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aiFi AI-1 Review: Stunning, Stackable Bluetooth Speakers

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The aiFi AI-1 Bluetooth speakers deliver impressive sound, look amazing and can stack together to amplify the sound.

Alone, the aiFi AI-1 is a Bluetooth speaker that you can connect to your favorite music source, but when you add in a second, third or fourth you can supercharge your sound. When you stack the aiFi AI-1 speakers or connect side-by-side the sound grows louder and changes based on how you connect them.

aiFi AI-1 speakers are simply stunning. The Bluetooth speakers sound great across a range of music. Adding another aiFi AI-1 speaker to your system is simple and gives your music an instant boost. The aiFi speakers are $299 each.

The aiFi stackable Bluetooth speakers impress.

The aiFi stackable Bluetooth speakers impress.

We love that you can carry one speaker with you around the house or on the go and then connect a second or third to upgrade the experience when you are at home or when friends bring a speaker over. There is no need for a WiFi network or for complicated pairing, simply connect the speakers together by stacking or placing next to each other and you’ll instantly hear the results.

aiFi AI-1 Review

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aiFi AI-1 Build & Design

If Apple built a Bluetooth speaker to match the MacBook Pro, the aiFi AI-1 is what we’d expect it to look like. The all metal design looks great and is super durable. There are no added flourishes to this design. It’s simple and beautiful, letting the sound speak for itself.

Use alone, or add more to the mix.

Use alone, or add more to the mix.

The mesh on the front gives slightly, but it isn’t loose. This is likely to increase the durability during transport or when stacking many speakers. rubber feet on the bottom keep the speaker in place and allow for easier vertical stacking.

Small indents on the side hold “coins” that line up the speakers when you connect them side-by-side. The speakers know how they are connected and can relay that information to the app. The way you stack them changes the sound profile.

Control the speakers with controls on the back or with an app.

Control the speakers with controls on the back or with an app.

The app also allows you to control the LED lights built into the speakers. This helps accent the metal design and make it easy for you to know which speaker is yours. You can choose colors and intensity with the free app.

aiFi AI-1 Sound

The aiFi AI-1 speakers sound great. They deliver a very good sound profile across a range of music types. We tested the speakers with EDM, acoustic, rock and audiobooks to see how well they meet the needs across a variety of tracks and scenarios. In a small bedroom, a large open area of the home and even outdoors you can push a lot of sound from one speaker. Adding a second or third really ups the output. Since the speakers know how they are connected, the impact is more noticeable than simply playing to two or three speakers. You need to connect the speakers by stacking or putting side-by-side for this to work. This means there is

I love the wide soundstage from the soundbar setup.

I love the wide soundstage from the soundbar setup.

Since the speakers know how they are connected, the impact is more noticeable than simply playing to two or three speakers. You need to connect the speakers by stacking or putting side-by-side for this to work. This means there is a central location for the sound. You can’t spread them out across the house like WiFi speakers, but it also means you can enjoy this on the go without any WiFi or special setup.

I love placing the speakers side-by-side for a wider audio stage. This works as a soundbar, but I love this setup even for music as it fills the room better and fits how I prefer to hear music better than a stack. On Good Mystery by Amanda Rubarth, the speakers fill out the room with instruments while the voice is front and center.

The low end is good, but there is not an overpowering bass feel like you get on some Bluetooth speakers. Kanye West’s Love Lockdown sounds good, but it lacks the bass filled punch. Heartbeats by Jose Gonzolez on the other hand really fills out the low end with deep and rich instrumentals.

The speakers gracefully handle the mids with a superb sound that delivers spot on vocals. Jay Z’s rhymes stand out perfectly on Blue Magic.

Highs sound great and even when you max out the volume there is no distortion. A single speaker is good and can deliver enough sound for a small backyard, but the aiFi sound really shines with a second speaker.

aiFi AI 1 Battery Life, Range & App

The range is good when stacked or alone.

The range is good when stacked or alone.

The aiFi battery life is rated for 8-12 hours. During our testing over Bluetooth to an iPhone, we consistently saw 8 hours of playback. You need to charge each speaker on its own with the included chargers. If you want to charge multiple speakers at once you can buy a small adapter that connects from one speaker to the next. If you want to keep wires tidy and simplify charging this is an accessory that you should consider buying.

The speakers offer very good range, allowing me to walk across the house and several rooms away without losing the connection. You can use the free app to control the volume, switch sources if you have a hardwired connection, change the LED colors, manage a party queue, see the configuration, change the name and see the battery life remaining.

 

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