There are many wireless speakers on the market, and choosing the most suitable one can often be difficult. In addition, new and new models are constantly being added, and they confuse the already extensive offer even more. However, this fresh wind is definitely not always harmful, which is also confirmed by the new product from Alza's workshop called AlzaPower AURA A2. It arrived at our editorial office a few weeks ago for testing, and since I devoted myself to it conscientiously until last week, it is time to introduce it to you in a few lines and at the same time evaluate it. So sit back, we're just getting started.
Packing
As is customary with AlzaPower products, the Aura A2 arrived in recyclable frustration-free packaging that is environmentally friendly. Also because of this, you won't find any unnecessary plastic or plastic in the package, but mainly various smaller paper boxes hiding accessories and manuals. As for the speaker's accessories, it offers a charging cable, an AUX cable, an instruction manual that's definitely worth reading given the speaker's many cool features, and even a nice pouch. You can use it, for example, when transporting a speaker, which you probably don't have to worry about thanks to its relatively compact dimensions.
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Technical Specifications
It doesn't have to go by its technical specifications Aura A2 definitely ashamed. Alza really won with it, as in the case of other products from the AlzaPower series, and instilled in it the best that it could with regard to the speaker's price category. For example, you can look forward to an output power of 30 W or a separate bass radiator, which are parameters in themselves that, with a little exaggeration, already ensure some quality. The speaker is equipped with an Action chipset with Bluetooth 4.2 support, with support for HFP v1.7, AVRCP v1.6, A2DP v1.3 profiles, which will ensure a stable connection with your phone, for example, in a medium-sized apartment, house or garden. Its stable range is approximately 10 to 11 meters. The size of the speaker driver is twice 63,5 mm, the frequency range is 90 Hz to 20 kHz, the impedance is 4 ohms and the sensitivity is +- 80 dB.
Of course, the speaker is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 4400 mAh, which will allow you to play music at a medium volume for around 10 hours, but if you are used to a higher volume, you will have to put up with a shorter duration. However, I can say from my own experience that with higher volume, the speaker's endurance does not decrease rapidly, which is only good. You can then ensure charging with a microUSB cable that can be plugged into the back of the speaker. Thanks to the Energy Saving function, you won't need to charge it too often during normal use, because the speaker always turns off after a while of inactivity, and when it's on but not in use, it consumes a minimum of energy.
I must also mention the 3,5 mm jack port, thanks to which you can turn the wireless beauty into a wired classic, which can certainly come in handy from time to time. In addition, as I mentioned in the paragraph above, the connecting cable is part of the package. So if your iPhone it still has a jack and you don't use wireless too much, don't worry. You can use the Aura A2 anyway. Also worth highlighting is the built-in microphone for handling calls, which will be discussed later, as well as the relatively compact dimensions of 210 mm x 88 mm x 107 mm, with the speaker weighing 1,5 kg. However, any water resistance that would be useful for outdoor use can freeze on an otherwise excellently technically equipped speaker. On the other hand, the speaker is designed more for the home, so this thing can be understood.
Processing and design
As I mentioned above, the speaker is much more suited to a cozy home than outdoors. In terms of design, it has a rather staid, maybe even a little retro look, which is definitely not a bad thing. Personally, I really like this style and it's nice that it's not only Alza, but other manufacturers are also not afraid to use it.
The upper side of the speaker is made of a bamboo "plate", which adds a touch of luxury to the whole. The body is then woven with a very pleasant to the touch fabric, which can look more like aluminum from a distance - that is, at least the gray version I tested. The body and control buttons are then made of durable plastic, which, however, you can see de facto only slightly from above, behind and below, on which you will also find non-slip surfaces. So you definitely don't have to worry that it will spoil the impression of the speaker in any way.
