Orange Stereo Bluetooth Speakers

Like its wireless headphone counterparts, the handful of Bluetooth speakers is slowly growing in number. Their proliferation is of course down to the increasing number of A2DP-supported handsets.

Any decent music phone will have to pack a Bluetooth profile for consideration and the more prominent handsets like the Sony Ericsson W950i, W850i, Nokia N91 (8GB version), Samsung X830, LG U400 and Motorola KRZR all oblige.

Orange is the first operator to take on this wireless speaker fandango and it has hired the help of Acoustic Energy to give its debut speaker system gravitas.

Orange has gone for a minimalist design and the two airshifters link to a main amp and control box. Three foot-long wire connectors allow the speakers to fan out the stereo sound. A large volume knob powers up the system and a multi-function button enables pairing with your A2DP phone. The procedure is very straightforward and we began streaming music from our Sony Ericsson W950i in just a few seconds.

With 2x20 watts of music power pumping out of the speakers, the fidelity has punch with good levels of bass. However, the MP3s we streamed did sound a little synthetic and lacked warmth. These Orange speakers are pretty good for a second system for the kitchen, bedroom or study (you can stream from your PC via a Bluetooth USB dongle) and for £80 represent a good deal. Just don't expect audio heaven.