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Blue Aura X30 review: The little speaker that (almost) could

By Marcus Wong - 17 Aug 2015
Launch SRP: S$500

Blue Aura X30 review: The little speaker that (almost) could

The pair of compact and handsome looking Blue Aura X30 desktop speakers.


Introduction

Blue Aura is a relatively new name here, but the British company was set up in 2010 by audio industry veteran Nick Holland and focuses mostly on audio systems that are either wireless or wireless-ready, allowing for simple set-up of indoor entertainment systems.

On their website, you’ll find a wide range of wireless speakers, ranging from single-unit table-top Bluetooth speakers to subwoofers and even tube amplifiers and a wireless transmitter. The S$500 pair of X30 speakers we are evaluating today are priced between the entry-level WS30i and the high-performance WS80i, and so can probably be considered as a mid-range desktop system best suited for pairing with laptops and computers.

A whole host of connection options are available for the X30 - more than your regular bookshelf/desktop speakers.

The NFC pairing spot is on the top of the right speaker.

The X30 speakers themselves are fairly compact in size, measuring just 17.5 x 11.2 x 14.5cm, and weighing just 1.5kg each. They connect to each other by way of Blue Aura’s ‘Quick Connect’ cable, which has a standard RJ-45 lead. To expand connectivity, you can also purchase Blue Aura’s WST wireless transmitter, which acts as a hub for multi-room functionality. 

The speakers boast amplification of 48W (Class D) and a frequency range of 55Hz to 22kHz with a single 3.5-inch main woofer and a 0.7-inch tweeter in each speaker. Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX is used for an optimal streaming experience, while NFC is available for one-touch pairing, and the inputs at the rear of the right speaker allow you to plug in more traditional inputs like optical digital and stereo RCA analog. There’s also a subwoofer output if you need more bass, and the company does offer their own Blue Aura xSub, but that costs another S$500, adding to the total cost. 

The faux leather covering goes over the entire speaker.

A basic remote control is included with the speakers.

The X30 speakers come in a faux leather finish, and are available in a choice of White, Black or Sahara. We only had the Black pair, but we think all the colors should match nicely with most modern interiors, and must emphasize that the faux leather finish adds a touch of class to the entire package.

 

Performance findings

Starting our audition with a recording of Spanish Harlem by Rebecca Pidgeon, we felt the speaker did a fairly good job with the intro, rendering Pidgeon’s vocals with a slight bit of warmth and a great deal of smoothness. We felt that the piece could have done with more separation though, but that the speaker generally turned in a good performance.

Moving on to a recording of Grandma’s Hands by Livingston Taylor again reinforced the idea that this speaker does well with the midtones, giving an enjoyable rendition of the piece. However the track is one that tests for naturalness, and that’s where the speaker falters a bit as details like the snapping of fingers are a little lost in the presentation. There is a nice, round mid-bass tone to be found in the vocals though. 

On our standard test tracks, the X30 seemed content to turn in “safe” performances. With Adele’s Melt My Heart to Stone for example, the X30 turned in a delivery that was slightly more neutral than we would have liked. Adele’s vocals had just about enough weight to not be overwhelmed by the backing instruments, but we do feel like the performance could have done with a touch more warmth. 

Tiesto’s Elements of Life showed us again the promise of the X30, as it quite handily matches the attack on this fast moving piece. The bass line packed a decent punch, but what we felt was that the bass on this speaker doesn’t quite extend low enough, so lacks the necessary depth to really get you moving. The mid-section of Elements of Life is a fairly good test of the sound stage a speaker system is able to project, and in this case we have to say we were unfortunately left wanting.

We do think that pieces with more focus on the mid to top end serve this set of speakers better though. For example, Buckethead’s Sail On Soothsayer features a fair amount of detail in the upper mid to high notes, and that subsequently allowed the X30 to deliver one of its better performances. Good detail on the high end, and good execution with the solo would be our takeaways from this piece, though we would like a bit more body on the piece.

Finishing off with The Eagles’ Hotel California, the X30 again reinforced our impression that it is very much a balanced sounding pair of speakers, with the sweet spot firmly in the mid range. While there was a good amount detail in the intro, we did feel that the bass was again a bit lacking on this piece. We would have liked it if Don Henley’s vocals were a bit more forward in the presentation as it did get lost amongst the instruments at times. Still, the rendition was enjoyable overall.

Audio Performance Summary
MP3 Testing Score
Melt My Heart to Stone - Adele 7.5
Elements of Life - Tiesto 7.5
Sail on Soothsayer - Buckethead 8.0
Hotel California - The Eagles 7.5

 

Conclusion

While the Blue Aura is very much a competent set of speakers that will handle most genres of music well, we can’t help but feel that the tuning has left the speaker turning in a middling performance. It lacks ring on the high end and extension on the low end, and so it seems to miss the defining quality that draws you back to it. While it certainly does provide a good amount of features in terms of connectivity and reliability of connection, and certainly is a good size with nice finish, we do wish it could have performed slightly better in the audio aspect - especially since it commands a somewhat premium price of S$500.

Some of you might point out that Creative has a pair of E-MU XM7 passive bookshelf speakers for only S$399 and arguably perform much better, but there are some caveats with it. First and foremost, the Creative pair is a much more bulky, true bookshelf sized speakers with each unit weighing at 4.35kg each. As such, it naturally has more cabinet volume and larger drivers. By contrast, the Blue Aura X30 is far more compact and discreet in its form and size. Add to that, the Blue Aura pair offer far more connectivity options, including Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX support and NFC pairing. Creative's speakers actually rely on the Sound Blaster X7 standalone amplifier to support these other functions - including driving the speaker themselves.

Herein lies the difference. The Blue Aura X30 is a compact all-in-one speaker solution with built-in amplification (somewhat like most PC speakers, but not as limited in connectivity and performance) whereas the Creative E-MU XM7 is a larger passive speaker set that compliments the Sound Blaster X7 or any other amplifier you might have.

If you are interested in a compact 2.0-channel speaker setup that have the form of traditional bookshelf speakers, look great, performs reasonably and love the flexible connectivity options, do give the Blue Aura X30 a consideration.

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7.5
  • Design 8
  • Performance 7.5
  • Features 8
  • Value 7
The Good
Overall finish feels premium
Sound quality in the mid-range is good
Small size makes it easy to place anywhere
Good wired and wireless connectivity
The Bad
Bass could be punchier and extend lower
Trebles need more ring
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