boynq Sabre

The Sabre is the latest made-for-iPod stereo speaker system from boynq, and it is targeted toward budget-conscious consumers who like their iPod gadgets to come with an abundance of style. The Sabre aims to combine unique styling with full-range sound into a compact-sized iPod speaker dock. The truly unique boynq offering definitely does stand out in a crowded market of iPod speaker docks. But with the flashy style aside, how does it deliver in terms of sound quality and value? Read on as we aim to find out exactly where the Sabre excels and where it falls short.

Design

Out of the box the styling of the Sabre is what immediately jumps out to you – the design is meant to turn heads. Two 3” speakers on each side are enveloped by the curvaceous center console, where the iPod dock and basic controls are mounted. Each driver on the sides of the Sabre has a hole-punch style grille that protects the speakers from getting damaged.

The curved, silver-and-black styling gives the Sabre an almost futuristic look. It would blend well with modern décor surroundings, as well as silver and black colored iPods. Next to the Sabre, my 2G Nano looks ancient in comparison.

Designed to be paired with all types of iPods, the Sabre includes a wide array of adaptors that allow docking for nearly all of the various iPod models. In case you would rather use the Sabre with an MP3 player from a different manufacturer, it also includes a line-in 3.5mm stereo jack to connect with any other type of MP3 player. With size dimensions of only 3.9" high, 5.9" wide, and 7.9" deep, the Sabre occupies minimal space and can be easily blended into the surroundings of a small bedroom or office area.

Features

• Docking station for recharging and synchronization of the iPod via USB or FireWire cable
• 2 x 10W RMS full range drivers
• Includes 6 different size inserts to fit all sizes of iPod
• 3.5mm Stereo line in feature for iPod (cable included)
• Line out for connection to home stereo (cable included)
• Video out for connection to television (cable included)
• Treble and bass controls for optimal sound control
• AC-power adaptor included (100~240V)
• Frequency range 20Hz – 20KHz

Out of the Box Setup

The test unit came in black and silver finish (also available in pink) and included the following::

• Sabre stereo speaker
• 6 inserts for iPod models
• AC-power adaptor
• Line-in cable
• Line-out cable
• S-Video cable
• Equalizer card
• User Manual

Setup was extremely simple and took only a few minutes to unpack the Sabre and to get it running. It involved picking the right adapter for my iPod Nano 2GB, attaching it to the Sabre, docking the iPod into the unit and then plugging in the AC power adapter. Overall, the set up was very easy and anyone can have it up and running and ready to play music in no time.

Additionally, there is a pass-through port in the back of the unit that can be used as a computer dock. Also included are line-in and line-out ports and an S-Video output. Along with the included stereo audio out, auxiliary audio in, and S-Video to composite video converter cable, these ports allow Sabre to serve as either a full iPod dock or a speaker system with docked iPod or auxiliary audio. Despite all of these connection options, what is noticeably missing from the unit is a battery compartment. Even with its small size and easy portability, the Sabre runs only off of AC power and cannot be run by battery power.

Performance Testing

Initial listening sessions with the Sabre revealed that it is relatively capable of handling different genres of music. It certainly will not blow you away when you first hear it – my initial impression was that the Sabre performs fairly well with classical and alternative songs, but does not do justice to rock and hip-hop songs. The vocals and instruments were produced clearly and separated well in the midrange frequencies, but the overall tonal quality did not sound as full or as well-rounded as other speakers.

The location and angle of the 3” drivers in the Sabre also produce some problems in terms of sound quality. Because they placed on the sides of the unit and are only angled slightly toward the listener, the sound stage is muddied and is not evenly dispersed. Listening in a relatively small room, I found that the sound bounced off the walls and did not sound very clear once it finally reached my ears.

While the 3” drivers do an acceptable job with the mid-level frequencies, the lows and highs were simply not impressive. The high frequencies were only somewhat smooth and occasionally sounded harsh – especially when listening in a small-sized room. Low end frequencies were absent for the most part unless you cranked the bass control to full power, and even then there was a noticeable gap in the low-end where you would hope to feel some bass thump. I have a very hard time believing the small full-range speakers were producing anywhere near the reported 20Hz range.

On the plus side, turning the volume up past the 1 /2 way point did not distort the music. The sound output from the Sabre was impressive when considering its small size. It certainly did not have any trouble reaching near ear-splitting volume levels without introducing distortion.

Given the size of the 2 speakers in the Sabre, the sound quality limitations were not entirely surprising. I was hoping that the mid-range and high frequencies would be smoother and fuller. Considering the $129 price tag of the Sabre, my expectations were higher than what was delivered.

Portability and Other Considerations

With the small size of the Sabre, I would say that portability is an important point 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 Sabre make it pretty easy to transport. However, the odd shape makes it a bit awkward to fit into a backpack or a suitcase for traveling.

On the other hand, there is no battery power option with the Sabre 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. 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 Sabre iPod Speaker Dock

The boynq Sabre offers a head-turning futuristic design, a wide variety of connection and playback options, sync and recharge capability with your PC, and all necessary connection cords included in the package. The design grows on you as you continue to use the Sabre, as does the compact size of the unit.

However, the less than stellar sound quality, as well as the portability concerns, leaves me wanting more from this unit. My standards may be too high, but I was hoping for more from the Sabre. The expectations for an iPod sound dock obviously cannot be set too high, but if sound quality is your main concern I would not put the Sabre at the top of your shopping list.

Pros: Head-turning design, simple setup with all cords included, compatibility with nearly all iPods and other MP3 players.

Cons: Low-range and high-range sound quality leaves a lot to be desired, not easily portable.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5

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