speakers – Tech Raman

SoundCore Model Zero Review – Punching about its weight!

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:12:30 +0000

If you had asked me a few months back about SoundCore audio products, I would have shot back – What? SoundCore? Fortunately, I got to test a couple of their products which managed to change my perceptions to the extent that now I strongly believe SoundCore, a sub-brand of Anker is one of the most underrated audio company. They make some good stuff that can give the top guns in the industry run for their money. Here I have the SoundCore Model Zero that stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Bose SoundLink Revolve, UltimateEars Boom 3. It has a striking cheeky look, featuring a handle built into the grille itself, is it worth the salt? Here are my thoughts in the SoundCore Model Zero review.

Design of Model Zero

The speaker is a looker. It can be a décor piece in your living room. It has a quirky design like a handbag. It weighs a little less than 2Kg at 1955 grams and has dimensions of 256 x 128 x 240mm. It is also rated IPX5 which means it can withstand water exposure to an extend but definitely not advisable under water. The Model Zero is wrapped almost completely by a black grille except for a thin aluminum band that encases around the side. The handle is part of the black mesh grille and is very ergonomic design to pick it up and go. The bottom is flat with a rubber footer that keeps the speaker firm on the table. The ports and buttons are cleverly tucked into the design that they are invisible when you look straight at the speaker. The controls are on a black band on top of the speaker directly below the handle. There is the array of Bluetooth button, volume controls, multi-function and a “BassUp” button to boost the bass. The Bluetooth button lights up blue when the speaker is connected to your device. The power button is on the right side of the metal band. The power DC-in port and AUX port are tucked behind a waterproof flap at the back. Overall, the speaker would blend well into your home decor. It is eye-catchy. But does the design complement the performance? let’s find out.

Features and performance of Model Zero

Specs:

2 x 63mm woofer, 2 x 19 mm Tweeter, 2 Passive Radiators
Output: 60 W, Total Harmonic Distortion <= 1%
Hi-Res Audio Certified
Bluetooth Version 5.0
Supports HFP, A2DP, AVRCP
Aux In
Range: 20m / 66ft

When it comes to audio, the Model Zero definitely punches above its weight producing a warm sound that fills my living room. It offers a neat 360 degree of output thanks to its rounded shape and all-over grille. The speaker is hi-res audio certified, which means the sound is of a higher quality compared to what you would get from a CD, thanks to a sampling rate double the resolution of CD-quality audio – provided the file you’re playing back supports it. The sound does not feel deliberately boosted and stays faithfully close to the actual reproduction of the music. The trebles are crisp, mids are nicer and not overwhelmed by bass. I really liked the individual details of the complex notes you get treated to. Even the “BassUp” boost feature does not annoyingly pump up the bass which if you are a bass head would be a slight disappointment. Nevertheless, I liked the measured bass and overall treatment of the sound.

Then, there is the SoundCore app where you can fiddle around the equalizer settings, giving you more control over how you want the music to sound. There are different presets too.

Apart from the Bluetooth connectivity, there is the Aux input in case you want to hook it by wire but the connectivity options are limited to both these. There is no FM, no card reader. You can connect the speaker to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.

Battery Life of Model Zero:

SoundCore claims a battery life of 10 hours and it takes almost three hours to fully charge the speaker. In my usage, I could get around 8-9 hours of music. Lack of USB charging might is a bit disappointing and the box carries its own power brick.

Verdict:

At the price of Rs 17,990, the SoundCore Model Zero is a premium mid-range wireless speaker. It impresses with its design and audio output as I said earlier, it does punch above its own weight. If you are someone who loves faithful reproduction of audio, with good clarity and overall roundness of collective notes, you would like the Model Zero, and hey it’s also a stunner to look at! ]]>

JVC TH-DKN-80 Tower Speaker Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 14 May 2018 10:39:59 +0000

Japan’s Victor Company, is not an unknown name in India, they have been hugely popular with their car audio accessories even in small towns here and I remember our ambassador car during my school days having a JVC audio setup. Recently, they have launched their home audio products in India and what am going to review here is the JVC TH-DKN-80, a tower speaker. They also have a wide portfolio of bluetooth speakers retailing in India. While my preference have changed when it comes to listening audio, its a long journey of progression from a small cassette player during my childhood days to wired home theatre speakers sets which latter gave way to clutter free bluetooth speaker experience but finally its now Alexa Echo that sits at my desk. When the JVC TH-DKN-80 came in my home, it took me back to those days when I head-banged on my home theatre music but then it also syncs with my preferences and to know what and how, go ahead read my review.

Box contents

Out of the box you get:

two tower speakers,
user manual,
warranty card,
remote, batteries for the remote,
audio cable
and FM antenna.