Gallery
The processing of the speaker is exactly what we are used to with AlzaPower products. When I unpacked the washing machine for the first time, I looked at it for a really long time to see if I could find any flaws in its beauty. After a few minutes, however, I gave up on this detective work, as I did not come across the smallest detail that would split the soul of a meticulous person. In short, everything fits, sits, holds and works exactly as it should and that's how it is. It can be seen that quality is the first priority for Alza in its products.
Sound performance
I'll admit that I didn't really know what to expect from the speaker before I started it up for the first time. In the time that I have been working with technology, I have learned that parameters are one thing and reality is another and often diametrically different from what you would expect from the parameters. In addition, the speaker world is inhospitable in its own way, as there are a huge number of quality competitors with many years of tradition and a large fan base. “Alza is really brave,” I thought as I turned on the speaker and first paired it with my phone and then with my Mac. However, I soon discovered that the courage here is completely justified.
The sound from the speaker is very pleasant for me personally and I don't find anything that bothers me. I tested absolute world classics such as Bon Jovi or the Rolling Stones, as well as serious music with an emphasis on every note, but also my favorite rap along with some techno wilds. Result? In a word, great. In 99,9% of cases, the depths and heights are not distorted at all, and the mids are also very pleasant. The bass component could be a bit stronger for my taste, but it is definitely not something that would really disappoint me.
Of course, I tested the speaker at many volume settings and did not find the slightest problem at any level tested. In short, the music flows from it without any unpleasant hum or distortion, which is a big scare for many speakers. By the way, for how small the speaker is, it can make an absolutely incredible noise. This can be confirmed by our neighbors, who listened to a few songs "at full blast" with me. But none of them complained, which, with a little exaggeration, can also be considered a success, both for the speaker and for me.
In my opinion, support for the StereoLink function is also a real gem, thanks to which you can build a great stereo out of two Aur A2s. The speakers are connected wirelessly, of course, by a very simple combination of button presses. In addition to the ability to set the left and right channels, you will also be pleased to control the music played from both speakers. So if you don't have a phone handy, you just have to go to the nearest speaker and adjust the volume or tracks on it. As for the sound performance, it is probably unnecessary to emphasize after the previous lines how brutal the combination of two 30W speakers is. In short, it can be said that if one of you Aura A2 absorbed, the combination of the two literally grabs you immediately and won't let go. Music is suddenly all around you, and you are an integral part of it, which, although you can't hear it, is still extremely important for its existence. It exists precisely because of her.
Of course, you don't have to use the Aura A2 "just" to listen to music, but also as a sound system for a TV or game console. For example, Battlefield 5, Call of Duty WW2, Red Dead Redemption 2 or FIFA 19 are also great appetizers through it. The uproar of battle, the trampling of hooves, and cheering fans are suddenly all around you, and the gaming experience is that much greater.
Other goodies
Although I would prefer to use the speaker from the Alzy workshop all day long to listen to my favorite music, unfortunately I cannot afford this luxury (yet). Fortunately, however, it can also be used as a hands-free call thanks to the built-in microphone. It is perhaps unexpectedly of high quality, and thanks to it the other party can hear very well - that is, of course, if you stand at a reasonable distance from it or speak loudly enough. At my normal voice volume, the other party could hear me without a problem within about three meters of the speaker. If you raise your voice, you will of course reach much greater distances. But the question is whether handling the call with a raised voice or even shouting is comfortable. Certainly not for me. And be careful, you can also answer and hang up calls using the control buttons on the speakers, which is really cool.
Summary
I have to give Alza a big compliment for the AlzaPower AURA A2 speaker. She entered an environment with tough competition without much experience and still managed to score here in style. This model is really very good and I believe that, thanks to its price, it will find use in the homes of many music lovers, or in short just good game or movie sound. Although the tiny scallop creates a less pronounced bass than I expected, it erases the overall impression of the sound in combination with a first-class design that caresses the soul of many lovers of retro and minimalism, as the Aura A2 falls into both categories. So if you're looking for a really high-quality speaker at an attractive price, you've just found it.
