IKEA Frekvens Speaker Review and Teardown
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.พ. 2020
- So...yeah I took apart another IKEA speaker. But is the product of a collaboration with Teenage Engineering something special, or just an ordinary Bluetooth speaker in a flashy enclosure?
Featured music: "Nakoruru Groove" by Dan Mason (danmason.bandcamp.com) and synchro//start (synchrostart.bandcamp.com), from the compilation album Combochamp Vol. 1 (music.businesscasual.biz/albu....
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Additional music: "Blue Nights and Yellow Days", "Outliers", "Smack Dab", "Need to Breathe", "Stay Near" and "Sunset Drive" by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com); "The Process" by Lakey Inspired ( / lakeyinspired); and "Bob Ross Goes to Hollywood" by Birocratic (birocratic.lnk.to/allYL).
Intro music by BoxCat Games (www.box-cat.com). - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
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Not having Alexa or a microphone is my favourite feature!!
Yes! Voice control support on a speaker sounds like a feature that should be optional. _Oh, want Alexa integration? Why not consider just using an Echo Input?_
(Edit: while Google Assistant on my new phone continues to bug me, but I can disable those notifications)
Exactly, it isn't like for at least $100 more they could implement software that enables smart function like that.
You can just buy the ENEBY if you want a plain BT speaker..
@@kbhasi Microphones are not only used for smart assistances, you know?
@@resneptacle
I edited my comment to reflect that.
About half my bluetooth speakers have that startup sound, I think it's more indicative of sharing software than anything else
They are becoming standard audio logos like the ones for play, stop, pause, next, etc.
Yeah I have an akai speaker and it's sounds exactly the same
@@theMF69 I have Bluetooth headphones that do that.
Dilbics Inc.
Same
Yeah, my cheapy Chinese BT car adaptor does the same, seems to be a different chipset from the one in this speaker, too.
Your production quality is great, puts so many other way bigger channels to shame!
Awesome video! Love that you make these reviews of the ikea sound equipment. As others have claimed, there’s very limited info about these so it’s great that you go into such rich detail.
I do like the design. Sort of, 1970's portable radio.
Yeah it's retrofuturism. A lot of designs seem to be going this way, taking the simplicity of old products and mixing it with modern functionality.
@@Ferrichrome Wonder when they start taking ques from the sixties. Finned cars, chrome....
@@Ferrichrome i really want more of this aesthetic
The minimal retro look is this company signature in almost all of their products!Some they even dont have the knobs or the enclosure box to cut production costs and to give freedom to customise them!
Indeed. Reminds me of those nice sounding Proton, Braun and ADS radios/ stereos of the 80s too.
very interesting piece. I really like your delivery style and content decisions. Unfussy, understated and articulate. Subscribed.
VERY informative video. Thank you so much! Currently in Katowice, Poland this speaker is sold for ~21USD. Which I think is a great price for such product, at the initial price you can by almost three units, which together I think can fill a pretty huge room. ;) The lack of BT paring between them sucks though.
So much detail in the review! Thank you.
The info available for these has been thin. This video is very helpful to anyone who saw them on the shelf, but wanted to know more before pulling the trigger.
Very informative and polished, Colin. Thanks for sharing
man I came here to check the product but i fall in love with your attection to constructive details, nice done
Another beautiful video! Thanks, man.
That bluetooth turn on sound is a standard in many bluetooth products. Even my non-ikea mini bluetooth to aux device makes that noise when I turn it on.
You're absolutely correct, the same sound is used in lots of devices. This does not provide any information about the quality or brand.
My $20 Monoprice Bluetooth headphones and a dirt cheap dollar store rechargable shower speaker I got (which sounds stupidly good for the $3 I paid) both make the same sound too.
Its IEC standard bluetooth 🔊 sound
I was going to say this xD
This is because the startup sound is part of the Bluetooth modules firmware and takes up a small portion of its small internal flash memory, some modules have a voice prompt instead.
I picked up two of these with the woofer. Good sound overall and battery to last quite a long time - much longer than the advertised time. I played music in my office for 2.5 work days before it powered down.
I had some waterproof shower speaker that made those exact same sounds too 😂. I immediately recognized it when I heard it in your video.
Same for my JBL headphones!
Same for my anker speaker. The power on sound is the same, but the pairing sound is slightly different.
Ah yes. The $4 ones from AliExpress with a suction cup foot. (I have one too but didn't make the connection until I saw your comment.)
This was excellent! Thank you for putting all this information together 👍
The design reminds me of Dieter Rams' work. I love it.
Great review. And teardown
Thanks for sharing👍😀
big respect for this video. it is very professional and you can tell alot of work went into it!
So well made videos... Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks for making this! Super interesting!