Design

The JVC TH-DKN-80 has a classic wood design giving it a premium retro look. The build and finishing is good and it can be accommodated into any room ambience. The speaker is 3 feet tall. Both the speakers look similar while the controls are in the right speaker. Both the speakers has 50W output each and together they pump up a 100W. The left speaker is connected to the right via a cable that comes out of the box. The left speaker comes with LED display that shows the volume, trebles if you change and also the various connectivity options as you change to them. There are also onboard button that can be used to control the features like volume, treble, track change but it can be easily done with the remote also. Talking about the remote, its very handy and gives complete control over the speakers. You can shift between various connectivity options, tweak the bass and treble and usual stuffs like play/ pause, track changes and volume controls. If you are listening to music from card or pendrive you can also use the numeric buttons for shifting to a particular song in an order. There are 2 Tweeters, 2 8-inch Subwoofers.

Multi-connectivity options

The JVC tower speaker offers an array of connectivity options.

Bluetooth – you can pair your smartphone, laptop or tablet via bluetooth for wireless connectivity (in my case, my Alexa Echo is paired to it and I love the extra boom)
Set it up with your TV for theater experience or along with other existing home theater receiver you might have.
Aux port allows to connect laptop, computer or other external audio sources
Memory card slot
USB port , if you have stashed your audio files in a pendrive
FM

So it basically covers for every scenarios.

Performance

The JVC TH-DKN-80 can pump up good volume for a living room. There is no distortion when you crank up the volume and the bass is quiet rich but you can of course if you like more of treble you can notch it up too. The low range is bit limited, so the low notes gets muffled up in the boom. The clarity lacks a bit too and the sound stage is not wider either. So if you are looking at a boom-full of audio at a modest price for tower speaker, this JVC tower speaker will be nicer for you. The FM works good, and I had no issues connecting via various options it has. The bluetooth range is good too. The remote is very handy and if you have Alexa at home, you can pair it with your Echo speakers for the extra bass. This speaker is really bass heavy.

Verdict

At the price it is retailing in India now (Rs 11,999) JVC TH-DKN-80 sounds a good proposition. If you love the extra bass for watching your movies or listening audio, this should please you plus, it offers multitude of connectivity options that makes it attractive.]]>

Astrum ST 150 SoundBox Bluetooth Speaker Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:00:58 +0000

While Bluetooth speakers offer mobility and wireless advantages, a big reason I love checking out various Bluetooth speaker models are for the sheer quirky designs the manufacturers come out with. The speakers are available in various colors, shapes and designs and that attracts me a lot. Astrum is a Hongkong based company that manufacturers a range of computer accessories and speakers, what I got here is a pocket sized speaker and let’s see in this Astrum ST150 Soundbox Bluetooth speaker review how it fares in terms of design and performance.

Specifications:

Dimension: 124 x 47 x 20mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 115 gms
Bluetooth 4.0
Range upto 10m
Output: 5W x 2
Frequency response: 180Hz – 18kHz
Speakers: 32mm diaphragm (2 speaker)
Battery: 700mAh Li-Ion
Charging time: upto 2.5 hours
Play time: up to 4 hours

Box contents:

Speaker
Manual
microUSB cable
Lanyard cable

Design

Mouth organ musical instrument. That’s the first thought that came in mind when I opened the box and took a look at the device. The Astrum ST 150 is very compact and can be slid into trouser pocket. The build quality is top notch, the side has a metallic finish with chamfered edges giving it a neat, clean look. The oxidised color of the side panel makes it visually appealing. Even the power button on the right side has a quality build and sports a concentric patterned design, adding more marks to the design. Next to the power button is the microUSB port. To make carrying easier, there is an lanyard eye and the box includes a cable in case you want to use it. Sitting behind the front speaker grille are two 5 watts speakers.

Performance

Astrum ST 150 is a pint sized speaker and understandably I kept my expectations compact too. The speaker output is loud enough for the small size. The bass is weak though, if you are fond of it. The trebles are Ok but there is distortion if you crank up the volume to max. It should be noted the frequency response starts at 180Hz , so low frequency notes suffers but being a small speaker, it is ideally not for audiophile indulgence rather for better portability and sneaking it on your small bag or pocket and music on the go. There is a mic, so you can use it as a handsfree speaker phone to attend calls. The call quality is average. The Astrum ST 150 does not offer extra features like FM or SD card support. There is no aux input too.

Verdict

Astrum ST 150 retails around Rs 2700 in India which is quiet a hefty price undoubtedly. If you are looking for a pocket fitting Bluetooth speaker, Astrum ST 150 works well. Its handy and has a good build quality and you can listen on the go and is compact to drop in your pocket and move around.]]>

Zebronics adds 4 new models to its 5.1 Sound Monsters, aimed at party lovers

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 10:03:24 +0000

ZEB-SW8590RUCF, ZEB-SW8580RUCF, ZEB-SW8570RUCF and ZEB-SW8530RUCF. All these new models are designed with down-firing subwoofers. In case you wonder what those are? Here is a quick brief. The subwoofer are designed to reproduce the lowest of audible frequencies. They can be either mounted on on the system as front-firing or down-firing. Down-firing radiates the sound frequency downward, towards the floor. When the speakers are kept on concrete floor or wooden base, they give a better bass effect. Well, at least technically it is supposed to but then there are various other variables and factors that determine the acoustics of your room. Coming back to Zebronics, these new speakers come with 5 satellite units and 1 sub woofer of 100W RMS. The speakers are attractively designed for home decor and gives a rich surround sound. The speakers support SD memory card and USB drives and also has FM Radio. There is a LED Display and the speaker system comes with a remote control. [gallery link="file" columns="4" ids="6721,6720,6719,6718"]

