Gadgetwise Blog: A Wireless Speaker That Offers More Listening Choices

The Minx Air 200 wireless speaker from Cambridge Audio.

The market for wireless speakers is quickly becoming saturated with products in every shape, size and color, but few device makers give consideration to the individual needs of listeners.

The high-end Minx Air 200 wireless speaker from Cambridge Audio, a London-based maker of home theater components, delivers big sound while allowing users to personalize their listening experience with features like bass control and presets for Internet radio.

The Minx Air 200, which Cambridge sells in-house for $600, streams music from a phone, tablet or computer through either AirPlay or Bluetooth; wireless speakers typically feature only one or the other. It has simple, modern design, but behind that are digital signal processing, a subwoofer and a 200-watt amplifier that can fill a large room with rich, clear sound.

The speaker can be controlled by buttons on the top, a remote control or an app, available for iOS and Android devices. The app allows you to fine-tune your preferences, like bass and EQ control and search settings. You can also use the app to select presets for Internet radio stations and set a timer to shut down the power.

Connecting to my home network via Wi-Fi was tricky, involving a lot of steps and some troubleshooting. Syncing via Bluetooth was far easier.

Once I had a connection, I streamed a selection of music from my personal collection and Pandora. The sound was intense and vibrant, so much so that I worried about disturbing my neighbor below me. I could not detect distortions at low or high volumes.

The Minx Air 200 is an impressive speaker, but it’s expensive and enormous, weighing more than 11 pounds. Its size can be prohibitive in a tiny space like my living room. Fortunately, Cambridge has smaller, cheaper offerings worth considering, like the Minx Air 100 and the Minx Go.