Finally a speaker without smart features and microphones! I really want to buy one now.
The Blitzwolf bluetooth speaker that I got a few years ago has the exact same startup sounds (the last double beep is for when it connects), so it's probably built into the ROM of the whole line of controller chips.
I like the look of that one with the yellow... Super sharp.
All the hackers out there could easily add a USB port and buttons though, just 3D print a new front panel for the bottom part, cut some holes, add the buttons and port, and BAM
Im glad they labeled Aux Out L and aux out R so hopefully you can just cut a trace, wire it up to solve the stereo problem, maybe even just make a DSDT switch to change left and right channels on both speakers at will :D
That Bluetooth startup tone sounds exactly like my Marshall Mid ANC headphones!
Excellent Review .
Nice and informative video. Thanks!
I got the one with the sub. Sound is much more balanced than without it especially since the sub has a level control. You can also get some serious bass out of it.
Great informative video mate
very interesting - as always
Are you sure the volume knob is painted? It could be a double-shot component, with a thin outer layer of black plastic with blue filler.
That Bluetooth control sounds similar to my Weston Bluetooth MMCX cable
I'm not much of an audiophile, but you make this really interesting, Colin. Thanks!
This is probably the most detailed review of a product that clearly doesn’t deserve it.
According to teenage engineering’s Instagram account I saw they answer some stuff that you in curious about. teenage engineering joined as designing overall of its collection but not technical thing.. As intended just for party and also this is limited-run collection I guess IKEA engineers might do cut corners or maybe too many corners ... anyway I love the design and your vid. That’s great bro
I really like that the powersupply is separate inside! My mothers old DAB+ radio had a faulty 12v supply inside and I just swapped that with an external universal laptop supply.
I could probably find a similar supply at my country electronic store, same pinout and size. I have done that to a LCD screen. But it costs. Hehe
The bluetooth startup sound is used in the vast majority of bluetooth audio products (soeakers, headphones, and aux-bluetooth adapters). Ive heard it a million times from various different products and completely seperate companies.
Yep same from $5 Junk mono Bluetooth speakers sold at places like Dollar General, to Philips Bluetooth headphones I've owned that cost me way way more!!!
The speakers they make are made to be simple, they remove things like the USB for most folk that buy a IKEA speaker will have it in a shelf or take them out to the balcony when having a a cup of coffee, and do often fit perfectly into some of IKEAs best selling bookshelf systems. I have a Eneby at home that I'm happy with, I am no huge audiophile and I am even happy with the smaller portable Eneby that just give my phone audio a boost when I am outdoors, this is a speaker for the common Joe and for folk that want some sound but not a party system.
But I has to say this video was great and a good teardown that provide good facts, and I got interested in the speakers after I saw this video for it looks like they fit my needs and design taste.
It’s really interesting to watch how Ikea slowly learns to exist in this (new for them) product category. I’m still waiting for line of speakers that can connect in stereo (like symfonisk line) and have physical input option like jack or optical
I think it's just a matter of time. These first few models have been very low-risk for them since they haven't had to invest much into launching them (basically, just the exterior design). As they get comfortable with selling technology I think they'll be willing to make more advanced products.
Teenage Engineering... Nice looking high quality stuff that is *slightly* overpriced... Nice :D
Baum Inventions yooooooooo Baum 🔥🐲
@@CeziHD Moin Moin du alte Rakete :D
These are manufactured by IKEA. TE did the industrial design and were likely involved in testing. Electrical design and manufacturing was handled by ikea.
Christopher Bolte // BØLT yes...
Hmm, TE seems all over the place in terms of quality and price. The Pocket Operators are great, the OP-1 is lovely but horribly overpriced, and while the OP-Z is terrific and good bit cheaper they've been plagued with production problems including warped units. Perhaps at the bottom of the barrel is their modular analog synths which are unremarkable in terms of sound and features, have bad ergonomics (the cheap hard-on-the-fingers knobs, wobbly rack, etc) and yet are still not especially inexpensive despite requiring customer assembly. And now there are these pretty average mono speakers.
Digging the Lakey Inspired background track.
These speakers have an aesthetic
The boot sound is just the default sound of the Qualcomm chips used on most of the wireless portable speaker around the world.
3:40 always assume with IKEA it's awkward/different because it's also used for something else. IKEA is the Taco Bell of home furniture/accessories: as few ingredients as possible, for as many menu items as possible.
(dark) Blue plastic is the cheapest plastic color to produce/buy. Interestingly, pink is the most expensive.
@@killerkonnat most interesting yet useless fact I've ever read.
... and in the next episode you will be modding the speaker to add a USB port and test media playback right?
Domaudeo I second that!
also redoing the pinout for the output to give stereo playback. Seems like it would be easy to do with the way the analog output is.
