Portable speaker systems came to our life a short time ago. In fact, it is the most important part of a mobile speaker system. Mobile sources, such as iPads, notebooks, smartphones etc., provide a signal actually of the identical quality, but the net result depends on a speaker system and a built-in amplifier. Of course, the competition in this segment is very high, therefore many producers build inside their systems as many different units as possible, such as radio, audio player, alarm clock, etc. But there are producers, who strive to put the whole cost of a device into the sound quality. One of such systems is SVEN PS-100BL.

SVEN PS-100BL Speaker System

It is an active speaker system. Apart from its “direct duties” PS-100BL can be used as an appurtenance, is has a built-in microphone and buttons to control tracks of an external mobile device.

As we have mentioned before, producers decided not to place other structural “luxuries”, evidently to avoid a rise in the cost of device.

One of important advantages of PS-100BL is a built-in support for mobile devices, but we’ll speak about it further. Accordingly, the device has two operation modes; a potential buyer is informed about this by appropriate images on its carton.

Let us open the box and extract the content. There are two cables: USB–micro-USB and mini-Jack–mini-Jack in the package content apart from, naturally, the proper system and Operation Manual.

Appearance and construction

The system reminds visually a very big smartphone, it has black sides, lustrous lengthway framing and rounded corners.

The whole interface is structurally placed alongside. There is a micro USB jack, linear audio input under the mini jack, switch, built-in microphone and LED indicator on one of its sides, PS-100BL is powered via USB and has a built-in battery, i.e. the appliance can be fully autonomous.

There are buttons to control volume level (+/-) and tracks: playback/pause (it also serves the function to connect Bluetooth) and transition to next/previous track on the other panel, which is located perpendicularly.

The Bluetooth indicator is located on the “acoustic” plane close with loudspeakers. By the way, it is made very thoroughly, if you do not know, you can take it for a decorative element.

Operation

A signal can be transmitted both with the help of a “string” via mini jack and via Bluetooth, the appliance supports 2.1 version + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate). It is necessary to press a proper button to connect devices via Bluetooth and the search will start. The appliance identifies devices at once and it is connected without problems.

Turning on.

The lower boundary of the frequency band declared by producers is 80 Hz. The main information of the low-frequency band is heard much better than it would be possible to suppose based on specifications. The deeper “bass notes” succeeded to be attained using passive emitters, you can see them on the photo. You will not hear gun strokes, of course, but such a design has leveled distortions typical for the systems of this class. By and large the sound is even, hardly “flat”, but it is not critical. There is a small accent on the upper frequencies; after the first turning on a pleasant suspicion has even crept in us that strip twitters are used there. But, if you look thoroughly, you can see ordinary loudspeakers through the decorative net, as it is indicated in specifications, each 4 cm in diameter.

When operating with a smartphone, SVEN PS-100BL turns “with a subtle movement of the hand” into an appurtenance. When there is a call, the multifunction button (playback/pause and Bluetooth interconnection) is pressed and you can speak with a caller. After speaking, the playback recommences again.

What is interesting indeed, it is the opening support for portable devices.

With the whole design simplicity and minimum expenses, this feature extends the field of application of PS-100BL substantially; the system can operate as a support in the opened condition. When a smartphone or iPad is placed in it, you are able to watch a movie without thinking “what it should be supported on to prevent it from falling”. As a matter of fact, at that the sound will come from behind and an iPad will block the direct sound-wave propagation, by this means the stereo effect is enhanced a little bit.

Results

SVEN PS-100BL provides quite good sound and combines four devices: a standard computer USB speaker, wireless Bluetooth audio system, appurtenance and support for a mobile gadget. With a quite adequate price this device is able to satisfy completely many amateurs of portable gadgets.