The BlueAnt Soundblade is an under-monitor soundbar that delivers good sound, though I was expecting great sound in a US$199.99 device.
It’s not that the audio quality of the soundbar is bad, it’s just not as good as I’d hoped. For example, when connected to my Mac (with both wired and wireless connections for testing), playing music from my Apple Music library sounded crisper on my Studio Display’s built-in speakers than on the Soundblade. (Admittedly, I’ve always found the Apple display to have exemplary speakers.)
The Soundblade fares much better when used for for gaming and watching movies, delivering, for example, thumping bass. And it’s no slouch when it comes to tech specs. It boasts 120W peak power audio performance thanks to its acoustic and driver design. There’s a 1 x built-in 80mm Neodymium subwoofer and two full range dual voice coil, dual Neodymium magnet drivers. A useful remote control is powered by two AAA batteries (which — yay! — come included).
Sound configuration is 2.1channel sound, which will disappoint folks who want/need 5.1 sound options. With the Soundblade, you can choose from three built-in equalizers: Game, Movies, and Music. I’ve found that Game mode makes music sound more vibrant than music mode.
Conveniently, there are a useful variety of connectivity options:
- USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3 & AUX connectivity
- Mobile phone USB-C audio support
- Switch between PC USB-C connectivity
The Soundblade also has great compatibility; it works with Macs, PCs, PlayStations PS 4 and PS5) as well as other devices via Bluetooth or is AUX cable.
The Soundblade isn’t small, but at 23 x 8.58 x 2.13 inches and 3.75 pounds, it’s not difficult to move it from room to room/device to device.
One thing you should be aware of before purchasing a Soundblade is that, despite its looks, you can’t place an iMac or external display on it. It’s not designed to be a speaker stand.
The Soundblade sits on eight short, rubber-tipped legs, which give you about half an inch of clearance between the bottom of the soundbar and a desktop. Conveniently, it also comes with eight swappable riser feet, which offer an extra 0.75 inches of clearance — or a total of 1.25 inches.
However, you can put items on it as the Soundblade can hold up to 66 pounds. When I was testing it out with my MacBook Pro/Studio Display set-up, I had my iPhone, lots of notes, and a few other accessories sitting on it.
As an under-monitor soundbar, the BlueAnt Soundblade has an attractive design and all the ports you’ll need. If only the audio quality was slightly better, this would be a fantastic buy. But, for me, I’ve found no reason to use it in lieu of my Studio Display speakers.
However, if you’re listening to audio out of your laptop or tablet’s screen, the Soundblade is definitely a sound upgrade.
Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★★
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