Music sources

This is the first test of a speakerphone for this site. I tested Avantalk Pioneer with different devices, for example desktop computer with BlueSoleil, laptop, MP3 players, and among them, to complicate the task, was Palm Treo with Softick Audio Gateway installed.

As for iPod Nano 3G, I tried to test with it too, but naughty thing refused to work with Avantalk Pioneer. I can't say now whose fault is - adapter's (Satechi SRS-200BD Bluetooth Audio Dongle for iPod / iPhone ) or speaker's. AVRCP worked flawlessly, but no sound I heard, just some croaking from time to time.

Also I took a non-A2DP mobile phone for calls testing, to see how it works with older cellphones.

Appearance

Well, as I unpacked the speakerphone, I saw two joint speakers in a black and silver rectangular casing. The arrival turned out to be a very lightweight, not big, easy to be carried anywhere device. It has a stand that folds up when the speaker is temporary not in use, or if you are carrying the Pioneer from one room to another while listening. According to specs, its size is 206mm*88mm*42mm and weight is 295g without battery.

Buttons

The speakerphone has a set of buttons, you needn't manage songs and command calls from your music source. Since it has AVRCP, it supports such remote control features: Next / Previous song, Forward / Back, and has Volume toggle/Bass button.You can mamage Volume as well.

AVRCP works perfectly. Of course, I tested a new one item, but there exist devices, that being new have unhandy or sticking buttons. The buttons of Avantalk Pioneer caused absolutely no problem.
As for the calls, the speakerphone supports Voice dial, Reject, Multi-pairing, Mute and privacy functions. Puch Privacy button while talking, and the volume will become minimal.

Sound and performance

The BTSP200 sports Volume toggle/Bass button, and this button indeed helps a lot and improves the sounding, making it wider and deeper.

What can I say about sound? I hope you understand that I'm saying about little speakers and I'm not trying to compare them to big music center.

Having tried many musical styles I came to the conclusion; the more highs in a song – the better does it sound. Highs are great, and middles are very good too. Basses are not very impressive.

The sounds of noisy rock weren't a pleasure to listen to. However, the voice and leading guitar sounded not bad - clear and detailed, but if there many instruments are playing, the level of noise increases and some rubbishness appears. On the other hand, Queen's Bijou was crystal-clear as a string. Just voice and guitar, and nothing more... then it is fantastic for such a small cute thing. Vivaldi was great, but in low tones I also noticed enough noise. Hip-hop sounded very good, but the lack of bass response was noticeable too.

So, we can sum up, that basses are not enough (which is not a surprise taking into account the size of the gadget with no subwoofer), middles are very good, and highs are undoubtedly perfect. The device is the best for the tunes with one or two leading lines and clear-cut composition.

By the way, these speakers is a musthave for parents, both in outdoors use (in park, sitting on a lawn with a little boy or a girl) and in a cozy baby room. The melodies for children, especially for babies, sounded perfectly. Mother can switch some tunes a la Doctor Dream and manage songs and volume from a kitchen not entering baby's bedroom. The range is enough to do it (if you are not living in a palace.)

And don't forget about podcasts and audiobooks listening!

What is important too is that the BTSP200 is very loud. I would never use it at its full volume, the half is enough for me, if Volume toggle/Bass button is on.

Bluetooth

The manufacturer's promised range is 25m is indeed what we need. We had two not very thick walls between speaker and sound source, and there was no distortion or skipping, even while moving or a person staying between Pioneer and a cellphone. Moreover, in my case, interfering waves (for instance, microwave oven) didn't cause stuttering or distortion.

I can state that the Pioneers range is just great, it is one of the biggest advantages of this gadget.

Pairing is as easy as pie. Just press the multifunction button when the speakerphone is off and wait until the LED blinks red and blue very fast. Now it is in a pairing mode. Look at your phone specs how to pair it with Bluetooth devices. Usually the phone has to find available BT gadgets. Choose Avantalk and enter a passkey, which is 0000.

Avantalk Pioneer reconnects easily. For example, while testing the gadget with Treo 755P, after speaker was disconnected from music source and switched off, I just had to tap the button “Stream to A2DP device” and turn on the speaker (don't set it to pairing mode), as the sound resumed.

Calls. When someone calls you, the music pauses, and when the conversation is over, music starts again. Thus all the people in a room are able to hear your interlocutor, which is great for VoIP & conference calls.

The sound is good and clear, just as I hoped, because the device boasts Noise & echo cancellation feature.

Package. It was awfully nice to see at once a cute glamorous shammy black bag for the speaker (women will understand me).

There was a 3.5mm audio cable as well. You can use the Avantalk Pioneer not only with A2DP devices, but also in a wired way via 3.5 jack input with MP3 players, iPod or iPhone, laptop or desktop computers.
The device comes with a User manual.

For powering I found 6V DC adapter in the box. But most probably, you will use four standard changeable batteries. Unlike some other gadgets, this one works not on built-in rechargeable battery, so you won't be forced to visit service or throw it away when the built-in battery is old. If you forgot to buy batteries, you can use the speaker while it is plugged to the wall outlet. By the way, when the batteries run out of charge, the red LED starts blinking, Volume toggle/Bass button stops working, and you hear unobtrusive beeps.

Hope you will like the Avantalk Pioneer as I like.

Good Luck!

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