Martin Lévay I immediately suspected that "the box is kind of heavy". Higher weight is usually a sign of good sound. The first feeling when I touched the speaker and weighed it was very good. Weight, material, processing, everything at first glance pointed to a first-class ride. Only the shape was really unusual. Thanks to the weight of the base, the speaker membrane can rest, and when it oscillates, it does not vibrate the material in which the speaker is installed. This allows you to get solid, clear and saturated bass from the speaker cabinet. If you can, of course. And how does it do it in the Audyssey Audio Dock? It was an unknown brand for me until that moment, I didn't know what to think. But as the classic says: trust no one.
Turn on quickly!
Curiosity got the best of me, so I took the power cord out of the package and connected the Audio Dock to the power supply. There were some connectors and buttons in the back, I can deal with those later when I find out how it plays. So I plugged my iPhone into the dock connector and found some music. Michael Jackson won this time.
From zero to a hundred in five seconds
After five seconds of Bilie Jean, I was clear. The Audyssey guys can. The sound in the bass, middle and highs is clear, clear, undistorted, in a word, perfect. And this could already be seen on the shovel and scraper. But the amount of bass and space you can get from something so compact is incredible. In the 6 by 4 meter living room, the Audyssey Audio Dock pleasantly fills the entire room. And a couple of adjacent ones, so the sound even at a higher volume is satisfactory with a margin. Incomprehensibly rich and clear bass and a very pleasant sound in the space that I would expect from a much larger speaker of classic design. When compared to the iHome iP1E or the Sony XA700 there is a big difference in performance, the iHome or Sony won't send as much bass into the next room as the Audyssey.
After a few weeks
If we consider the products of Bowers & Wilkins, Parrot, Bang & Olufsen, Bose, JBL and Jarre to be the top in AirPlay speakers, then it is difficult to get among them. The Audyssey Audio Dock is definitely one of them, no doubt about it. I still get the feeling that the built-in electronics in the Audio Dock are doing a little bit of ingenuity, in the sense that they're artificially adding dynamics, a compressor, or something to the sound. But I can't pick it up, I can't recognize it or name it, so if the speakers "enhance" the sound a little, then I honestly don't care. The way it plays guitars and drums with Dream Theater, piano with Jammie Cullum and bass, vocals and synths with Madonna is absolutely legendary. For those who didn't know - yes, I'm excited.
Comparison with the tip
For almost ten thousand, the sound is very good. When I compare it to speakers from Bowers & Wilkins A5 or AeroSkull from Jarre Technologies at the same price level, they don't play Audyssey better or worse, it's just comparable, the difference is mainly in the use of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and of course in the dimensions and shape. If I wanted better sound, I would have to pay twice as much to get it. Zeppelin Air are certainly better, but they are really big, if you don't have a meter of space on the cabinet, then Audyssey is no compromise. Excellent sound in minimal space.
Plastic with metal grid
As usual, the first feeling that these are overpriced plastic bags. Disregard for the size and the transfer via Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi again replaced the surprise. Yes, it doesn't play as loud as the Aerosystem, but just as good. From stable lows to clear clear mids to clean, undistorted highs. I can't shake the feeling that, like the Zeppelin Air, some digital sound processor is making a tiny bit of sense here. But again, it's for the benefit of the sound, so it's definitely a good thing. There is a non-slip layer of rubber on the bottom, thanks to which the speakers do not travel on the mat even at the highest volume. Despite its slim footprint, the Audyssey is stable and doesn't tend to tip over when handling, so you don't have to worry about moving it away when you're dusting. By the way, all the bass reflex holes are hidden under the metal grill, so the device has no soft parts where you can dent or tear it. When handling, you don't feel like you can hurt him if you catch him awkwardly.
Expensive?
Not at all. The sound matches similar devices in the same price range. You'll get the same class of sound from the AeroSkull, B&W A5, and Zeppelin mini, all of which cost a grand or two more. I digress. For example, the Sony for similar money does not play so well at higher volumes, the weak point is the low tones, which the XA900 can play loud enough, but it does not play more demanding sounds as clearly, it does not have the precision as with the Audyssey or the Zeppelin Air. But Sony has other advantages that make it worth the sin. But more on that later.