Zebronics 5.1 Sound Monsters specifications

Output Power : 40W+12W x 5
Voltage : AC220V -240V 50/60Hz
Frequency response : 40Hz-20KHz
S/N ratio : ≥80dB
Separation : ≥45dB
Subwoofer driver unit : 6.5″
Satellite driver unit : 3″ x 5
Woofer size :170 x 318 x 355 mm
Satellite size :110 x 200 x 122 mm

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Logitech Mini Boombox review

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:37:33 +0000

If you are looking for a compact, Bluetooth portable speakers that you can sneak into your handbag and one that offers decent sound quality, your search might lead you to Logitech mini boombox. Don’t get mislead by the size of the speaker, it does pack a punch and neat features.

Design and build quality

So how big is the mini boombox? This big.

The picture says it all. Measuring 2.3 by 2.8 by 4.6-inches the tiny curved rectangle small box is easy to throw into your small handbags and measuring just 219 grams marginally heavier than your smartphone, it won’t weight you down also.

Sitting behind the small front grille is two speaker drivers for stereo audio.. The sides are flanked by rubber material which also aids in the durability during occasional falls and bumps. To add dash of color to the mini boombox, you also get a red and white options instead of the black side panel you see in our review device. Bottom of Logitech mini boombox also gets two small rubber footings for a bit of protection and cushioning as well as for friction support. The black top is a capacitive screen with red, under lit capacitive touch controls for Track Forward and Backward, Play/Pause, Volume Up and Down,and Bluetooth and Phone Answering. Yes, the speaker also has phone answering mode, we will talk about it features section a little down. The top panel is only connected to the rest of the speaker only in the front thereby opening a tiny space below that acts as the vent for bass. The back panel lists the power On/off switch, micro USB connection and a 3.5 mm aux input.

Controls and Features

It’s a Bluetooth speaker alright but what if you get a phone call when you have paired your phone with the mini boombox? Don’t scramble around. The top capacitive panel also has controls for phone answering. The mini Boombox has a tiny microphone pinhole on the left side that acts as a speakerphone and the calls can be answered and ended by pressing the on-screen call buttons. Bluetooth pairing is simple and as fast as Ussain bolt on track. What if you have a gadget without Bluetooth support that you need to hookup with the speaker? The 3.5mm auxiliary input comes handy. If there is anything that annoyed me a bit is the the mini-USB charge port. These days with micro-USB being the norm for all phones, had Logitech gone ahead with microUSB port it would have spared us from carrying the second cable around.

Battery life and power indicators

Logitech has packed inside a rechargeable NiMH battery and the company claims up to 10 hours on a single charge. Pretty decent stuff here, that will keep your party going on till you drop. We talk more on the battery life in the performance section below. A full charge takes around 4 hours. Power indicators:

While charging the light indicator on the front panel, blinks blue.
When fully charged, it turns blue
A red light comes on to indicate a low battery
It flashes red, when the battery is critically low.

A battery level indicator on the top capacitive screen would have been a great addition, allowing us to know how much battery is left.

Performance

Now to the all important question. How does the sound quality of Logitech mini boombox live up to? Surprisingly for a very compact, portable speaker it delivers a ‘loud’ sound. Judging the sound quality let’s be realistic that it’s a pint-sized speaker and comes with certain limitations. With both the speakers at close proximity, the stereo differences in the audio is at a disadvantage, still you get a stereo mix which is clearly better than a mono audio. The sound quality is at best at medium volume, turn it to high you witness distortions. The device also starts vibrating at very high volume and moves around. Inspite of the small size, the bass is decent enough for such a device. On mid-range volume, the sound is full without being harsh nor it cracks up. In short being realistic and understanding the compactness of the device, the sound quality is decent and good enough if not impressive. Now coming to the battery, though Logitech claims it gives a 10 hours of music on a single charge. Note that it might vary during actual usage. If you are listening on a medium volume, you get more juice out of the battery but less when blasting on the higher volume. Expect 7-8 hours battery life. The mini Boombox does a pretty good job as a speakerphone too. When you receive an incoming call, you get a beep sort of audio notification and the music stops. By pressing the Bluetooth/Phone button on the top panel we can answer and end calls. Call clarity is also good and the recipients also had no issues with the voice. Logitech mini boombox is available in India for Rs. 4,999 (US $ 90)

Verdict

For it’s tiny size, Logitech mini boombox gives your money’s worth combining both as a Bluetooth portable speaker as well as speakerphone. It’s easy to carry around and it’s a tiny, music dynamite on the move which might impress most of us. ]]>