Ever since Apple’s AirPlay was introduced, a slew of different AirPlay speakers and other objects have been spilling onto the market. Some of these devices are worthy of your attention while others are simply too expensive to care about. While no AirPlay device is on the cheap side, some are priced more moderately than others. One such device is the Audyssey Lower East Side Audio Dock Air.
Aside from the fact that this dock was created by Audyssey (a well-known company within the speaker world), the Lower East Side has an appealing shape and surprisingly good sound. As mentioned, you won’t get away with buying the LES on the cheap (around $399), but you might find yourself inclined to purchase an AirPlay device like this one. If you can wait until the Lower East Side comes out in November, here’s what you can expect.
First, Style
Audyssey, paying careful attention to the company’s competitors, fashioned the Lower East Side to look like something that you might actually want to put on your shelf. The device is shaped like a square, and it is relatively compact. Surrounded by a slick casing, there’s no real reason to hide this unit inside of a well-packed shelf (unlike some of the other AirPlay devices out there).
So far, reviewers have had a positive reaction to the Lower East Side’s looks, and this device is bound to capture a lot of attention based upon looks alone. However, as any audiophile knows, speakers or docks are more about sound than looks. So, what’s the Lower East Side dock got to offer that other AirPlay docks can’t compete with?
Sound Quality
From the start, AirPlay devices sound better than Bluetooth devices any day of the week. Perhaps that’s why the AirPlay devices on the market are gaining so much attention these days. On its own, the Lower East Side has two 1-inch tweeters, two 2-inch mid-range woofers, and two 4-inch subwoofers. This device also has an iPhone or iPod dock and a digital processor.
It’s hard to say how the Lower East Side sounds, since Audyssey hasn’t released the dock yet.
Just based upon the specs, this dock seems like it could produce decent sound, though this reviewer has been disappointed by bigger systems. Generally speaking, most AirPlay systems and devices are overpriced without offering a lot in the way of sound, but the jury is still out on this one.
Compatibility and Availability
As with all other AirPlay devices, you must have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad to use the Lower East Side dock. After all, AirPlay is an Apple invention, so you can’t use these devices with anything that’s not linked to Apple. Even though some of us within the tech world are curious about this device’s sound and actual feel, Audyssey is not releasing the Lower East Side dock until November – no doubt the company is waiting until the holiday season officially comes roaring in.
If you have an AirPlay device on your list, take the time to compare specs before purchasing any of these popular devices. You may also want to wait a bit, some AirPlay devices may drop down in price once the holidays have passed.