boynq iCube II Conclusion

Performance Testing

The sound quality performance evaluation using the iCube II was done with my iPod Nano 2GB. I used MP3s with bit rates of 128kbps and 320kbps. A wide selection of classical, rock, alternative and hip-hop music was used in the evaluation.

The initial listening sessions with the iCube II proved that it is relatively capable of handling different genres of music. It won’t blow you away when you first hear it – my initial impression was that the iCube II performs as well as can be expected for such a diminutive sized speaker dock. The vocals were produced clearly and midrange frequencies were true to the source material, with tonal quality did not sound as full or as well-rounded as other speakers. This type of sound that is typical of iPod speaker docks.

However, the lows and highs were simply not impressive. The high frequencies were not smooth and often sounded harsh – especially when turning the volume up past the 1 /2 way point. Low end frequencies were absent for the most part, and I have a very hard time believing the small full-range speakers were producing anywhere near the reported 20Hz range.

The soundstage produced by the iCube II is adequate, with a fairly wide presence produced by the two speakers on each side of the unit. The soundstage provides a number of good listening positions even if you are not directly in line with the speakers – which is a positive feature for such a small audio device.

Given the size of the 2 speakers in the iCube II, the sound was not particularly surprising. I was not expecting to hear emphatic, punchy bass from a portable MP3 docking station. I was hoping that the mid-range and high frequencies would be smoother and fuller, but at the end of the day you really have to consider the price tag in the equation and adjust your expectations accordingly. The expectations for a $49 USD iPod sound dock cannot be set too high.

Portability and Other Considerations

With the small size of the iCube II, I would consider portability to also be an important to consider. After all, what good is a sweet sounding set of iPod speakers if you can’t easily carry them with your iPod? In this area, there are some definite positives and some clear negatives with this unit from boynq. First, the small size and light weight of the iCube II make it very easy to transport. The cube shape makes it easy to pop it in a backpack or a suitcase for traveling.

On the other hand, there is no battery power option with the iCube II and it also does not include any sort of carrying case. This means that you always need a power plug nearby if you want to fire up some tunes on the iCube. It also means that without a carrying case you are running the risk of scratching the unit during transport. These points are not surprising considering the price tag of the unit, but would have been nice additions to the overall package nonetheless.

boynq iCube II Speaker Dock

The boynq iCube II has a very sleek design, sync and recharge capability with your PC, compatibility with nearly all types of iPods and a number of cords included in the package. I really liked the simple design and the small size of the unit. With its low price tag, it does provide a good bang for your buck choice for an iPod speaker dock.

The biggest drawback to the iCube is the less than stellar sound quality - and this leaves me with a bit of a "sour note" after using it for a couple of weeks. My standards may be too high, but I expected more from the unit. I expect better sound from this type of iPod sound dock than what you would hear with the standard set of iPod earbuds, and in this case the end result was not an improvement.

Pros: Sleek design and very budget friendly price, easy setup, compatibility with nearly all iPods and other MP3 players.

Cons: Less than stellar sound quality, not easily portable.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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