The ability to separate left and right speakers gives the Soundfreaq Sound Platform 2 true stereo sound.The problem with most speaker docks is that the left and right speakers are inches apart in a single box, even fancy ones like the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin. They might as well be monaural. Not so the Soundfreaq Sound Platform 2. When you buy two of the wireless docks ($150 each) they recognize each other and become left and right speakers that can be separated by whatever distance Bluetooth and your room allow.
Each 13- by 5- by 7-inch cabinet houses a 40-watt amplifier and two 3-inch speakers, according to the manufacturer.
The setup instructions were understandable, requiring pressing of specific buttons for a specific time. That was all it took for the docks to link.
You can run the docks remotely using your phone and tablet with the Soundfreaq app, but I found the app a bit half-baked. You can advance and replay songs, pause and change volume, but you can’t choose any particular song from your playlist - just take what is offered, one song at a time (the company said an update will fix this). You can skip the Soundfreaq app and just use iTunes instead.
There were some glitches. The left and right speakers sometimes played at different volumes until I made a manual adjustment, for example.
The sound quality can be altered through a few settings. One called UQ3 is supposed to enhance stereo separation, although it sounded like a slight bass and treble boost to me. It also has a “warm†and “bright†setting. Overall sound was good, but if you aren’t living in a dorm it probably won’t be your primary hi-fi.
One other thing this dock manages that many others don’t is a prodigious volume level. Crank up a pair of these and prepare for complaints from the neighbors.
