Review: Como Audio Speakeasy Stereo

Most wireless speakers come with everything in one box. Which is convenient and convenient at the same time. You only need to deal with a few buttons, and it takes up little space. So far so good.

But there is a better, though not as practical, solution. Namely two wireless speakers. Then you get stereo sound, real stereo, and a completely different sound image. Not to mention another sound experience.

Two speakers fill the room more easily with sound, you can achieve a stronger sound pressure, and the music comes more into its own with two speakers.

Some of today’s wireless speakers can be connected to an additional speaker, so that you get the stereo effect, while others are sold as a pair. Like these. Como Audio’s latest wireless speakers, Speakeasy Stereo.

Portable

The vertical Speakeasy is based on Como Audio’s excellent Amico, a portable radio with Bluetooth, but without radio. By the way, it can be connected to the same speaker that comes with the Speakeasy package, if you have an Amico and want stereo sound.

Speakeasy is also portable and has a built-in rechargeable battery. But it also has Google Assistant built-in. So you can talk to the speaker (read about voice assistants here), and ask it to start music, read the weather forecast, and many other things.

Everything can be controlled with the Google Home app on the phone, but also from buttons on the speaker. Which also has a button to turn the microphone on or off.

Wireless

The speaker is easily connected to the wireless network via the setup assistant in the app, and there you can also control other Google-adapted devices, and put the speakers together in a wireless network, and play music in all rooms. The app comes with Spotify and Youtube integrated, but it is not a problem to stream music from other streaming apps.

While Amico is sold as a stand-alone radio with Bluetooth, Speakeasy is currently sold as a stereo set with an additional speaker. It connects easily with the mounted – long, cable, and if you want to take Speakeasy out in the open, just disconnect the speaker (and power) and enjoy up to eight hours of wireless music.

Wood veneer cabinets

The wood veneered Como products offer a very fine cabinet design, with wood veneer in walnut, but can also be delivered in white or black lacquer, and eventually with colored grills, as shown in the picture.

If you take a closer look at the pictures, you see that Speakeasy and the speaker have two elements, a bass and a treble element. It provides a slightly larger frequency range and potentially better sound. Which can come in handy especially if you are thinking of connecting, for example, Uno Audio’s wireless turntable to the speakers.

Speakeasy can be delivered with Como’s turntable at a discounted price, or as mentioned, as a stereo pair.

Full sound

In the stereo class, there is so far not much competition from others who combine Google Assistant with wireless music streaming, in stereo, but among the wireless speakers in the same price range, we find the Klipsch R-41PM, Dali Zensor 1AX – and Yamaha NX-N500 (if one can stretch the budget).

In isolation, the Speakeasy Stereo works excellently as a compact, wireless system with voice control, and the sound is fuller, warmer and more appealing than the standard Bluetooth speaker.

But compared to a wireless stereo pair in the same price range, Como Audio’s speaker pair falls a little short. The midrange sounds a little too dark and masks details, shades and wraps some instruments in a wool coat. Piano for example. Keith Jarrett does not sound quite as we are used to, and Lise Davidsen’s Wagner interpretations do not quite come out of the speakers.

It works better on Drake’s Outta My Head, where the speakers’ rich bass give the music good drive, and more thrust than you would think from such small speakers.

Conclusion

So you have to choose. Speakeasy Stereo is not a speaker solution that satisfies everyone’s ears, and not at all the most discerning ears, but as a package, Como Audio’s solution is an affordable, practical and user-friendly alternative to the competitors’ wireless stereo speakers. It is also possible to put Google Assistant and multi-room in the pot, to sweeten the pill a bit, but we believe that the sound quality must be raised to a new level before Como Audio can compete with the established speaker brands.