I have been testing wi-fi audio system for years now and that is left me with sure expectations. Normally, if I see a giant model launch a brand new Bluetooth speaker, it will be competing for mid-market dominance or status standing. Conversely, the discount bin finish of the market tends to be the area of scrappy but comparatively unprecedented manufacturers. However these expectations have been upended by the Ikea Kallsup.
With this low-cost and cheerful speaker, Ikea is not simply attempting so as to add to the annals of the best Bluetooth speakers for these on a price range – it is actively attempting to undercut them. At simply $10 / £10, it is actually one of many least expensive audio system I’ve ever gotten my palms on – actually the one one which price much less cash was the $7 machine I examined from Amazon, purely as a result of I assumed it could show the proper alternative for some snark.
Nonetheless, the Kallsup’s identification is not completely constructed round its price ticket – it is obtained different virtues as nicely. On prime of an unabashed sense of fashion that makes most audio system appear like shrinking violets, it is also ready to connect with as much as 99 of its brethren, forming an entire platoon of multi-room audio system. For lower than the price of a small pizza, that is a fairly canny trick.
So what’s up with the Kallsup?
Truthfully, I am just a little smitten with the Kallsup’s design. I’ve beforehand complained about what number of wi-fi audio system appear to be reduce from the identical acoustically clear material lately, so it is really very nice to see a tool break all the principles.
Ikea’s speaker eschews the rounded edges and cream or black colour palette that is so ubiquitous with a number of audio equipment. As a substitute, it is a sheer dice in white, lime inexperienced or sizzling pink – just a little like if Keith Haring obtained actually into brutalist structure.
However I do not suppose its boxy define is only a approach for Ikea to thumb its nostril at extra self-serious speaker designs – it additionally serves a much more sensible function. Given the ridiculous variety of these audio system you may pair collectively, this common form is clearly meant to be stackable, making it straightforward to construct your individual sonic skyscraper and max out its output.
So how does it sound? If I am trustworthy, at this value: higher than it has any proper to.
Given it measures solely 3.5 inches / 9cm cubed, the Kallsup can put out fairly spectacular quantity with out a lot distortion. Sure, it does have a tendency to start out limiting when you rise up to 80% quantity however many low-cost audio system begin to sound overdriven at a lot decrease ranges.
I doubt many readers might be shocked to listen to that the Kallsup ain’t all about that bass, with sub being predictably absent. Nonetheless, this speaker nonetheless makes a valiant effort, even when it could actually’t fairly shut the deal. Enjoying Hear by Pola & Bryson & goddard., it nonetheless sounded surprisingly feisty, giving the kick some punch and letting the bassline snarl simply sufficient to be fulfilling.
Mids can really be shockingly affordable. Vocals in tunes like Diamonds On the Soles of Her Sneakers by Paul Simon rise clear above the combo, giving every thing a way of area that belies the speaker’s diminutive measurement. It does a good job with treble too: when taking part in songs like Go Your Personal Method by Fleetwood Mac, there’s not a lot brittleness that the excessive finish grates, though a few of the guitars’ harmonics and drum transients appear to struggle one another greater than making an attempt to work collectively.
However that is one speaker working solo. Absolutely you may get significantly better efficiency while you hook up 100 of them? Properly, earlier than you drop a cool $1,000 / £1,000 by yourself set of sonic constructing blocks, it is value contemplating what you are aiming to realize.
Extra audio system will not unlock frequencies a single speaker cannot handle, so do not count on these to take the place of your favourite floorstanders. What they’ll do, nevertheless, is enhance the amount, making them a stable possibility if your required influence is shock and awe, somewhat than audio high quality.
Having the ability to join this many audio system collectively additionally means you may simply use them to create an ersatz multi-room speaker system – whereas nonetheless getting change in your $100 / £100. I undoubtedly see the attraction right here: I am already tempted to throw a celebration with a bunch of those audio system forming a breadcrumb path throughout the home and backyard. Not solely does this make creating seamless audio experiences far cheaper however it’s additionally a lot extra versatile than it could be with bulkier gadgets.
So am I going to ditch my rugged JBL Cost 5 or super-luxe Cambridge Audio Evo One for a group of Kallsups? Hardly. However, having examined it out, I can undoubtedly envision conditions the place IKEA’s speaker is extra enjoyable, versatile and reasonably priced than any of the opposite out there choices.
The perfect Bluetooth audio system for all budgets
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