C-CAM tweeters and C-CAM drivers, as seen on Monitor Audio’s fine Bronze
BX Series – these WS-100s are no half measures for sound quality.
And they sound great. Listening to a WAV
file of the xx’s Islands via the 3.5mm input there’s impressive scale for
speakers so small. The atmospheric sound of the track fills the room, doing a
fine job of belying the diminutive dimensions. Timing is good, while there’s
impressive punch and detail.
The
WS100s tilt on their stands, so the sound can be directed towards your ears
Bass notes go deep and remain clear and controlled.
Turn the WS100s up and not only will you be impressed by the volume and
clarity, you’ll really notice the punch and dynamics. Only a slightly closed
trebles; noticeable in more intimate vocals, lets the side down a touch.
Tilting the speakers back lessens reflection from your desktop and improves
clarity.
Wireless music delivery gives you added
flexibility, and audio performance remains impressive. There’s little drop-off
in sound quality, and the connection proves solid, suffering no drop-outs or
instability even in our listening rooms, which are surrounded by more wireless
networks and devices than the average home or office.
These Monitor Audio WS100 speakers remain a
great set of stylish, compact and excellent-sounding desktop speakers, with the
added flexibility of wireless connectivity. They come highly recommended.
Rating: 5/5
For: Compact, stylish; solid build, clever
tilt function; wireless connectivity; sound quality
Against: Could be more open in the treble
Verdict: Small, stylish dimensions, big,
brilliant sound: these speakers hit the bulls eye for form and function
Monitor Audio AirStream WS100 specs
·
Power: 60W
·
3.5mm input: Yes
·
Charging: No
·
Radio: No
·
Subwoofer out: No
·
Headphone out: No
·
Remote control: Yes
·
Detachable speakers: Yes
·
Battery: No
·
Finishes: One
·
Dimensions (H x W x D): 13 x 12 x 12cm
The winner
Monitor Audio AirStream WS100 – Rating:
5/5
There’s a nice mix of products on
test here, something for everyone. But the Monitor Audios take it for their all-round
excellence
The rise of digital music and increasing
use of laptops, phones and tablets as music sources has made desktop speakers
an ever-more popular proposition.
Inevitably, many of the products on the
market now offer more than just two speakers to sit either side of a screen and
this is reflected in the four products we have here: iPod docks, wireless
connectivity, smartphone streaming and more are all on offer. But inevitably,
simple sound quality still weighs most heavily on our minds when drawing our
conclusions.
Sadly, that’s why the SmartSpeakers fall a
little short, though. They’re far from no hopers. That flexibility – working
individually, wireless streaming, and rechargeable batteries gives them plenty
of appeal, but even so they don’t sound quite good enough.
The
winner is Monitor Audio AirStream WS100
The Bose Companion 20 speakers sit almost
at polar opposites. No frills in terms of features, a simple 3.5mm input are
the sole method of connectivity but for $300 the little units deliver solid,
enjoyable sound – and they are, therefore, easy to recommend.
The Epoz Aktimate Micro speakers,
conversely, won’t be for everyone due to their size. But they’re the best
sounding speakers here in almost every respect. Throw in the added bonus of an
iPod dock and it’s no surprise they were an Award winner.
But it’s the Monitor Audio AirStream WS100
speakers that take the spoils. The perfect size for such a product, nicely
styled with a neat design feature, and offering wireless streaming, they’re the
complete desktop speaker on paper. And they seal the deal with superb sound
that defies their dimensions.
