It won’t be incorrect to say that there are a massive variety of Bluetooth audio system within the Indian market. With manufacturers like AIWA, Marshall, JBL, Sony, LG and so on. providing offers for various budgets, it may be actually tough for patrons to make the appropriate option to get one of the best bang for his or her buck. Even within the funds phase, the positioning of merchandise is so totally different that it generally turns into very tough to decide on the appropriate one.
When the AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro speaker confirmed up on the Digit Check Middle, I needed to know what the speaker placement was. It’s because even AIWA has choices for various funds segments. I spoke to Mr. Ajay Mehta, Managing Director of AIWA India to grasp what the model is aiming for in India. With some readability after the dialogue ( learn right here ), I dove into our testing, placing the speaker by means of the testing course of to see if it lives as much as its Rs 27,990 price ticket. The speaker is priced pretty near among the choices from manufacturers like Sonos, LG, and Sony, which have carried out fairly nicely in our testing up to now. So the competitors for Natsukasii Pro was fierce.
This is a have a look at how the AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro fared in our testing and whether or not it was capable of stay as much as the expectations set by its costlier sibling, the MI-X330 Meteor, which received the 2022 Digit Zero1 Award as the costliest Finest Bluetooth Speaker –
AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro: Construct and Design
The design of the AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro may be described in a single phrase – not all that glitters is gold. Trying on the speaker from afar, you immediately draw parallels with the choices from shut rival model *cough* Marshall *cough*. If you happen to slapped one other model’s brand on it, you would simply mistake it for that model’s product. I like the sporty retro look and the colour decisions made by the AIWA designers are excellent!
However upon nearer inspection, you start to note the variations. Let’s begin with the administration cluster on the high. To my disappointment, it is made from plastic that does not mix in with the speaker’s premium construct and design. The dials have a good tactile really feel step-by-step, however aside from that, nothing to put in writing residence about. At this worth, even a polished chrome steel case for the dials and buttons can be adequate. It isn’t that AIWA could not do it. The on/off change, which is in the identical cluster, is steel. And the distinction in sensations could be very apparent. If you happen to look past it, the management cluster has a massive collection of issues you’ll be able to change from there. For somebody like me who’s a stickler for bodily controls, that is a large win!
As for the remainder of the speaker, on the entrance you get a small AIWA brand on the material entrance of the speaker which seems and feels nice! The speaker physique is roofed with a leather-like materials. Such supplies, in my expertise, are vulnerable to put on and tear in the event you do not take excellent care of them. So, maintain that in thoughts. The included deal with additionally has a high of the identical materials and a velvet inside. It attaches to the speaker with two steel studs which can be sturdy and you’ll by no means really feel them detach from the speaker.
Typically in audio system, the shortage of sturdy legs may be a killer for the general expertise, particularly for one thing that may get as loud as this one. Nonetheless, after I performed the speaker at about full quantity, the rattling was minimal. Kudos to AIWA engineers for this!
What you get for the cash you spend on the AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro, by way of total construct and speaker design, is nicely definitely worth the worth. Nothing uncommon. I might have favored it if the speaker had a steel management field. However the truth that it is plastic was a bummer for me, particularly contemplating the remainder of the speaker was solid!
AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro: options
As with the final AIWA speaker I examined, the AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro’s options are restricted however dependable. Let’s begin with the connection and associated features. Among the best issues about this speaker is its massive variety of ports and connectivity choices. On the speaker you can see AUX-IN, USB, micro-SD and Bluetooth. Right now, many Bluetooth audio system are restricted to 2 connection choices: AUX and Bluetooth. That is why it is all the time good to have an additional USB port and a micro-SD card slot. A few of us nonetheless prefer to load classics onto USB sticks and micro-SD playing cards and jam to them!
As well as, with the TWS characteristic, you additionally get the luxurious of daisy-chaining a number of audio system collectively to create a stereo system, which is nice with this speaker! And in the event you’re related through Bluetooth and apprehensive about sound high quality, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that you just will not have to fret an excessive amount of. Along with SBC and AAC, the speaker additionally helps the LDAC codec.
