Monday, September 19, 2011

SoundFreaq Sound Platform SFQ-01 Rocks!



It's the SoundFreaq Sound Platform SFQ-01 and I'm in love! Starting up this small but powerful single-piece speaker system in the morning got me to continuously use it for the rest of the day. It's that good and convenient!


I was able to use the Sound Platform to play audio for music, video, games and apps wirelessly, docked or through line in connection. Since it is compatible to most mobile devices with AD2P Bluetooth capability, I was able test it using my HP Laptop, BlackBerry, Nokia, iPad, and iPod Classic.


Unboxing the SoundFreaq Sound Platform, there's the main unit, small remote control loaded with lithium coin battery, switch power adapter, adapter cable, two dock adapters, and the SoundFreaq quick-guide. 


The front panel is where the main controls of the Sound Platform are located. Pictured above, the left-most part has the switches or knobs for U-Cubed, Bass, and Treble, which I'll talk about below. The center part has the dock for the different generations of iPod Classic, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, and iPhone. Meanwhile, the right-most section has the capacitive touch keys of play, pause, mute, power, volume, pair, and source.


Turning the SoundFreaq Sound Platform to the right side will reveal a push-to-open compartment, where the remote control can be secured by a magnet for quick and convenient use.

I have tested the remote control by pointing it towards the front, side, and back of the speaker, and it still worked! It has the same keys (but not touch) as to the one in the front panel, and can be pressed without much efforts.  


Flipping the speaker to the back will reveal the ports for the switch power adapter (lower-left), Aux In for connecting of external equipment (lower-center), and FM.ANT for plugging of FM antenna to use it as digital radio (beside Aux In, too small to be seen in the picture).

Reasons why SoundFreaq Sound Platform rocks:


1. It has a U-Cubed (U-Q3) that produces clear, crisp sound
SoundFreaq features a "U-Cubed" sound effect that is a proprietary technology designed to create an ultra wide stereo sound field in digital music systems. With exceptional natural sound reproduction of high definition and fidelity, the speaker creates a listening experience where I felt like the speakers are separated much more than they are.

When U-Cubed is turned on, the Bass and Treble knobs will automatically be deactivated, since the sound quality is optimized and adjusted accordingly to make it produce an amazing sound. On the contrary, if the U-Cubed feature is off, both the Bass and Treble can be adjusted up to +3 or -3.

I love speakers with strong bass, so I can surely feel the beat of dance music. The Sound Platform did not only gave me that, but so much more! Whether it is on U-Cubed or not, the sound comes out excellently.

I didn't hear any noise or distortions in sound quality for the long duration that I used it. Both the audio's instruments and the voices are clearly heard too.


2. It's wireless capability allows multitasking
Most of the devices today are designed for multi-tasking. SoundFreaq knows about this, so they gave the option to have our gadgets sit in a dock or be connected wirelessly.

Today, I was able to enjoy the freedom of wireless listening. I got to stream audio directly from my smart devices while writing e-mails, browsing the web, listening to music, watching movies, playing games, and using countless apps without ever missing a beat.

SoundFreaq allowed me to keep my devices exactly where I wanted and needed it -- in my hand. That's convenience over there.


3. It is very easy to setup, pair, and navigate
Simply pulling it out from the box and plugging in the switch power adapter will instantly allow the use of the SoundFreaq speakers. In addition, even after using the Sound Platform for several hours, the switch power adapter wasn't warm at all, which means that it uses little electricity.

Since it can be used with iPod, Bluetooth or Aux In, simply tapping the "Source" key will allow the change in audio source. When wanting to use with any device with AD2P Bluetooth capability, just tap the "Pair" and it's good to go. No passwords, no hassle in pairing devices.

When used with an iPad or iPhone, there's a full remote control app available at the App Store for free. Although I was able to play audio from several apps (GoodReader, E-Mail and iFiles) via Bluetooth, specifically using the SoundFreaq app will only show the song playlist from the native player of the iPad.


4. Sound Platform is not too heavy and not too big
With its size and weight, I can simply transfer it around the house for whatever purpose it may serve. The SoundFreaq speaker is stylish and doesn't take too much space wherever I place it. It's really great to bring to friends' house parties too!

To add, I was also happy to see that my iPod Classic got fully charged after using it for a few hours. Look, it doubles as a charger too! Yay!


5. It is compatible today and tomorrow
AD2P Bluetooth is supported by all of today's most popular device manufacturers and operating systems for mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, laptops and computers.

Because of this wireless standard for mobile devices, I am confident that SoundFreaq Sound Platform will work not only with the gadgets I own today, but with any future mobile devices I plan to buy. As I upgrade to tomorrow's smart phones, laptops, tablets and other devices, I will definitely still be able to enjoy them with Sound Platform.

Suggested Retail Price: Php9,950.00

Available at the following stores:
  • Beyond The Box
  • Digital Hub
  • Digital Walker
  • Gadgets In Style
  • Gui - Davao
  • Heima
  • iCenter - Davao
  • iStudio
  • Mobile 1
  • Power Hub – Davao
  • Power Mac Center
  • Switch
  • Technoholics
  • Xsite Mobile

4 comments:

This is nice Glenn :) Is it worth the price?!

I actually think that the price is a bit steep. Not sure how much sound systems cost nowadays, but if we're talking about technology longevity (point #5 above) and the awesome features this SoundFreaq speakers give, I think it's worth the price.

Then again there are a lot of cheaper media systems that can get online and can be remotely managed like Linksys or Netgear.. pricewise they are a little more than that but you can actually get more.

Well, the unique selling proposition of this one is its sound quality and standard bluetooth capability (wireless) aside from the usual docked speakers. It does not have the capability to go online.

In products such as this, there will always be something cheaper and/or better, but its up to the consumer why it will get sold. It has its strengths and weaknesses, just as other devices do.

To add, Linksys and Netgear aren't known for being speaker manufacturers per se unlike SoundFreaq, which is why the latter has the edge in terms of research and development.

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