The Sleek-Looking SoundToGo
The Edifier SoundToGo is a small tube-shaped system with five speakers - four one-inch speakers and one oval-shaped bass speaker in the center. The SoundToGo is a sleek-looking piece with a brushed aluminum finish and black metal grille. It's designed to sit on a laptop computer, just beneath the screen with the speakers facing the listener. It connects to a USB port on a computer for both power and sound. Just connect it to a USB port with the supplied cable, fire up iTunes or connect an MP3 player via the AUX input and listen. It comes supplied with USB and AUX cables and a soft cloth sleeve for storing when traveling.
Looks Can be Deceiving
At first look, the SoundToGo didn't convince this serious music listener that its small speakers have the stuff to sound any better than a cheap pocket radio or the speakers built into my laptop. Then I picked it up and noticed its solid construction quality and clean look. I plugged it into my laptop and was immediately impressed with its clarity, definition and overall fidelity. Thoughts of a cheap pocket radio vanished and were replaced with remarkably clear sound from a very compact computer speaker system.
To be clear, the Edifier SoundToGo is not a full range speaker, even though it has a bass speaker. A subwoofer would be required for substantial bass. However, its lean bass performance is overshadowed by its very distinct midrange clarity, openness and good top-end detail. It's quite easy to listen to with music and voice. It has excellent low-level fidelity but it can also play much louder and still sound clean. It's a real surprise when you hear it.
Features
Although it's designed for laptops, the SoundToGo was a bit too large for my Mac laptop and it blocked the bottom of the screen and covered the function keys. Not all laptops are the same, so check the photos and the dimensions at the end of the article to find out if it fits on your computer. Regardless, setting it next to the computer on a desk or on a nearby shelf worked well.
The Edifier has a push-button volume control that when pressed once increases volume and when pressed and held, the volume decreases. It's very simple to use.
Conclusion & Specifications
The $49.95 Edifier SoundToGo is a clear improvement over a computer's built-in speakers and a good alternative to headphones while working on a laptop or desktop computer. It won't rattle your desk with deep bass, but its high fidelity sound offers clarity and detail and sounds great with all kinds of music or talk. Its compact size fits easily in a laptop bag for traveling and it can be used with an iPod or MP3 player. It's a great idea for anyone who spends a lot of time working on a computer and enjoys listening to music or talk at the same time.
Specifications
- Power output: 2 x 2W RMS
- THD: <1%
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 10.28" x 1.4" x 1.73"
- Price: $49.95
- Contact: edifier-international.com