20 IKEA Speakers Beat One $200 Speaker?

IKEA’s Tiny Speaker Challenge: Can 20 Beat One?

Imagine this: a tiny, adorable cube speaker from IKEA, costing just $10. Now imagine having 20 of them. Could this army of budget speakers actually sound better than a single, fancy $200 speaker? IKEA’s new Symfonisk wireless speaker, nicknamed the “Cowzip,” made a splash at CES, and we decided to put it to the test. This little speaker, measuring just 2 and 3/4 inches on each side and available in white, pink, and yellow-green, promises simple operation with just two buttons for power, pairing, and playback. But its most intriguing feature is the ability to connect up to 100 units together. We grabbed 20 of them to see if they could stand up to a premium speaker like the Sonos Roam SL, Bose SoundLink Plus, or Amazon Echo Studio.

While listening to sound samples can be tricky due to varying microphones and headphones, our experience with the Cowzip speakers was surprisingly positive for their price. They won’t deliver booming bass, and the mid-range is just okay, with a bit of distortion creeping in at maximum volume. Plus, some of the audio cues for actions like pairing or reaching max volume are a little… odd. However, these tiny speakers don’t vibrate and skitter across your desk like many other cheap Bluetooth speakers do. At normal listening levels, the sound quality is far better than you’d expect for a mere $10.

Scaling Up the Sound

The real magic happens when you start linking them together. By daisy-chaining more speakers while keeping your phone’s volume at a consistent 50%, we measured the output. A single Cowzip hit around 86 decibels (dB), a respectable level for its size. But with all 20 speakers connected, the volume jumped to an impressive 94 dB. That’s almost double the perceived loudness, providing a much more immersive sound experience. While it’s still a mono setup, covering a wider area with sound becomes much more achievable.

So, does the Cowzip army conquer the premium speaker? In terms of sheer volume and sound coverage, the 20-speaker setup definitely holds its own, offering a surprisingly full sound for the total cost. The individual $10 speakers are cheap, cute, and incredibly easy to use. The ability to link so many together opens up fun possibilities for creating a multi-room audio setup on a shoestring budget. If you’re looking for a simple, affordable way to add sound to multiple spaces or just want a conversation starter, IKEA’s Cowzip might be worth a look. However, if you prioritize deep bass, crystal-clear highs, and a polished audio experience from a single unit, you’ll still want to invest in a higher-end speaker.

Specs & Key Features

• Price: $10 per speaker
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Pairing: Up to 100 speakers can be linked
• Dimensions: 2.75-inch cube
• Colors: White, Pink, Yellow-Green
• Controls: Two buttons (Power, Play/Pair)
• Audio: Mono output per speaker

Who Should Buy the Cowzip?

The IKEA Cowzip is perfect for budget-conscious consumers who want to experiment with multi-room audio without breaking the bank. Students decorating dorm rooms, people looking for simple sound solutions for small spaces like kitchens or bathrooms, or anyone who enjoys quirky tech gadgets will find this speaker appealing. It’s also a great option for those who value simplicity and ease of use over audiophile-grade sound. Think of it as a fun, accessible way to fill your space with sound, rather than a replacement for a high-fidelity home audio system.

The Verdict

For $200, you can buy 20 of IKEA’s Cowzip speakers. This setup delivers impressive volume and sound coverage that can rival or even surpass a single $200 speaker in certain aspects, especially loudness. While it won’t match the audio fidelity of premium brands, the sheer value and scalability of the Cowzip are undeniable. IKEA has created a charming and surprisingly capable little speaker that proves you don’t always need to spend a lot to get a lot of sound.

Source: 20 $10 Ikea speakers vs. 1 $200 speaker (YouTube)