First thing you think of when you see this is, can this really project sound in 360 degrees, When you look at it, you wouldn't think it could. But yes it does, Sound is projected from all around it in stereo. Inside the box is the USB charging cable,3.5m cable and the manual.
Before I get to how it sounds, Lets talk features, The Archeer A220 has speakers all around the unit, in a way that sound is projected all around, over and below it. Which it does a good job making it feel like the device is covered in speakers head and toe.
If you wanna raise and lower the volume, there is a ring on the top, which you turn to lower and raise the song, for a sec i thought it was touch, Then I realize that you twist it around and it make noises letting you know that you are raising or lowering the volume, which is for both Bluetooth and analog.
While the power button is located under the unit, While it dozen take long for it to turn on, I think a better spot for the power button is on the stand where the name is. Since the A220 is small and light which means it easy to carry around and set down, without worrying about if it will fit.
There is two ways to connect it, one is through Bluetooth, For those who planning to use their Bluetooth compatible smart phone, or any other devices that supports it. The other way is using analog with the Aux input connector which is under the cover. I didn't have any issues connecting the device to my Smartphone Bluetooth, it connected instantly. When Bluetooth is used the Light on the top is blue, when analog is used it green. While in BT mode you can use the two arrows on the top to change the tracks and short press the power button to pause.
To charge it you plug in the included USB cord into the device then to either your computer or an USB charge port on your power strip, I didn’t have to charge it up as it came already charged. But the manual states 4-5 hours for charge time, while the playing time is 6-7 hours
Sound Performance
Blue Tooth
LG Leon Smartphone
I played many different songs from my music over to my phone to the device, the bass do hit hard but the down side is the boomyness it had, it wasn’t just a little. While the highs had good details but there was a hint of shh type of sound other times it was tinny, when ever snares was used in the song, But could be heard well. Voices sound nice and clear.
TV using BT transmitter
Similar to how it sounded with the phone except that the highs was not tinny, when I was watching TV shows. It worked really well with my TV. The bass had force behind it, but it was still a bit boomy to my taste.
When I turned to a Music choice channel, the music I don’t know if it’s the channel, but the highs was thin and the bass was more boomy. But the vocals was still very good, they was clear and easy heard.
Analog
Phone
When connected to my phone the sound signature was very similar to the Bluetooth audio when it comes to bass, while it might be similar due to the boomyness, it is improved there is less of it. But I do hear improvement in the highs, the shh type of sound is no longer there and it's clearer then the other connection, but it's also bright, but that could be due to my phone. The instruments don't over lap each other which is very good.
Computer
I decided to see how it would sound ran thru my computer on-board audio which has more of a flat sound then my phone. To see how the A220 would handle being ran directly into a computer analog connection.
On my computer the over all sound was improved, the bass is not boomy at all. It's close to neutral bass I would say and while it does go deep, it's not perfect. Better then what it was before when I was using BT and my phone as a source. The high's are clearer and it doesn't have that tinny type of sound to it, it still have that detailed sound, I would say it's a little bright now then before. Voice's doesn't stick out but the down side is the vocal is thin which doesn't have much bass behind them.
Conclusion
The sound projection on any of the connections will not be that good due to the way the speakers are design, its a long tube shape box and is projected from one spot. The sound field won’t spread out and it will always sound like its in front of you in a single spot, no matter where you are.
The major thing that this speaker does so well with is mobility, I didn’t have any issues so this would work great for an outing or at the beach or a party, The blue tooth worked very well and did not loose connection, when I move the device around the apt. I have had other blue tooth headphones and speakers that have, so I’m impressed.
As it worked very well with my on-board audio with the 3.5 cable, so I find that using analog would give you the most sound performance with the A225, While using Bluetooth will give you the most mobility usage as your not tired down.