eFizz Travel iPod Speaker Review

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eFizz Travel iPod Speaker Review

In the current market, there are plenty of speaker options for the iPod. Joining this crowded field is Ewoo, a Swiss company that has teamed up with Cabasse, a well-regarded European Speaker manufacturer known for their high fidelity speakers for the past fifty years. Ewoo has released three new products for the iPod market. Today we will look at one of these exciting selections – the eFizz Travel.

This portable stereo speaker system is the little brother of the eFizz iPod Stereo speaker. It is designed to be portable and rechargeable, thus allowing maximum listening freedom. Since it incorporates the speaker skills of Cabasse, this mobile system is designed to compete with the high models from companies such as Bose and Klipsch.

Today we will look and listen at the newest portable iPod speaker solution. Let’s get started……

 

 

eFizz Travel

Reviewed by: Tomas Ratas

Sponsor: EWOO

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:


eFizz Travel


Unplug your ears while accessorizing your iPod when on the road. Marrying form with function the fashionable eFizz Travel comes with a convenient infrared remote control while providing a real 20 hours of uninterrupted iPod music. eFizz Travel is the stylish iPod accessory for both Road Warriors and Pleasure Travelers.


General Features:

  • Mobile Hi-Fi stereo system for iPod
  • 2.0 audio system from Cabasse
  • iTunes synchronization through USB
  • Lithium Polymer battery included (up to 20 hours autonomy)
  • Infrared remote control included
  • Compatible with any iPod starting from Nano 1G
  • Upgradable Firmware


Contents:

  • System eFizz Travel
  • Infrared remote control
  • iPod universal dock adaptor (Black)
  • Lithium Polymer Battery included
  • Power supply with EU plug
  • Mini-USB cable
  • User guide



A Better Look at Things


The eFizz Travel comes packaged in a white and black cardboard box with a central open area where the device is help in a plastic shell. On the lower front right corner of the package we see a series of logos, which lists the specs of the eFizz Travel. There is a logo – Acoustic Engineering by Cabasse on the lower left corner of the box.



The back of the package lists the general features in six different languages along with a list of the various iPod compatibilities. On the sides of the box we see two shots of the eFizz Travel in action along with a listing of the package contents.



Upon opening the box, we find a large plastic clamshell, which houses the speaker, and a white cardboard box.



The eFizz Travel is composed of reflective black metal for the speaker area and a glossy piano black plastic finish for the rest of the body. Behind the grill are two 2W RMS speakers. The front of the speaker has a silver Ewoo logo in front of the iPod docking area.



Below this logo is a One Touch Button, which houses the IR receiver and two LED lights. This One Touch info button allows the eFizz Travel to post various messages about the status of the system to the iPod screen.



On the back wall of this docking area is a label with the same logos found on the front of the package.

The backside of the eFizz Travel has a mini USB and power supply connector. The bottom of the device had three rubberized feet to keep the speaker from sliding.



Included with the speaker we find a black infrared remote control, six iPod dock connectors, a mini Power Supply, CD containing the User’s Guide, and a mini USB cable.



The dock connectors allow the eFizz Travel to accommodate iPods from the first generation to the iPod Touch and iPhone.


Installation, Testing and Comparison:


For initial use the eFizz Travel takes about thirty minutes to charge and six hours for a complete charge. Once fully charged, you can use it without AC power for up to twenty hours. Next insert the iPod adapter that is specific for your iPod version. These adapters are numbered and the fitting chart can be found on the User’s Guide that comes with the included CD.


Next insert the iPod into the eFizz Travel. Now the iPod can be controlled from either the IR remote or the iPod itself. If the speakers are plugged into an outlet, the iPod will charge.



There are two LEDs on the unit, one blue and the other red. The blue LED is continuously illuminated when the eFizz Travel is charging. When it is flashing, then the speaker is in use. A flashing red LED indicates a low battery charge, while a rapid red flash means a critically low battery. The One Touch Info button can provide a more accurate battery level with a battery icon that appears on the iPod screen.



As the battery becomes weaker, the eFizz Travel will automatically shut off the volume.

To use the eFizz Travel as an iPod dock attach the mini USB cable and connect the AC powered speaker to a PC running iTunes. Now the eFizz Travel will function as a typical iPod dock.

One of the unique features of the eFizz Travel is it has updateable firmware. Just go to the Ewoo site and download the latest firmware from the support section. Now hook up the powered eFizz Travel without any iPod housed within the speaker and run the update.



Ewoo has several recommendations for positioning of the eFizz Travel to get the best sound response. According to their instruction manual, the speakers should be aimed at the listening zone and allowed to diffuse into the largest area of the room. Avoid positioning the eFizz Travel in the corner of a room, as it will cause low frequencies. Also, keep it at least eight inches from a wall. So after following these detailed instructions, I tested out the eFizz Travel.

For audio comparison, I ran the eFizz Travel up against the original Bose Sound Dock and the mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb. I played several different musical genres to get the full acoustic spectrum of the eFizz Travel.

While the eFizz Travel sound was good, it did sound muffled when compared to the Bose. The eFizz Travel lacked a richness that was heard through the Bose speaker. When compared to lower price mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb, then the eFizz Travel sounded comparable.

It is important to note that the Bosesports a 55W speaker setup while the Ewoo brand is only 4W. The eFizz Travel holds an advantage over the Bose in the fact that it is portable and has one of the longest battery lives of a portable iPod speaker system.

The remote provides basic functioning for music playback with a power button, play, pause, forward, reverse, mute, plus and minus buttons which control the iPod when housed in the speaker system.



Summary and Comments


The eFizz Travel is one of the first products for the iPod from Ewoo. This uniquely named device has some admirable features such as upgradeable firmware, speaker info displayed on the iPod screen and long rechargeable battery life. However, since Ewoo has partnered with Cabasse, a highly regarded European speaker company to design the sound of the eFizz Travel, one would expect a better overall sound experience.

Maybe the addition of a powered subwoofer or more wattage would help give the sound a little more oomph. For the price point of $199, I was hoping that the eFizz Travel would provide a much more pleasurable soundstage. The eFizz Travel sounds comparable to the iPod speaker systems in the $99 range than the higher end products it seems to be lining up against.



DragonSteelMods gives the eFizz Travel a 4 out of 5 score.


Pros:

  • +Light weight
  • +Long battery life
  • +Great look
  • +Portable


Cons:

  • -Bizarre name
  • -Sound is flat
  • -Expensive


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Disclosure: This product was given to DragonSteelMods for review by the company for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for the review; we do not, never have, and never will, accept payment from companies to review their products.

To learn more about our review policy, testing methods and ratings please see this page.