Ikea’s $10 Kallsup Bluetooth speaker is a surprisingly capable device, offering a fun and colorful addition to any space. The speaker sounds better than its price point suggests, though it doesn’t boast advanced features. It’s a simple, affordable option for adding a bit of sound and color to a desk or a child’s room.

What is the Ikea Kallsup?

The Kallsup is a minimalist 2.75-inch plastic cube, available in pink, white, and yellow-green. It features four short feet for stability and a single speaker inside. Two buttons and a small LED light are located on top, while a USB-C charging port is on the back.

Simple Controls and Connectivity

The button with the Bluetooth symbol powers the speaker on, initiating a short welcome jingle and entering pairing mode. It also serves to turn the speaker off or re-enter pairing mode. The play/pause button controls playback, skips tracks, and enables connection with up to 99 other Kallsup speakers. Pairing and powering on takes approximately 10 seconds.

Sound Quality and Performance

Despite its low price, a single Kallsup delivers surprisingly decent audio at moderate volumes. It’s well-suited for background music, podcasts, and audiobooks, even outperforming the built-in speakers of an M4 MacBook Air. The speaker prioritizes the midrange frequencies, making vocals and speech clear.

While there’s limited bass response due to the small driver, some distortion occurs at maximum volume with high-frequency tracks. However, for close-range listening, the volume is sufficient.

Linking Multiple Speakers

A key feature of the Kallsup is the ability to connect up to 100 speakers together. Daisy-chaining them is straightforward, increasing overall volume and sound distribution. Testing with 20 speakers showed an increase from 86 dB with one speaker to 94 dB with all 20, nearly doubling the perceived volume. However, the speakers remain mono and cannot be paired for stereo sound.

Kallsup vs. the Competition

When compared to similarly priced options – the $269 Bose SoundLink Plus, $189 Amazon Echo Studio, and $179 Sonos Roam 2 – a $200 array of Kallsup speakers performed adequately, but lacked the frequency range of the others. The Echo Studio was favored for its balanced sound, while the Bose offered greater loudness. The Sonos Roam 2 provided a more balanced sound profile than the Kallsup array.

The Bose and Sonos models are IP67 dust- and water-resistant, the Roam 2 integrates with the Sonos ecosystem, and the Echo Studio offers smart features like grocery ordering – features absent in the Kallsup.

Practical Considerations

Connecting and maintaining a connection with multiple Kallsup speakers can be time-consuming. Each speaker takes 10-20 seconds to pair, and the connection is lost when powered down. Charging 20 speakers simultaneously also requires numerous USB-C ports, and the speakers offer nine hours of battery life. A peculiar “aahhhh” sound during charging may also be noticeable.

Despite these drawbacks, the Kallsup remains a fun, colorful, and affordable option, especially when used individually or in small groups. They are ideal for children’s rooms or adding a pop of color to a workspace, offering good value for their $10 price tag.