Features Overview
In case of the 700-gram box is basically a slightly asymmetrical, triangular extruded aluminum profile at the open ends passive, of course, also triangular, subwoofer membranes were admitted, take its center faces the mold, as well as the brushed aluminum look. Very unusual and very stylish. The main task of the sound transformation however take 2 separate 5cm dome designed as a broadband driver. These are supplied by a power amplifier with an electrical output of 5 watts. The two speakers are housed side by side behind a metal grid on the front. Hidden behind are also the operating diodes and the microphone for hands-free mobile phone integrated. The various operational and connection elements are located on the front, slightly offset by upward orientation. The signal processing is carried out electronically via DSP, which is also reflected in the dial-up "3D" -Klangmodus. Connection to signal sources is done either wirelessly via BT4.0 or AUX in the form of a jack plug. For acoustic decoupling, and probably also to protect the surface, the housing rests on foam rubber strips on the bottom ..
Delivery
Apart from the actual speakers are still other accessories in the box. Without charging cable as literally runs before anything. Clear. This is technically a typical USB to mini-USB cable for USB 2.0 standard. This allows charging the internal Li-Ion batteries provide over a conventional USB port of a computer, which provides 5V / 1000mA to the now very widespread in mobile devices, appropriate 240V / 5V USB power supply units (here mostly: Adapter an iPad mini). This also included 3.5mm jack to jack cable connection ensures that, for example find older, BT-loose device connection. Both cables are each 1 meter long and make a stable, high-quality impression. They present themselves (green / black) coated fabrics, but are relatively stiff and inflexible. For storage and transport a velor / textile bag included with drawstring. Therein the box at (longer) is not used is in good hands, it goes pretty spack purely So: not for continuous pure-and-out. The included manual is multilingual and informative enough, the German is a little bumpy but remains understandable. The initial start-up is therefore likely to ask anyone for unsolvable problems.
Practice
Usually you will probably want to operate the speaker box in Bluetooth mode, what a pairing presupposes. For all existing in household appliances with BT function this haute after the initial charge of the battery down without complications at first. Code entries were nowhere required once the box is detected, it can be virtually addressed immediately. One (unfortunately not shutdown in the volume variable) pretty intrusive confirmation acknowledges the established BT connection sometimes trötets in between, for example, if the connection is interrupted only briefly and then built afterwards successfully again. Or when you send control commands from from the source device, as long as the BT connection is weak / unstable.
A few things to fall also in the handling of the same, which were perhaps not quite solved optimally at all points. Although TRS and USB (charging) jack are quite handily from the front / top reached that there may also be inserted during operation cable are optically then surely anything but elegant. This is only a problem for the eye. By contrast, the fisselige on / off slide switch was initially somewhat stubborn, but improved in the course of use. The function buttons are, as opposed to spoken Send rest, relatively unadorned, but serve their purpose and have a defined pressure point. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong in the processing, on the contrary. The stylish box makes only by their noble acting aluminum housing which already here and is also the functional Conceptually well thought out and designed.
A full charge takes about 4-5 hours to provide up to 10 hours duration can be achieved - in theory. This is of course dependent on all sorts of factors. The average game time via Bluetooth is in everyday practice actually another around 8 hours of moderate volume and distance. That's neat. Less tingling is the effective range. "Up to 20 meters" sounds in the product description, of course, once prima - but are similar stable walls in between, after 3 to 4 meters distance is already expected to misfires, which may even lead to a complete disconnection. About 5 meters are a realistic distance, when nothing blocks the spark gap. It obviously also depends on the source device: The iPad Mini is in this regard, for example more sensitive than our MacBook or even the Nokia X2-00 mobile Olle. Alternatively, one could use the jack, but its standard range is only one meter, you have to give up the wireless luxury and also then go to the control functions flutes.
