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Macworld
Australia on foxl DASH7 - Awarded 5 out of 5 Mice Rating - Editor's Pick:
"It’s one of those 'Wow!' products that never fails to put a smile on your
face, and we have no hesitation in giving Soundmatters another perfect score
and an Editor’s Pick"
By
Dave Bullard, Macworld Australia
 
Soundmatters
foxL DASH7
Soundmatters
foxL DASH7
Sound & Image,
www.foxl.com.au
Pros
Excellent audio for the size; well-built; great for travellers
Cons
None – even the price is good
$259
Reviews In 2011 we reviewed the foxL v2.2 Bluetooth speaker from
Soundmatters, declaring it “definitely something special”, saying its audio
quality was “nothing short of astounding for a hand-sized unit” and giving
it a score of 4.5 mice.
Then in 2012 we followed that up with a review of the Platinum edition,
which took its quality a step further. That time it scored a perfect 5 mice.
Both times we awarded it an Editor’s Pick.
Now it’s late 2013 and, after a number of delays, the foxL DASH7 is
available in Australia. It’s similar to the v2 Series speakers in many
aspects, but differs from them in one big way – it’s flat where the others
are chunky.
The DASH7 is 5.3cm wide, 19cm long and 1.8cm thick, which makes it a bit
narrower than an iPhone 5, 50 percent longer and twice as thick.
It has a black front grille and back, with a side band in white, black or
red. To the right side of the grille are two volume buttons and another for
power and Bluetooth control.
Behind the grille are two speakers and a BassBattery, which is the same
configuration as the V2 Series.
The former are ‘Twoofers’ – tweeters that also woof – that deliver 2W of
power when powered by the rechargeable battery or USB, and 4W when plugged
into mains power via the 5V Power In jack.
The BassBattery is a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery combined with an
acoustic bass radiator – an unpowered panel which extends the bass by
resonating at a frequency lower than the active Twoofers.
Put together, they produce a sound that belies the DASH7′s size and is just
as amazing as that of the V2 range. It’s rich and detailed with a beautiful
balance across the tonal range.
It’s best when placed relatively close to you – in front of the iPad on your
desk, for instance – but can also sound excellent from across the room.
We gave it a long test over a couple of weeks, playing everything from
Verdi, Bach and Benny Carter to Them Crooked Vultures, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
and Lorde – and it didn’t disappoint us once.
There’s a good amount of bass evident, but more is easily available by
hooking up Soundmatters’ $219 foxLO subwoofer to the DASH7′s dedicated Sub
Out jack.
The unit is designed to be omnidirectional when resting flat, and to provide
a more targeted sound when standing up against the included case/stand.
Rounding out the package are a 3.5mm audio-in jack, a noise-cancelling
microphone that lets you use the speaker as a handsfree unit for phone
calls, and a set of four wall power plugs for use in different countries.
Bottom line.
Almost all small Bluetooth speakers lack something – definition, bass,
balance, power, etc – but there are no compromises you have to make with the
foxL DASH7. It’s one of those “Wow!” products that never fails to put a
smile on your face, and we have no hesitation in giving Soundmatters another
perfect score and an Editor’s Pick.
– DAVE BULLARD
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