I think the key to understand here is that they are party speakers .. extremely loud and solid sound reproduction and it that setting they perform solid. It's also a simple "let's go" design that doesn't require a lot of filtering, mixing, setup, etc as you usually need to do with your PA speakers. They definitely not your casual BT speaker ...
You should try to restore the USB functionally, that would be an interesting video
Reminds me of the Sony TR-1819, the cube transistor radio from the 1960s.
This looks pretty easy to repair when it breaks down. Except this chip that you couldn't find datasheet. Also it has really interesting design :D
I was briefly considering this setup, but not being able to have stereo is downright stupid. Thank you for the review.
The USB socket is easy enough to add. Does the main circuit bord offer the possibility to add the buttons to? Or do they need to be connected to the legs of that blue board?
I have got this at a special price $25.
I am so happy on its great sound.
If you are making a limited edition speaker it makes sense to use a discarded chip batch :) nice analysis!
Let's hope they make a Andraby with more features!
Thanks! The most important info - whether it can play stereo. I have no idea why anyone even bothers manufacturing something that can't do stereo - complete waste of money, resources, time, marketing, oportunity... everything.
Will you do a video on the teardown of the new UE Wonderboom?
Edit: That thing packs a punch for sure
Where did you get the background on your Mac from?
Can you please do a video in witch you can tell the options of running them in stereo and also mod for the USB? Thanks
My AmazonBasics Bluetooth speaker also makes the same noises and has an AUX input jack. Seems like this is just a fancy case with off-the-shelf parts stuffed into it.
Ayyyyyyy Birocratic. I love Bob Ross goes to Hollywood
Pretty much every bluetooth device I have makes the same sound. Everyone is using the same code it appears. Also, Teenage engineering is pretty great. Design between the two seemed like a no-brainer.
2:00 That reminds me: The Singaporean IKEA stores don't seem to stock the ENEBY batteries, so they probably won't stock batteries for these either, although I believe the last time I checked was in November 2019.
8:28 I now believe that's the reason why a lot of Likebook e-reader models use the Rockchip RK3368, as they don't provide Android development targets for Android 7 and newer for that, only 5 and 6.
That power on counds a lot like old Bluetooth headsets by Plantronics I believe.
The tweeter is not flush with front panel. This setup creates harsh directional high end if not some resonance due to reflections of the sucken edge.
Is that FM-84’s “Atlas” album art as Colin’s desktop picture?
I mean no joke: this modular system and creative possibilities to stick these together and how insanely crazy they look afterwards habe me hooked!
I am seriously considering spending 300 bugs on sone ikea boxes although i got better ones, just to have these otherwordly E S T H E T I C S in my room :D
Love your videos so much
Keep up the great work!
3:12 hey my Westinghouse sound at makes the same power on noise, not the same pairing noise though
Can you try to solder a usb cable and some push buttons to test if the USB functionality does really work?
Excelente información.!
that sound powering on, i have the same sound on a phillips bt110A
I've been in Ikea last week and these are selling like hotcakes, some hipsters were literally buying whole sets of the speakers and connected lights/strobo sets.
bruh, hipsters died in 2014
If you look at some of the products on Teenage Engineering’s web site, you can see the design language from the speaker.
I wonder if soldering a USB port to the leads would allow playback from a USB stick in some way. Maybe some undisclosed series of clicks on the only button, like old iPod Shuffles.
Do people still do that? Why... I’d like to see what I’m playing, and be able to search for albums so my phone works the best with Spotify and my local flacs as well, so I can’t imagine having to use something like a shuffle. Technically you can get a Chinese usb player with a phono out and just plug it in, but usually that requires a separate power supply. You’d have to do heavy modding to just play off a usb drive direct.. maybe a raspberry pi could be programmed to be a brain to change and display current song and it could fit inside the speaker and probably could take a 5v line to power the pi BUT STILL ITS SO MUCH EFFORT because I doubt the chips inside are capable of usb support BUT AGAIN WHY it’s cheaper and much less hassle to get a MP3 player or a cheap phone and use that via Bluetooth or audio jack. OR even better, just buy something that does what you want out the box, if usb is what you really want..
@@maksqwe1 99.9% curiosity and discovery, 0.1% to actually use it.
Daisy chaining these speakers as they were designed to, audio will get more distorted down the line due to A/D, D/A conversions, while I do appreciate the simple way it works without needing to pair or set up using any app, it could be better considering now true wireless stereo has come to fruition.
Op-1 squad here.
I want the pocket one just for looks alone, but I already have a better speaker and a nice stereo.
Also my TDK speaker from like 5 or 7 years ago also makes the same bluetooth sound.
There was supposed to be a turntable available too. Seems like it was cancelled?
