Songwriting UK — Winter 2017

TIBO

SPHERE 4

This multi-room/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth

speaker marries its modern app-based

controls with a classic sound, making it a

true all-rounder. Here, Duncan Haskell

puts it through its paces...

SERS OF THE VOGUE 3 WILL

know that Tibo are a company

that can be trusted when it

comes to wireless speakers. Their new

Sphere 4 is a portable multi-play speaker

which continues the company’s solid run.

Designed and engineered in the UK, it is a

stylish and user-friendly unit which can be

connected via LAN, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

At 50 Watts, this is the middle range of

the current Sphere family, with the Sphere

2 offering 30W and the Sphere 6 packing

80W.

What helps the Sphere 4 truly stand

out is its exceptional functionality. The

initial setup and majority of the settings are

U

GEAR: REVIEWS

controlled via the Tibo app. Thankfully,

it’s easy enough to get to grips with and it

won’t be long before you’re accessing all

the available methods of playback. Using

the app, it’s quick to pair with the music

stored on your device, Spotify and other

streaming services such as Napster/TIDAL.

One of the most enjoyable features is

the option to listen directly to internet

radio. The app comes with a pleasingly

efficient search device which proved adept

at detecting mainstream, independent and

local stations alike. There are five pre-sets

for storing your favourites (if we’re being

picky then we would like a few more, as it’s

hard to settle on just a quintet of choices).

LITTLE TREATS

There are plenty of other little treats here

too. From the slightly angled based to the

leather handle, it’s been constructed with

both design and listenability in mind.

When fully charged, the built-in lithium

battery allows a minimum of eight hours

playback, making the Sphere 4 a genuine

option as a portable device. For those that

prefer to listen in the comfort of their own

home but would like a beefier system, the

speakers can also be linked with up to 15

other devices using the app’s multi-room

capabilities.

Luckily though, it’s not necessary to own

a multitude of different speakers as the

Sphere 4 packs a solid enough punch all on

its own. Even when playing notoriously

iffy internet radio stations, it’s capable of

a sound quality that you’d expect from a

far pricier device, such as the Naim Muso

Qb. There’s not too much more you could

want.

>>>>>

Simple efficiency married with

quality playback

Specifications

Dimensions: HxWxD – 150x275x180mm

Speaker: 50W RMS, 19mm Tweeter,

114mm Woofer

Frequency sensitivity: 50-20000Hz,

4 ohms, -12 dB

Output: USB output for charging

Input: LAN, 3.5mm Line in

Price: €249.99

Web: tibo-electronics.com