Review: Saitek iFreedom Bluetooth speakers

The Saitek iFreedom speakers jump on the iPod-speaker-bandwagon but go a little further by connecting to your mp3 player or laptop wirelessly using Bluetooth.

It is a true 2.1 set comprising two 1.5W tweeters and one large 3W subwoofer underneath. A back-lit LCD display shows volume, battery life and connectivity status.

The distinct bug eyes are a bit of an acquired taste. Although the red and gold speaker frames are garish and the whole surface is prone to finger prints, the overall build quality is excellent.

The speakers have a 3.5mm line in to connect audio devices, a power jack and a battery compartment for music on the move. Saitek claims that four AA batteries will last 24 hours, but the batteries drain away faster at high volumes.

The rest of the package includes a Bluetooth transmitter, which is a small black box with a 3.5mm male jack that can plug into any mp3 player or computer. It also has a mini-USB input used to charge the transmitter box.

When the mini-USB is plugged into a PC using the supplied cable, the Saitek speakers can remotely play/pause and skip tracks with the buttons above the right speaker.

The sound quality is excellent and feels like a much bigger set of speakers. Treble response is clear and at full blast it gets loud enough to satisfy a modest house. Bass is generally strong but peters out as the volume is cranked up.

Confusingly, the iFreedom set are also labelled A-250, however the A-250 is an older model that lacked the 3.5mm line-in jack and used a proprietary Bluetooth format. The range cuts out at just less than 10m, which is standard for Bluetooth.

We had problems syncing the transmitter with the speakers because they hadn't been correctly configured in the factory. This was solved once we delved into the manual's troubleshooting section which revealed the procedure to connect the two.

The box claims the speakers can connect to 'any A2DP source', for example mobile phones and laptops, without the transmitter box. After lots of problems, we finally got A2DP working with a Treo 750v Smartphone. The manual does not mention A2DP compatibility at all and no four-digit passcode (Bluetooth password) was included.

Saitek has now rectified the situation but we recommend anyone wanting to use the feature test for compatibility with their own phone first.

Because the wireless range is less than 10m, it feels more like a gimmick than a useful feature. The A2DP should have made connecting compatible devices a doddle, but the speakers turn themselves off after a minute of being turned on, which is too slow for many A2DP devices to finish their search.

If your transmitter isn't synced like ours was, then you have 20 rushed seconds to complete the operation. Bluetooth certification has not yet come for Saitek. Despite this the sound quality means they represent good value at around £99 when compared to similar iPod speakers. The iFreedom are available now.

Also consider:
Parrot Sound System Bluetooth speakers
Parrot had a good stab at producing some powerful Bluetooth speakers for wireless audio streaming, but considering the drawbacks most would consider the technology far too expensive.

Kensington SX2000 iPod speakers
If you're looking for style over substance, the Kensington's SX2000 is a good bet. Audiophiles should look elsewhere.

Minispeakers K8000 mp3 speaker system
You’d be hard pushed to find better sound from a device this size and, if it weren’t for the price, the K8000 Minispeakers would be the new mini speakers of choice for one and all.

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