I really like the look. Might put one in the kitchen for casual radio/podcast listening
Please do a video on the tiny speaker
I noticed the speaker's PCB silkscreen says "AUX-OUTR" under the output jack...is there any truth to that?
The fact that you can get a good idea of what it sounds like from pointing a mic at it and listening with good headphones is alarming. If this is fairly good compared to most bluetooth speakers, I don't think I'll be buying a bluetooth speaker any time soon.
Interesting analysis. A newish product line at a global scale. Tbh I feel adding buttons need for usb playback along with the port would make the product too busy. I mean just look at the back of the display model in the store with the sub attached. Also the only mono thing is anything for audio people but IKEA’s target market is a lot bigger than audio people. If they added a toggle or something most people would just intentionally or accidentally bump it to the left or right channel for the life of the product. And either not notice or think their speaker sounds bad or is broken.
What if you DIY add in the missing USB socket and buttons❓ Does it can play "anything" from a USB drive❓
And now I am wondering if you put in a USB port and added the buttons would it actually work?
TE has a pinned group of stories called "Q&A" where is also written :
please note:
we're only responsible for the design [...] regarding manifacturing and technical concerns, please ask IKEA.
So TE designed only the "shell" for the audio hardware.
Do you think it is possible to add the USB port and use a usb-stick as source of music?
Thank you for the video!
Simo
subwoofer review plzzz
Honestly haven't found a BT speaker to beat the HK Go & Play 2016 for $150 on discounts. It's amazing. Powerful bass like JBL, but with really good highs and mids, without muffled sound which JBL have to achieve heavy bass.
Besides Ikeas line of Bluetooth speakers, what is the best quality for your money? I have a Bose portable, and so far it's sound and portability haven't been beaten for me in 5 years. What would you recommend?
Nathan Surrett just skip this thing cause this limited collection are intended to just use as make a party at home
My Behringer speakers use the same startup sound. I think it is just a standard chinese Bluetooth chip.
they could've just added a "L/mono/R" switch in the back and just pass through the stereo signal to line out so each speaker can just play the signal it needs. that's literally one switch they've saved there...
Not surprised to see them use some discontinued chip seeing this is a limited single run production item, they will simply order a quantity and that be it. So yeah if you can get a batch of chips no one else wanted to begin with and certainly not now as they aren't made anymore a product like this is ideal for it.
awesome content
No one wants your tracks.
Haha instant I saw this thing I thought 'hmm looks a bit like Teenage Engineering design'.
Are these speakers shielded?
Colin I've been meaning to ask : is there a way to run two Enebys in stereo? I'm considering picking some up but only if I can assign the left channel to one and the right channel to the other. Either wirelessly, or via cabling (but wireless would be better). Thanks man, brilliant audio ep as usual
Yeah, you’d need to use an analog splitter cable to send one channel to each speaker, I don’t think there’s a way to do it with Bluetooth.
@@ThisDoesNotCompute That might depend. I have a Galaxy S9 and it can connect multiple BT devices. Also seems it could and assign them to L/R channels. Never tried, as I have only one BT speaker, but I *think* that's the way it works.
EDIT: great video Colin, as always.
Yeah if you have a device that can multi-pair that way, it would be a slick setup. Bummer the Bluetooth module in the speaker can’t do it, because there are some other speakers that can.
I don't know of a wireless way to do it, but I put my pair of Enebys in stereo using an "old skool" approach... 3.5mm stereo jack to L/R RCA cable... then took the Left RCA output and attached a cable to it that fed it into the L and R of a RCA-to-3.5mm stereo jack. Repeat for the Right. The result was a single stereo 3.5mm jack split to two stereo 3.5mm jacks... one for the Right, the other for the Left. Attach each of those output 3.5mm jacks to each Eneby.
(if you hear a thud, it is from audiophiles laughing so hard at my "solution" that they fell off their chairs) LOL
The 12" Enebys sound terrific in this configuration and I ran some audio tracks through them to confirm stereo separation. I give up wireless, but I control input via a switchbox to switch between (record player, cassette deck, Chromecast Audio, and TV)
It was Colin's review on the Enebys that got me hooked on them. Thanks Colin!
I connect each Eneby to a 3.5mm stereo to female RCA adapter then to L/R RCA cables,
Which channel is played on the speaker? Left, right or both? If they only play one channel directly and have stereo on line out, it at least would be realistically possible to get stereo out of these.
Both channels get summed to mono.
from other reviews...there is a teenager design web, you can dl accessories make in 3d printer
0:23 what are those little on board pcbs called?
I can't think of a technical term for them, I think they're just called modules.
the Frekvens name is smart marketing...
it has the letters of FREE !
which makes you read it twice and not just brush it off when looking at devices on a shelf