{"id":2335,"date":"2013-08-02T07:48:43","date_gmt":"2013-08-02T07:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gadgets.itwriting.com\/?p=2335"},"modified":"2013-08-02T07:48:43","modified_gmt":"2013-08-02T07:48:43","slug":"review-bayan-audio-soundbook-bluetooth-dock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/2335-review-bayan-audio-soundbook-bluetooth-dock.html","title":{"rendered":"Review: Bayan Audio Soundbook Bluetooth dock"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bayan Audio Soundbook<\/a> is a portable wireless speaker system for your smartphone, MP3 player, tablet or laptop. Oh yes, and an FM radio too.<\/p>\n

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It measures 160 x 88 x 38 mm \u2013  chunky for a portable unit, and at 530g not that light, though heavy is often good when it comes to audio. Not something for a pocket or small handbag, but fine to tuck in your case.<\/p>\n

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The unit feels solid and has an unusual design. The front flaps down and folds back to make a stand, and the action of opening it also switches the device on. Hence the Soundbook name: open and play.<\/p>\n

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This is a Bluetooth 4.0 device, and supports A2DP and aptX for high quality audio. Pairing your smartphone is a snap, with no codes involved. It also supports NFC (Near Field Communications), which worked well using a couple of Android devices I tried, a Nexus 7 tablet and a Sony Xperia phone. Just tap against the NFC logo on the underside of the flap, and a dialog appears to confirm the connection.<\/p>\n

The Soundbook, in combination with your mobile, is also a speakerphone. There is a built-in microphone, and it behaves like a Bluetooth headset, pausing the music to let you take a call and resuming afterwards.<\/p>\n

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You can also connect without Bluetooth, using an input on the rear. Finally, there is an output jack socket so you can use the Soundbook as a wireless input to your hi-fi.<\/p>\n

Battery life is up to 10 hours for radio or wired connections, shorter if you are using Bluetooth. <\/p>\n

The USB power connector is the Mini-B type. A shame that Bayan did not choose the Micro-B standard which is now more common.<\/p>\n

So how is it? It seems a lot of thought has gone into the design and the flexibility is impressive. The actual sound quality though is only so-so, thanks to the small 1″ internal speakers, and lacking in bass despite a 2″ passive bass radiator. It is stereo, though you will not notice unless you are very close and I wonder if Bayan should have borrowed an idea from Logitech\u2019s excellent Squeezebox or UE Radio<\/a>, and gone for mono. At maximum volume it is pretty loud though rather strident.<\/p>\n

Still, this is all a matter of expectations. It is miles better than the tinny speaker built into your smartphone or tablet, and the speakerphone feature is useful.<\/p>\n

The FM radio is not too good unless, perhaps, you are particularly close to the transmitter. Bayan says there is \u201can advanced integrated FM antenna\u201d but in practice I found it difficult to get decent reception other than for a couple of local stations, and even then only after careful placement. There are no presets; you have to press and hold tune up and tune down buttons to scan for channels, which is inconvenient.<\/p>\n

You cannot switch between Bluetooth sources other than by disconnecting the current source in order to connect another. However, it will remember up to 4 pairings at a time.<\/p>\n

Pros and cons<\/h3>\n

The Bayan Soundbook is nicely designed and supremely flexible. I particularly like the speakerphone capability, which means you can stick this on your desk, enjoy the music, but still take hands-free calls.<\/p>\n

That said, if this is a device for a desk, Bayan should have made it a bit larger and bumped up the sound quality.<\/p>\n

This is best for portable use then, for which it is not bad, though a little bulky and heavy. I could more easily forgive that if the sound quality were just a bit better.<\/p>\n