Have you ever had a dream about a round speaker that really wasn’t a speaker in the traditional sense? A bazillion and one years ago, we had a review of the Olympia Soundbug. This product had a suction cup that could be affixed to any flat surface like a table or even a window. You would then connect your favorite audio device and the Soundbug would use that flat surface as a speaker. Fast forward 7 years and I have a similar product to tell you about. It’s the Free-D i-Ball speaker from Twift.com. It looks cool, but does it sound cool? Let’s see.
Specifications
Power: 18w (RMS)
Response Frequency: 100Hz – 12 KHz
Sensibility: 85 db/ m/ w
Electric Resistance: 8 Ohms +- 0.2
Product Size: Diameter 2.5 inch
Product Net Weight: 1.21lbs
Packing Size: 6.5 X 6.5 X 4.5 inch
Packing Weight: 1.54 lbs
Input: MINI USB
Power Adapter: I/P: AC 100- 240V 50/60Hz 0.3A OP: DC15V 1A
Sound Source: Media Player (MP3/ MP4/ MP5/ MD/ Discman & etc.), Notebook, PC, and etc.
Package Contents
i-Ball Speaker
Volume controller module
AC Adapter
Audio Cable (3.5mm Jack – 2.5mm Jack)
Speaker to controller cable
User Manual/ Warranty Card
The i-Ball is comprised of two parts. A shiny orb shaped ‘speaker’ and the volume controller / amplifier. The orb (which I’ll now call the i-Ball), is approximately billiard ball sized and weighs in very close to 1 pound. It doesn’t have any buttons, or dials. It just has one mini USB connector that is used to connect it to the hockey puck shaped volume controller / amplifier. The bottom is quarter sized rubber base. No suction cup this time. Just set it on a table, floor, whatever.
The volume controller has three connection points. Mini USB connector that tethers it to the i-Ball, a power connector for the included AC adapter and a 2.5mm stereo jack for the audio cable that you will use to plug in to your favorite audio device’s 3.5mm headphone jack. The top of the controller is a volume knob.
Connecting everything together results in a not so elegant mixture of speaker, module, audio device and cables.
As soon as you plug in the AC adapter, Blue LED strips light up on the i-Ball and the volume controller. I’m sorry to report that this is pretty much the only cool thing about this entire product. If you are a fan of Blue LEDs, you’ll be thrilled. If you’re a fan of good sounding tunes, you need to look elsewhere.
Music played through the i-Ball does not resemble the same music played through earbuds or other speakers. It sounds faintly warbly, like it’s playing underwater. Cranking up the volume to the max on my iPod and the volume controller barely allowed me to hear the vocal track. On the songs where I could hear the vocals, they sounded hollow and far away. Almost like the band was playing in one room while the singer was in another.
I tested the i-Ball with my iPod nano, iPod classic and Slacker G2 personal radio on a desktop and a hardwood floor. No joy. And if bad audio isn’t enough reason to complain about with this product, I’ve got another gripe to share with you… The i-Ball doesn’t have a power switch. That’s right. If you want to turn it off, you have to unplug the AC adapter. What’s up with that? Argh…
I think you can already guess my verdict on this product… Don’t buy it. There, I just saved you $100. You’re welcome 🙂
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Man what’s up with all those wires? lol
@Jackie
And when food is scarce, it can also be used as a Bola to hunt game.
😀
@Mark Hahahah 😉
Thanks for the review Julie – ouch! 😉
Hi, are you sure you connect every accessaries in good way to get a awful sound effect? Twift is not retailler of this products in fact. Your comment for this I-ball is not true, since most of end user to get I-ball are all surprised with it’s cute ball can produce such loud and nice sound quality. I got one from a fair, till now, it worked very well, everyone come to my room all impressed by it’s cute design and nice sound quality. Maybe somewrong with your operation for this item, it’s unfair for this nice speaker.
@Chen The one that I reviewed had very poor sound and yes, I had all the cables connected correctly.
Julie, i had the same problem as yours before. You need to insert the audio cable all the way to the end on the volume module. If it’s half-way through, then you will get the problem that is described in your article. Try it and let me know if it works. I think it’s a fantastic device.
@Adam I had the cable inserted all the way in. The people that make the Free-D were very unhappy with my review and sent me emails to that effect, so I double and triple checked all connections. I still think the product provides very weak audio and can not recommend it based on my experiences.
Really I can not understand why it happens this to you Julie! A friend of my has the same and we had a party at his apartment, it works very very good for so a small devise! Where can I found one? He bought it from China 🙁