IKEA's Symfonisk bookshelf speaker is reportedly getting an upgrade, though audio performance doesn't seem to improve.
Spotted by Dutch tech website Tweakers, the new bookshelf speaker (which costs the same as its previous iteration) will receive processor and memory upgrades to help it run faster, and its standby power consumption is expected to improve. decrease from 2,55 W to 2,05 W.
You'll also notice that its external buttons have been subtly rearranged and the power cord is now 2m instead of 1,5m, making it easy to connect the speaker to a distant power outlet.
However, unlike the store page that touted the September 2021 update to the Symfonisk table lamp, the new library entry makes no mention of improved audio performance, suggesting that this is an area that players need. users will not see improved.
We had a chance to review the original Symfonisk bookshelf speaker back in 2019 and found it to be an attractive and affordable entry into the excellent Sonos ecosystem, even if it lacked the audio finesse you'd get from a device like the Sonos One.
That said, the Sonos One is twice the price of the bookshelf speaker and offers no other features besides being a smart speaker. The real advantage of the Symfonisk range is that the speakers double as other useful items such as a bookshelf, lamp or wall mural.
These alternate form factors allow users to create a complete audio system setup without the need to find dedicated space for speakers that serve no other purpose.
For those looking to get the most out of their bookshelf speaker as a bookshelf, these upgrades, especially the longer cable, should help you achieve those goals.
Currently, the new speaker does not appear in Ikea stores in the US, UK or Australia; however, given the current iteration of Symfonisk's release in these regions, we hope that the new model will not remain a Dutch-exclusive device for long.
An IKEA spokesperson told us so when we asked. Most European markets can expect the new speaker to launch this month, while those in the US, Canada and Asia-Pacific will have to wait until around April 2022 before launching before I can get my hands on it.
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