Hands-On: HUAWEI Sound X, a Wireless Speaker with Remarkable Bass
In recent years, we've seen all sorts of speakers flooding into the market, but most of these are lower end devices which offer nothing but a voice assistant and mediocre sound in exchange for their relatively low price.
That's
why it's so refreshing to see the HUAWEI Sound X putting the focus firmly back
on audio quality. Huawei has co-engineered the Sound X with Devialet, and the
French audio giant has certainly brought a lot to the table. Powerful
subwoofers, SAM® (Speaker Active Matching) bass enhancement technology, and
Push-Push acoustic configuration combine to deliver a high fidelity audio
experience. The Sound X also showcases handy features like OneHop Audio
Sharing, so you get a good experience as well as fantastic sound.
Superior bass: Subwoofers and
SAM® technology
As
any audiophile will tell you, powerful bass can improve any genre of music by
enriching the tapestry of sound and enhancing the sense of rhythm. Lossless
music, when played through subwoofers, simply makes for a more immersive
listening experience.
To
achieve the best possible bass effects, Huawei has fitted the Sound X with two
customized Devialet subwoofers which fill any normal-sized room with surging
and powerful sound. Theoretically, the size limitations of Bluetooth speakers
take a toll on the quality of low-frequency sound. But the Sound X makes up for
this with its magnetic rare-earth materials. It can hit amplitudes of up to 20
mm, so it's certainly not lacking in the power department.
I
tested the Sound X with Billie Eilish's Bad Guy in a regular sized
living room. With the Bluetooth audio volume set to about 50%, I could hear the
tune clearly wherever I was in the room, with the sound output fluctuating
between 65 dB and 85 dB. I turned my phone's volume to maximum, and the speaker
hit highs of 109 dB (at 110 dB you begin to feel uncomfortable, while 120 dB is
equivalent to an electric saw). So whether you're kicking back on the sofa or
dancing vigorously, the Sound X will provide the perfect backing track.
As
well as its powerful volume, the bass produced by the Sound X is boosted by
Devialet's SAM® bass enhancement technology. This means it can adapt sound
signals in real-time to match the specific characteristics of the speaker, and
ensure that the acoustic pressure reproduced by the speaker precisely matches
the original recording. As a result, when you listen to music, it's like you're
right there in the place where the track was originally recorded.
For
anyone who doesn't know Devialet, it's one of the world's top professional audio
brands, and has played a key role in the advancement of acoustic technology,
thanks to over a decade of relentless R&D. Devialet's goal is to make
immersive, distortion-free Hi-Fi audio universally accessible, so it's no
surprise that Huawei wanted to recruit the brand to co-develop the Sound X.
In
practice, the bass produced by the Sound X can hit as low as 40 Hz, which
really does shake you to the core. Details of the bass parts in The Who's My
Generation which I don't get when I listen with my earphones are faithfully
and meticulously reproduced by the Sound X. The drums are hard-hitting and the
bass is booming.
Hi-Fi stereo sound: Crisp highs
and rich midrange
In
addition to remarkable bass, the Sound X also delivers crisp treble and rich
midrange, which work together to create a 360° high-fidelity sound field.
Most
speakers struggle beyond 8 kHz, whereas the Sound X hits as high as 40 kHz. In
terms of distortion, maximum sound pressure (the Sound X can reach a staggering
93 dB), and gain flatness, the Sound X performs admirably. Even when you play
faster paced songs, like The Strokes' Reptilia or Juicebox, the
vocals are crystal clear, and none of the songs' detail is lost.
When
it comes to nailing the perfect listening experience, the sound field is just
as important as sound quality. Some speakers sound great in the store, but
disappoint when you set them up at home. This is because the sound effect is
affected by the environment where the speaker is located. This is true of the
cinema, too. It's only when you're sitting in one of just a few seats that you
get the full Dolby Audio effect. To tackle this issue, Huawei has fitted the
Sound X with six powerful full-frequency tweeters, which are evenly distributed
in a ring. This setup produces stunning surround sound effects, and you can
hear high-fidelity sound radiating in a 360° sound field wherever you stand.
Design: A premium-looking speaker
Now
let's turn to the appearance of the Sound X.
The
speaker has a sleek, black body. Its glossy upper part has been created using
an advanced electroplating process. The interior is coated with premium,
impact-resistant polycarbonate material which protects its components. The lower
part of the speaker is covered in a fine mesh, which helps the audio signals
move freely and sound clear.
On
the top of the Sound X, there are touch-sensitive buttons which you can use to
mute the speaker, configure the network, and adjust the volume. Around these
buttons there are 12 RGB tri-color lights which spin and dance when you do
things like use voice commands or pair to other devices. When you’re playing
music, you can see the two subwoofers vibrating, and this stops dust from
accumulating.
The
Sound X also features OneHop Audio Sharing, so you can switch music or calls
from your phone to the speaker with just one tap.
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