Buttons and connectors
Like the Zeppelin Air, the Audyssey Audio Dock can be connected to a computer via USB, and by inserting an iPhone into the dock you can then sync with iTunes. In addition to USB, there is also a power cable connection and a mechanical on/off button (cradle) on the back panel. There are also two low-lift buttons – one is probably for the hands-free function, the other button is for pairing with a mobile phone. If I'm connected with an iPhone, I have to press the pairing button on the Audyssey before it shows up among the Bluetooth devices on the iPad. Until then, the device is unconnectable and reports that it is connected to another device. Just standard Bluetooth behavior. The model I had available had a classic 30-pin connector, so you only connect the iPhone 5 and newer to it wirelessly. I don't know yet about the version with a Lightning connector, but let's not count on the fact that the manufacturer will supply it.
Power and power saving mode
A nice detail is that the power cable enters on the back about a centimeter from the pad, so the cable does not stick out and can be hidden relatively well. I couldn't put the speakers into sleep mode. When I left or came in with my iPhone in my pocket, the speaker still showed a vertical row of white LEDs that it was on and showed the current volume level. I understood that it must be in some kind of power-saving mode, because when the music started, there was a subtle noise in the speakers, as if the amplifier had turned on. By the way, the mentioned popping sound is more or less audible in all audio devices that switch to power saving mode, so it cannot be considered a defect or bug. Although manufacturers try to suppress this effect, it is not solved at all with cheap devices. A series of LEDs indicate what power the amplifier is set to. It's like seeing how much you have the volume knob turned to the right. Useful. When I look at the AudioDock, I see that I have to turn it down, because it has been set to maximum volume since the last time I played, and I don't want to startle the people around me with noise that will last until I find the control and turn it down.
handsfree
As I already indicated, the hands-free function is a logical part of the Bluetooth pairing, so on the front and on the back you will find a circular metal grill about a centimeter under which the microphone is hidden, two actually. I haven't tried the handsfree sound. Better to try it yourself at the store.
Remote control
It's smart, small and austere. It contains a magnet from below, which holds the controller on the metal grid of the AudioDock and especially on the screen frame of the iMac. That way I can stick the driver and not put it down to have to look for it later. You can use the controller to answer calls, mute the microphone or sound, or control music playback with it.
Office, study and living room
All in all, I can imagine you'll be thrilled with how Audyssey plays and looks and feels good to use. I tried the Audyssey Audio Dock at home for a month and enjoyed using it with my iPad for music and movies. Its biggest competitor is the B&W A5, but I dare not decide which one you get better sound from.
Producer
You can search Audyssey are Americans from Los Angeles, since 2004 they have been developing audio technologies for NAD, Onkyo, Marantz, DENON and others, which roughly agrees that they have used their own tried and tested technologies for home audio under their brand. That's why they can afford a good price when, in my opinion, comparable products from other manufacturers are more expensive. By the way, I found a mention of their digital sound processing (DSP), which IMAX multiplexes also use, so there must be some kind of "sound enhancer" in the Audio Dock. And he's damn good.
What to say in conclusion?
I personally like two things, sound and volume control. The buttons for volume control are directly under the dock connector and are very inconspicuous. An inscription with the name of the manufacturer hides the low-lift buttons connected to the cradle, and most importantly: plus and minus are not described on the button, where there is an increase and where there is a decrease in volume. It's just like always, left to decrease and right to increase the volume. I ran into this with the AeroSkull, for example, where the + and − markings for the volume control on the front teeth spoiled the impression of an otherwise first-class product. Except for the slightly limiting Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi, I find the Audyssey Audio Dock to be my favorite and I can't find an argument against it. Like I said, if you don't have room for a Zeppelin, get an Audyssey or Bowers & Wilkins A5 AirPlay, you won't regret it. Sony, JBL and Libratone at the same price may be close, but when compared there is a difference in favor of Audyssey and Bowers & Wilkins products.
Updated
Audyssey doesn't currently offer many shops, it's a shame, the sound is really excellent. I would have a hard time choosing between the A5 and the Audio Dock, both are pleasant, they suit me. The Count Of Tuscany from Dream Theater on the Audyssey Audio Dock sounds very convincing. You come home, put on the music, and when it starts playing, you look in disbelief at where it's coming from. I enjoyed the Audyssey Audio Dock and it's one of the few AirPlay devices I'd be willing to pay money for. The mentioned model is probably still available in the range from the sale price of 5 to the original 000 CZK, unfortunately I did not have another model called Audyssey Audio Dock Air available, but according to the information on the Internet, it is again a very successful device.