The control via Bluetooth works equally in both directions: volume control, track skip and handsfree can be made directly at the Apollo, as are of course addressed via the respective terminal. Pairing and 3D sound function to function, however, only from the box, in accordance with pressed key or key combination. The activated compound is indicated by the link ends just above the blue diode AUKEY-lettering on the speaker grille. Speaking Grid: The lateral passive radiators are exposed, so you better not touched the box at the ends of the left and right. Here guard or bow would have been advised, although it looks like certainly much effect full of, in practical matters touching and perhaps spontaneously times stand / reposition different, this is not so much. Who wants to be beautiful must suffer just sometimes ...
Soundcheck
What good is all that beauty if it falls short in the inner values? Nix. Now you can expect only on the dimensions of the transducer ago already no brute bass orgies that a vibrate the marrow out of the bones. Of course, no level excesses. However, what is rausholt the relatively small box tonal value recognition. Most comfortable she feels in the middle frequencies, which is simply a matter of physics - with only 5cm by measuring drivers no wonder. Now, however, the soft suspended passive radiators for the course, which extend through the vibration behavior the bass appreciably, and without having to be a matter of electrically operated. Simply by compression or displacement of air, a very brilliant and energy-efficient maneuver. But also has the downside that (especially in this triangular shape), the membrane device at very high levels reeling, saying: The bass is boomy then-mushy and imprecise. Logically, as the linear displacement of a Lautsprechermenbran is otherwise so controlled electrically. Here they can be sometimes brought into an uncontrolled swing. This is of course again a matter of media being played.
Remember: The more dynamic the music material, the lower should fail the level. Usually you can hyping the Aukey Apollo to about 85% of its maximum volume without he gets out of step with some of music (and depending on the recording quality / sampling rate) more, in others less. A true stress test are surely the genre (hard) rock, heavy metal and classical music is whose frequency spectrum natural is very wide and the differences between loud and soft (dynamic) also. The Apollo proposes bravely through Nightwish Tales from the Elvenpath and Dark Passion Play, where classical elements are to be found just as crunchy riffs and guitar solos, accompanied by two totally different vocal singers. This may the box work out convincing. Even in Wagner Krawumm and Schmacht opera The Flying Dutchman (Sony Edition) is - in terms of size and technical and physical potential of the concept - across well. Most comfortable, the box feels the Blues, Stevie Ray Vaughan In both Step and the two Blues Brothers soundtracks know tonally pleasing.
Incidentally, the DSP-fueled 3D mode brings not much can or indeed a trial basis from time to time be switched, OBS because actually sounds better. That is certainly very subjective and heavily from its own listening preferences depending. Usually it is in my opinion just dull / bassy and act the heights of cut really more space you can not really talk in spite of the digital sound processing. In the normal (stereo) mode the sound is my feeling after basically clear and transparent no matter what I've fed the Apollo, there was never a moment where I could say: Yeah, here necessarily have the 3D mode ago !. In contrast, the handsfree works perfectly smoothly and without feedback. The built-in microphone can be easily removed up to half a meter. This has been tested with FaceTime on the iPad Mini, as well as with a Nokia X2-00, the latter being on the road also often used with the Aukey together to music / radio listening.
At a glance
The advantages of Aukey SK-A1 are definitely in its comfortable versatility of possible game partners, the Bluetooth (and quite archaic with jack plugs) are connectable, coupled with the mobility thanks to generous battery life. Blessed the box is also a surprisingly good sound. It is indeed surprising how within their means, of course - and homogeneous space-filling sounds the small box. In the level accuracy and dynamics naturally clear physical limits. Gift laws of nature can not be avoided. Tip: On a stable, according vibratory ground (wooden board / table etc.) positioned the sound just a tad bit more saturated / round. The 3D effect of the DSPs can try occasionally times usually the sound but not improved by what is naturally and but ultimately a matter of taste. In all this, the triangular-oblong box looks original. On the whole, it is processed properly, the feel is true also. Rough manufacturing defects have so far not become conspicuous. The appealing as smart design has a few minor weaknesses, so when handling (exposed Passive Radiators, general plug assembly, and a pesky Quittierungspiep) would certainly room for improvement exists, but you can very well live with it and get used to it. All in all, there is the overall concept of the highly practical all-rounder nothing to complain about, it's optically correct what her and also sounds even surprisingly well.
