Small speakers are audio accessories that only three years ago we felt were unnecessary. Why need small speakers if large speakers exist with better audio quality. Pandemic brought a big change to our lives with small speakers becoming the best audio system to use listening to music while cooking in the kitchen and relaxing on the porch of the house while listening to favorite podcasts.
Huawei Sound Joy launched in Malaysia this week as their offering in the compact wireless speaker segment. Is it still worth the price of RM699 each? The answer is at the end of this review.
Specifications
Huawei Sound Joy
Mono wireless speaker type
50mm / 19mm Tweeter driver
Microphone 3 microphones
8000 mAh / 26 Hour battery
USB-C charger port (40W)
Wireless charging None
CODEC AAC, SBC
All supported operating systems
Yes/Assistant and Alexa virtual assistant support
Control Pad Adjustable audio buttons and physical features
IP67 waterproof capability
Selling Price RM 699
The design of Sound Joy is similar to an aluminum water can with a height of about twice. This is intentional to allow it to be tucked into the side pocket of a bag or water holder on a bicycle. Because of the same size it is also comfortable to hold in the grip of the hand. There is an extra strap that allows it to be attached to the wrist or hook when used outdoors.
Both ends are also flat allowing Sound Joy to be used in a standing position if necessary. Two rubber feet on the sides are included if this speaker is to be used horizontally. These rubber feet at our disposal are too small to prevent it from rolling. If music with strong bass is installed, we realize Sound Joy vibrates just still not able to roll fully.
The body is made of the same rough canvas material as on the Google Home body. The reviewed unit is black which times the dirt after two weeks of use. But these speakers are also offered in red and green in the Malaysian market. The rough texture of the Sound Joy body makes it not easy to slip from the hands even in wet conditions. Don't worry if it's wet because the speakers pass the IP67 waterproof standard.
Two physical buttons for audio tuning made of rubber are placed at the top. It is shaped "+" and "-" which makes it easy for the finger to distinguish between these two large buttons without looking. Five physical buttons for power, bluetooth, microphone, music pause and stereo mode are also placed on the side of the speakers. A round rubber button for the Huawei Share is included for NFC touch.
The USB-C charging port is also lined up with the buttons above. It is quite interesting to see this port open without any rubber doors to prevent water from entering the hole. In contrast to the LG XBOOM GO PL5 speakers we use at home which hide the charging port and extra buttons behind a waterproof rubber cover.
There are two side radiators that blow air out for strong bass. Also included is an RGB light on the right side. These lights can be controlled to change color according to the melody of the music being played. Before moving on to the next segment, we should mention that the Sound Joy is a mono speaker as it only comes with one 50mm audio driver and one 19mm tweeter.
Usage and Software
For the best experience we recommend using Sound Joy on a Huawei smart device. Immediately after turning on, a quick tether icon with a picture of the speaker will appear on the Huawei device. On Android and iOS devices, there is no fast tethering support.
Google Fast Pair support is also not included due to technology restrictions imposed by the United States. On Android and Huawei devices there is an advantage because Sound Joy supports NFC touch. Just touch the Huawei Share logo and the mooring can be done faster.
Once tethered to the device, using Sound Joy as a bluetooth speaker is easy. control only from a smartphone or using the physical buttons we mentioned above.
For more comprehensive use the Huawei AI Life app needs to be downloaded. When the article was written the app was updated to support it on Android and iOS devices without any issues. We are just less fond of this app which requires a Huawei account to work. If you do not have a speaker account can not be added to the list of supported applications.
But the app needs to do a speaker software update, turn off the RGB light if it interferes with the enjoyment of listening to music, EQ, bass power control, manual reading and activate the speaker turn off mode automatically when not in use. It is better if the application can be used without the need for an account first.
Apart from the above issues, the process of using Sound Joy is just as simple as all other bluetooth speakers on the market.
Audio Quality
This is a mono speaker so in terms of audio quality it already has one significant drawback. Audio sound will not provide the best audio experience. But the majority of bluetooth speakers in the same category as Sound Joy are also mono. So a comparison of audio quality will be done with the Sonic Gear Sonic Shuttle speakers we’ve used before to be fair.
As a bluetooth speaker the mono audio produced is satisfactory. Bass that punches the diaphragm and a crispy treble can be produced. At the highest settings the sound emitted by the speakers is still bright and not noisy. This is aided by the two audio drivers used. Sound Joy is designed for those who want to party and this is the reason why the performance of this bass speaker is as solid as a mobile nightclub. But listening to vocal music, instruments and podcasts alone is also very satisfying because of its loud treble.
Make sure the audio driver is pointed in your direction while in use for the most optimal audio quality. Look for the Huawei logo on the side of the speakers and the main audio driver is located right below this logo. With its compact size it is not equipped with a 360 -degree audio transmission system.
There is stereo support if two Sound Joys are used simultaneously but we were not given an additional unit to test this feature. Up to 100 Sound Joy can be combined into a “stereo sound wall” if necessary.
Another supported feature is to call a virtual assistant on the phone by pressing the microphone button. Interesting feature but we found it did not work smoothly. Sometimes the voice command is understood and sometimes it waits for the command non -stop. It is better to control only from a smartphone.
Battery
The advertised battery can last up to 26 hours which makes Sound Joy among the best bluetooth speakers with battery life we’ve ever seen. Much better than the XBOOM GO PL5 which only lasts for 18 hours. The strength of Sound Joy clearly lies in its long battery life. It operated over a week in the kitchen at the time the review was done.
While charging it can still be used directly with the cable connected. A 40W charging system is supported and this recharges the Sound Joy 8800 mAh battery in 90 minutes. Charging for only 10 minutes can provide operation for 1 hour. To enjoy this fast charging you need to have a charger that supports PD3.0 and SCP2.0 formats.
We charge using the Huawei SuperCharge 40W charger provided with the Huawei P40 Pro. This charger head is not provided with every Sound Joy purchase as only a USB-A to USB-C cable is provided in the box.
In the box
Here is what is received with every purchase of a device in Malaysia.
1x Huawei Sound Joy
1x USB-A to USB-C charger cable.
1x manual.
Conclusion
The size is compact but the audio thrown in by Sound Joy is better than we expected. As a portable bluetooth speaker it is very satisfying especially if you are a fan of electronica music with bass is more important than everything. This audio power is matched by the best 26 -hour battery life in its class. The IP67 waterproof capability is a bonus for those who plan to use Sound Joy outdoors without worrying about it being damaged if exposed to water splashes.
At RM699 it is well worth it for what Huawei is trying to offer to consumers. Software support is excellent even if you don’t have a Huawei device. We recommend this speaker to those looking for a portable compact speaker that can last more than a day.
The only downside is that it's just mono while its closest competitor like the LG XBOOM GO PL5 supports stereo audio at an almost comparable selling price but shorter battery performance.
Pro
Compact design and comfortable to hold.
IP67 waterproof.
Excellent 26 -hour battery life.
40W fast charging.
Good app support on Huawei, Android and iOS devices.
Audio is loud and clear.
Cons
Audio mono.
The 40W charger needs to be purchased separately.
The application requires a Huawei account before it can be used.