We discussed these living room audio accessories one by one:
[related-posts]
Hello, I would like to ask if these or similar quality speakers are suitable as the primary sound system for a living room (approx. 5×6 m), i.e. music (from an iOS device and an external player), movies and TV? I had wooden 5.1 speakers including meter posts but decided to upgrade to a more compact stereo. I don't require surround sound for movies, what is more important is pure music reproduction (I listen to almost all genres). I still have a fairly decent Pioneer receiver/amplifier from the previous setup. I like AirPlay, but having a speaker of this price just for an iPhone would be an unnecessary luxury for me. Thanks in advance for your answer.
Just because AirPlay speakers are primarily intended for listening to music, at the same time they should be more compact than column speakers. If you want to replace the classic column 5.1, you will move from around 8000 CZK upwards, there is usually enough power there. If you just want it as a background for ironing, JBL/SONY for around CZK 3-5000 already play really well, but they don't have the performance at higher volumes.
Another alternative is to connect an AirPort Express or an Apple TV with an optical output to the existing 5.1 column speaker. The price is 2500-2800 CZK, so it is better to think carefully about what the final condition should be.
I enjoy AirPlay, I reach into my pocket, play music and send it to the speaker on the cabinet. The genius thing is that I don't have to get out of bed in the morning to look for the remote control. I just take my iPhone and in a few seconds my favorite music is playing. This does not work so comfortably with column speakers. I hope I answered…
Thanks for the reply. I already sold the column speaker before moving, so now I'm thinking about what to do next. I would definitely like AirPlay, but the speaker(s) must also support TV and DVD. I was originally thinking about decent classic stereo speakers (maybe with a subwoofer), but the compactness (and in some cases the design) together with your praise of the sound made me think about these special solutions as well. However, in my case it will probably be better to focus on a combination of stereo speakers with an existing amplifier and an Apple TV for AirPlay?
I understand, giving advice on the thin ice of conflicting opinions is not easy.
If I connect an Apple TV to the existing receiver, the AirPlay principle will only be used in half. In order to play music, I have to turn on the receiver. That's so...a little awkward.
The second solution is to start looking at the situation in a different way and for "powerful things" buy classic columns and buy a second audio from the AirPlay speaker category. Like a home theater for movies and in another room some JBL (with WiFi) or one of the better Zeppelin Air or some other of the better AirPlay WiFi solutions.
Personally, I would prefer WiFi, but the network needs to be fine-tuned. AirPlay will not work seamlessly across two walls. If you have well-deployed WiFi and a good network, consider buying a second standalone AirPlay (WiFi, not BT) device. If you have a network that just works and you don't want to invest in it, then it is better to avoid AirPlay solutions.
A well-functioning network is a must for AirPlay functionality.
Thanks for the interesting observations, it's starting to make sense for me. I would like to avoid columns (among other things because I have music and movies in the same room, so why have two speakers there). At the moment it seems like a pretty reasonable solution to me to get something like Zeppelin which has WiFi (deals with iOS devices), optical input (deals with the TV and anything connected to it) and analog input (deals with any other audio source).
I recommend seeing and listening to the active Soundbar and active woofer from Sonos. It is a wireless connection and listening to both your music from the network and internet radio, but also listening to music via AirPlay or digital optical input. Sonos offer unlimited possibilities in terms of 2.0 sound through 2.1, 3.0, 3.1 to 5.1. All active and wireless.
Sonos looks very interesting, but I think its main strength is building a multiroom system. The idea of a complete audio connection in the home is tempting, but the calculator in such a case yields ugly numbers :)
Otherwise, it seems to me that it does not support AirPlay - or, if I understand it correctly, iOS devices were connected via the Dock component, which is probably no longer sold.
I use the Philips Fidelio DS9800W set exactly as you describe: 1) main living room sound system = connection to MMC together with 60″ LED Sharp, 2) music from iDevices via AirPlay. Both work perfectly.
-> http://avmania.e15.cz/philips-fidelio-soundsphere-ds9800w10-luxusni-zvuk-video
Great, I also envy people who also have toys at home :D
// Response to L. Kubín's comment from the previous review, Jarre Aerosystem One - sorry, I didn't notice the reply and the discussion is already closed. //
Unfortunately, none of the devices you mentioned are the ones I had in mind. It is this report: http://avmania.e15.cz/philips-fidelio-soundsphere-ds9800w10-luxusni-zvuk-video
Hello, I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the Philips SB7100 portable speaker - I'm surprised that it's only mono (without buying 2 pcs) and bluetooth only 2.1 - I'm not sure if it's sufficient for playback.