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Sonic Gear Pandora 3 Bluetooth Speaker Review
"This is the first part of a three part series covering Sonic Gear's Pandora Bluetooth Speakers. Remember to check out the concluding overview that will be posted after all three reviews are up and running."
If you have been in the market looking for sound solutions (headphones, speaker etc.), chances are you have heard of Sonic Gear. Sonic Gear's product range is as wide as it gets, from the budget low-end to the bleeding edge sound solutions. To start off the series, I will be reviewing the big brother of the Pandora line of Bluetooth speakers, the Pandora 3.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX KEN?
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| The Pandora 3 ft. my HTC One X |
TECH SPECS
- Total system power (RMS): 16 watts
- Speaker playback frequency response: 40Hz ~ 20KHz
- Built-in mid-range speaker driver: 2 x 2”
- Built-in subwoofer driver: 3”
- Built-in bass driver reflector: 2 x (50 x 90mm)
- Signal-to-Noise ratio: ≥ 60dB
- Input/output source: Bluetooth, Built-in 3.5mm AUX-in jack, Hands-free Phone Calls
- Bluetooth version: CSR BC05 V2.1
- Speaker input voltage: 12VAC Voltage: 110V~240V, 50/60Hz
- Product dimension: 290 x 103 x 121mm
DESIGN
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| the speaker itself. |
The Pandora 3 sports a pretty simple industrial design that most speakers also go by. The front grill is etched with the word 'Pandora' that you can feel bulging out. Talking about the front grill, the front grill is tightly knitted to the point where you aren't able to see the drivers inside the speaker. The only driver you are able to see is the bass driver situated under the unit.
With its clean lines and the stylish black finish, you would think that the Pandora 3 would fit in anywhere in you would want to put it, but sadly no, you are under the restraint of the reach of the power plug. While I'm certainly fine with having a Bluetooth speaker that requires itself to be plugged in to function, the fact that the reach of the power plug is so short that it would barely make it from the power plug under my table to on top of my table just left a very bad impression about the product to me.
FUNCTIONALITY
Before we go in depth about the audio quality of the Pandora 3, I would like to highlight some of it functions. If you don't already know, the Pandora 3 features Bluetooth functionality where you are able to pair devices that sport Bluetooth like phones, tablets and notebooks.
If one were to pair their phone to the Pandora 3, they would be able to answer calls via hands-free from the speaker. There's an accept call button on the speaker that also functions as a play button when there are no incoming calls. The Pandora 3 also features a microphone built into the device itself so as long as you are in vicinity of the speaker, the caller on the other side would be able to hear you clearly.
As I have mentioned earlier, the "answer" button also functions as a "Play" button. You would be able to play and pause on demand from the speaker and skip through your playlist if you so desire with the "Forward" and "Backward" buttons situated further right of the "Play" button.
Of course like any other wireless technology, there's a range limit for the Bluetooth function on the Pandora 3, the limit is 8 meters to be exact, and that is assuming there is no interference (walls, other Bluetooth signals, etc.) I have tried it out by taking my phone out of my room and walking across the living area, the sound starts to jitter before I even reach the 8 meter range because of the walls in between. While on paper 8 meters seems like a little too short, it is certainly enough for like a living area and what not.
Other than the Bluetooth function, one would be able to directly plug in their device through the Aux jack using a 3.5mm audio jack cable that is included inside the package.
AUDIO QUALITY
Now we come to the most important of the review, how does it actually fare as a speaker? Let me first explain what kind of music listener I am. Most of the times I listen to your average Joe Top 40s but I also listen to a lot of KPop and the occasional dubstep when I'm gaming.
After some extensive testing ranging from dubstep music to classical Mozart symphonies, the Pandora 3 is certainly able to stand its ground among other speakers within its price range. I can feel the bass when listening to songs which is always a plus for me but might differ down to personal opinion.
The 2x50mm drivers the Pandora 3 features also provide adequate loudness without diluting the quality of the audio being played. In ideal situations (eg. the device that the speaker is connected to is on the same table), the sound quality over Bluetooth is on par with when you connect your device to the speaker via the AUX mode.
Now it all comes down to gaming, which I take heavy consideration into when choosing a sound solution. While I can't say that getting the Pandora 3 would raise your awareness in game or enable you to listen to enemy footsteps and what not, the Pandora 3 would certainly not degrade your gaming experience if you are used to a 2.1 sound setup experience.
