SonicGear has wide variety of audio products in its offerings, and their latest addition is a bookshelf speaker called the StudioBox 2-HD, under its “Hi-Fi Audio” lineup. The SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD retails for S$279, but it is now on discount on Shopee for S$229.
Unboxing
In the box, you will find the following:
- SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD Bluetooth speaker
- 3.5mm-RCA Audio Cable (1.5m)
- Fiber Optic Input Cable (1.8m
- Power Adapter
- User manual
Tech specs
| Output power | 70W RMS |
| Frequency response | 40Hz – 20K Hz |
| Drivers | 50W Full-Range 4-inch (x1) 10W 1.25-inch Tweeters (x2) |
| Input | Bluetooth 5.0 RCA Line-in Optical |
| Power | DC19V / 1.89A (Adapter) |
| Dimensions | 28.7cm x 17.8cm x 15.6cm |
| Weight | 2.4kg |
Build quality and design
The StudioBox 2-HD speaker follows a rectangular boxy design that is reminiscent of speakers such as the Marshall Acton and Klipsch The One (II). Both of which are of similar size but are priced above S$400, compared to the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD which costs S$279.
There are two colour options of the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD to choose from – (1) Walnut, and (2) Mahogany. The unit I have in this review is the latter, which offers a Mahogany medium density fibreboard (MDF) on the top and bottom, while the middle where speaker drivers are located is wrapped in a black fabric cloth. Do note that the Walnut variant comes with a grey fabric cloth.
I like how the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD looks. It has a clean understated look and the MDF used helps to provide a slight premium touch, which allows the speaker to fit in easily in any room setup. As far as build quality goes, the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD is not constructed as sophisticatedly as more premium speakers but the overall feel is pretty well built. The base of the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD has four rubber feet to help with stability so that the speaker stays in place.
Connectivity and controls
The controls of the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD are located at the top of the speaker. You are three knobs, which allow you to adjust the bass, treble and volume. The volume knob has defined steps (total of 32 volume increments) for adjustments, while both the bass and treble knobs only have a defined step in the middle.
There is a LED indicator located next to the power switch to let you know which connection mode you are currently on – Light Blue (Line-In 1), Orange (Line-In 2), Blue (Bluetooth), and White (Optical). The SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD doesn’t have a standard 3.5mm audio jack. They use a RCA cable which they include in the box for you to connect to 3.5mm devices.
There is no app or remote control whatsoever, so if you need to increase or decrease the volume you have to go to the speaker or use your phone (if on Bluetooth). Oh small point to note is that there is no audio-video latency encountered when watching videos from the YouTube app from my iPhone 11.
Sound quality
There are a total of three drivers that make up the audio system of the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD, which are a 50W full-range driver accompanied by two 10W tweeters. This translates to 70W RMS, which can get really loud if you intend to use it in your bedroom.
The sound signature of the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD leans towards a brighter soundscape. Mids and highs will be the prominent frequency, with bass having a slight presence to prevent the audio from sounding thin. Bass offers adequate support, but can feel a little weak compared to the other frequencies. It is punchy and clean, but may not offer enough boom at its default setting. Cranking up the bass does help to offer more thump in the mix, and give it a slightly warmer and fuller sound. I like how the bass and treble knobs can rly change up the EQ of the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD quite noticeably.
With my test on setting everything to the middle by default, midrange is forward, allowing vocals and instruments to shine with good amounts clarity and detail. Treble is bright and well-balanced to not sound thin. I would say that setting the bass close to its maximum and leaving the treble in the middle creates a rather balanced and enjoyable sound for most music.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a bookshelf speaker but not willing to shell out more than S$300 for it, I think the SonicGear StudioBox 2-HD is a great option and is well-priced for what it offers. In fact, at 70W it probably gets louder than other similarly sized rectangular shaped speakers in the market. At its current promotion price S$229, I think it is a great deal for a speaker that offers a well-balanced sound in a rather clean design.