Frequency response: 58 Hz to 20 kHz, ±11.4 dB
Distortion: 0.8%
MCMäxxx™: 91 dB
Battery life: NA
With a fairly smooth midrange from 200 Hz to 2.5 kHz, the SC-HC05 delivers admirable response for this product category. While there’s a huge treble peak at 11 kHz, the depression in the treble from 2.5 to 9 kHz is far more audible, and certainly the cause of my complaints about the SC-HC05’s slightly dull sound. Aggressive bass tuning gives the unit a large output peak at 68 Hz, but it also gives the unit a subjectively fuller sound.
$179 panasonic.com
Best for: Goldman Sachs offices, designer kitchens, iPod diehards
Worst for: travelers
MANY BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS seem like they’re designed for 18-year-old girls, but the SC-HC05 would look right at home on Timothy Geithner’s desk. Panasonic’s new micro-perforated stainless steel grille and the unit’s sleek, simple chassis (available in black or white) give it an “adult” look suited to a demographic that might never consider jazzy designs like the Creative D100 or the Jawbone Jambox.
The SC-HC05’s features also put it in a different category. In addition to Bluetooth streaming, it has a fold-down iPod/iPhone dock. It’s the only unit here that comes with a remote control. The driver complement easily outclasses that of most other Bluetooth speakers. It’s got two 2.5-inch woofers, two 0.6-inch tweeters, and four passive radiators for bass reinforcement. The top has just three controls: on/off and volume up and down. It plugs straight into the wall — no wall wart required — and it’s clearly not designed for portable use.
The SC-HC05 is the only one of these systems with enough oomph to replace a small conventional stereo. The midrange detail made the piano, guitar, and voices in “Lu” from Laura Nyro’s Eli and the 13th Confession stand out in the tune’s somewhat confused mix. Although the SC-HC05 looks too reserved to play Mötley Crüe’s “Girls Girls Girls,” it did it damned well. The soft spot is the treble, which, despite the presence of the tweeters, sounded soft and uninvolving.
After I tested the SC-HC05 but before I knew its price, I had it pegged at about $300. The fact that this handsome, good-sounding system costs just $179 makes it the best bargain I’ve found in a Bluetooth speaker system.
With a fairly smooth midrange from 200 Hz to 2.5 kHz, the SC-HC05 delivers admirable response for this product category. While there’s a huge treble peak at 11 kHz, the depression in the treble from 2.5 to 9 kHz is far more audible, and certainly the cause of my complaints about the SC-HC05’s slightly dull sound. Aggressive bass tuning gives the unit a large output peak at 68 Hz, but it also gives the unit a subjectively fuller sound.
>Why would I bother with it when my Droid can not only play music but also access Internet radio, stream video from YouTube . . . and, of course, make phone calls?
Uh... because you can carry your whole music library around with you?
Am I the only person left who thinks Internet radio is fine for talk radio and selected musical subjects, but just plain sucks when it comes to playing what music I want to hear RIGHT NOW?
My Droid holds 16 GB of music on its SD card. That's enough for me.
It's a pity you didn't include the new Bose Soundlink mobile as it is probably the most powerful portable Bluetooth speaker with this size that I have heard so far. It has a bit muffled treble but when listening to it outside at higher levels this is not an issue.
I would love to see some frequency response graphs from it as I cannot do them by myself with such a technical precision.
@oluv: There's been a lot of interest in that device, but the newer Bose wasn't actually available at the time we did this roundup, so we couldn't test it. We did do a day-of-release post about it (http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/bose-soundlink-wireless-mobile-...) that discussed its amplifier power, but we haven't been able to get a review unit in as yet.
Would appreciate a review with proper measurements for the Bose Soundlink mobile. It seems like a good buy.
With regard to Oluv's view on the muffled treble, was wondering if using a good equalizer app like PowerAmp would solve the issue. I've downloaded the app on my Galaxy Note. It really makes the songs come to life and gives you the freedom to adjust the 10 band equalizer as well as bass and treble.