The speaker can play 4 audio codecs: MP3, WMA, FLAC and WAV.
Given the recognition of good assistants, most audio system at the moment have help for them. Nonetheless, this dynamic just isn’t current. Certainly one of its closest rivals, the Marshall Acton II, comes outfitted with voice assistant help, together with Amazon’s Alexa. Personally, I wish to see this within the speaker. It is a quality-of-life addition that many recognize.
I can not discover a lot to suit into this part. As I discussed earlier, the speaker has a restricted collection of options. Nonetheless, these options are carried out nicely. And about what this speaker shines, we’ll discuss additional.
AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro: efficiency and battery life
In my view, the AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro lives as much as the expectations of the MI-X330 Meteor by way of efficiency. The speaker has three underwater drivers – 5”x1 (woofer) and a pair of”x2 tweeters. There are louder audio system you can see at this worth. Nonetheless, it is uncommon to seek out one thing as sharp and detailed because the RS-X150. That is the place the speaker loses essentially the most floor within the efficiency part.
We’ve got a collection of tracks that we play when testing Bluetooth audio system. And with each observe I performed whereas testing this speaker, I noticed heads peeking from throughout the workplace to see what monster had entered. The bass steadiness was noticeable after I performed Uptown Funk and Hump de Bump. The speaker’s wonderful efficiency with balanced midrange shined by means of after I performed Adele’s Skyfall. And the sensible treble was displayed with nice satisfaction on tracks corresponding to Selkies from Between the Buried and Me.
When the bass was totally pumped, it was sufficient to rattle objects across the speaker. I additionally tried watching a couple of movies whereas related to the speaker, and the balanced mids and highs ensured that vocals had been all the time performed with ease and readability. There was additionally no noticeable lag between audio and video.
If the usual, balanced sound that is our benchmark right here at Digit Check Middle is not to your liking, you’ll be able to modify the bass and treble on the fly. Whether or not you are a fan of pop, rock, hip-hop, or some area of interest music style, I am positive with some minor tweaking you will discover a sound signature that is excellent for you! I used to be additionally impressed with the speaker connection. It is a lengthy story about how I first found its vary, however I can inform you that the speaker was related to my telephone by means of 4 partitions and 30 ft away.
At most quantity, there was nearly no audio distortion, which can also be a rarity nowadays. There are some audio system that work nicely as much as the 70 p.c mark, however as soon as the sound peaks at that mark, there’s noticeable distortion. The speaker energy of 60 W is sufficient to fill a massive room. And if you need to push the speaker to its limits, at most quantity ranges, I do not suppose that will probably be a downside both.
As for battery life, AIWA claims this speaker can run for 11 to 12 hours at 50 p.c quantity. Whereas talking with the speaker, I found that the speaker was one hour wanting the acknowledged 11 o’clock mark. It lasted 10 hours. Now, there are a ton of things that may have an effect on a speaker’s battery life, so you will get the claimed playback time, presumably even longer, with this speaker. When the speaker runs out of energy, you’ll be able to cost it utilizing the included USB-C cable.
AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro: Verdict
The AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro is a nice speaker in its personal proper. AIWA positions its audio system as a premium providing on this area, and this speaker stays true to that philosophy. Like its costlier relative, the MI-X330 Meteor, the speaker boasts wonderful sound high quality with a mounted set of well-implemented options. The construct high quality additionally provides to the expertise of proudly owning the speaker, the one draw back being the management panel.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for hassle-free and nice sound, then the AIWA RS-X150 Natsukasii Pro needs to be on the high of your consideration checklist. Nonetheless, in the event you’re on the lookout for a comparable expertise with some added options, then the Marshall Acton II needs to be your alternative. And in the event you’re seeking to strike a candy spot between portability, outside use, and options, then the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ (Collection II) and Sony SRS-XP500C audio system needs to be thought of.