CONCLUSION
To round it up, I am pretty satisfied with the Pandora 3. Noticeable differences between the highs and lows, nice bass, the always welcomed wireless connectivity and its added functions, simple and stylish design is what I like about it. But it certainly isn't perfect with the short power cable and its not so long enough wireless range. The Pandora 3 will run you for about SRP: RM142. If you are looking for a simple and compact audio solution without compromising on the audio quality, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Pandora 3 for you.
Pros:
With its clean lines and the stylish black finish, you would think that the Pandora 3 would fit in anywhere in you would want to put it, but sadly no, you are under the restraint of the reach of the power plug. While I'm certainly fine with having a Bluetooth speaker that requires itself to be plugged in to function, the fact that the reach of the power plug is so short that it would barely make it from the power plug under my table to on top of my table just left a very bad impression about the product to me.
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| only a tad bit longer than my phone's charging cable. |
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| the phone stand dubbed "i-rez" |
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| i-rez ft my HTC One X |
FUNCTIONALITY
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| from left: power/status switch, power in, aux in, bass control, volume control |
If one were to pair their phone to the Pandora 3, they would be able to answer calls via hands-free from the speaker. There's an accept call button on the speaker that also functions as a play button when there are no incoming calls. The Pandora 3 also features a microphone built into the device itself so as long as you are in vicinity of the speaker, the caller on the other side would be able to hear you clearly.
As I have mentioned earlier, the "answer" button also functions as a "Play" button. You would be able to play and pause on demand from the speaker and skip through your playlist if you so desire with the "Forward" and "Backward" buttons situated further right of the "Play" button.
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| from left: answer/play button, Bluetooth/power indicator, backwards button, forward button |
Other than the Bluetooth function, one would be able to directly plug in their device through the Aux jack using a 3.5mm audio jack cable that is included inside the package.
AUDIO QUALITY
Now we come to the most important of the review, how does it actually fare as a speaker? Let me first explain what kind of music listener I am. Most of the times I listen to your average Joe Top 40s but I also listen to a lot of KPop and the occasional dubstep when I'm gaming.
After some extensive testing ranging from dubstep music to classical Mozart symphonies, the Pandora 3 is certainly able to stand its ground among other speakers within its price range. I can feel the bass when listening to songs which is always a plus for me but might differ down to personal opinion.
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| the bass driver |
Now it all comes down to gaming, which I take heavy consideration into when choosing a sound solution. While I can't say that getting the Pandora 3 would raise your awareness in game or enable you to listen to enemy footsteps and what not, the Pandora 3 would certainly not degrade your gaming experience if you are used to a 2.1 sound setup experience.
CONCLUSION
To round it up, I am pretty satisfied with the Pandora 3. Noticeable differences between the highs and lows, nice bass, the always welcomed wireless connectivity and its added functions, simple and stylish design is what I like about it. But it certainly isn't perfect with the short power cable and its not so long enough wireless range. The Pandora 3 will run you for about SRP: RM142. If you are looking for a simple and compact audio solution without compromising on the audio quality, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Pandora 3 for you.
Pros:
- Wireless connectivity over Bluetooth with phone functions and media controls
- Good audio quality
- Simple, stylish and compact
Cons:
- Pitiful power cable length
- Janky wireless range
thanks for pandora 3 review
ReplyDeletethanks for pandora 3 review
ReplyDeleteYes, Sonic Gear Pandora 3 is a cool, affordable bluetooth speaker. I have been using it for a couple of years and it's still great for the price. Just order my 2nd one :-) Note it's powered by wall electricity (AC), it has no internal battery, but it's just fine for me.
ReplyDeleteBtw, Sonic Gear Pandora 7 Bluetooth speaker has been out for quite some time and is even better than Pandora 3 :-)
ReplyDeletewhich will receive the data, determined based on the intensity of the Bluetooth signal. Bluetooth Ear Buds
ReplyDeleteHi, my pandora 3 speaker sound is fading after I connected to bluetooth, like on and off and I am trying to rectify the problem. Do you know why it is sounding this way? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable that this iron box is actually a Bluetooth speaker, Pandora 3 is really great.
ReplyDelete