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A few years ago I was browsing around a Sony Outlet store and saw a mini, self-contained speaker and amp set that I thought "Gee I need one of those!" I was travelling a lot at the time and would have really liked to have one for hotel rooms and at home when I was working in the garage, etc. Well, I hesitated and went somewhere else. When I returned, the speakers were sold out! That was back in 1998 and since then, I've always kept my eyes opened for a set of those speakers. However, I haven't really stumbled on a pair that I'd like to have. The ones I did find were always too big or required a more powerful external amp to power them.
Well, my vacation in Hawaii last week presented me with an opportunity to find what looked to be the perfect self-contained speaker system! I was browsing around a Japanese department store called Shirokiya in the Ala Moana Center Mall. When I came across the treasure I've been seeking for so many years. It came in the form of the Sony Sony SRS-T33BLUE Personal Speakers.
This battery-powered speaker set is designed to be a portable, wide range speaker/amp system that you can use with a portable music device such as a MiniCD player, Walkman or Pocket PC. How does it measure up? Keep reading to find out...
First thing I noticed when plugging these into my Pocket PC was that the sound blew away the built in speaker of the iPAQ. There is a built in amplifier and Sony's trademarked "Mega Bass". I boosted the output of my iPAQ to around 3/4 of the way and found the music to sound loud enough for me, quality was very good with right and left stereo separation apparent when sitting 3-4 feet from the speakers. When one steps farther away from the speakers, this separation does diminish, however the sound remains good for an average sized bedroom.
Regarding the Mega-Bass feature, I noticed early on that there was a lot of distortion when I turned the volume up on my iPAQ. I found that by going into the iPAQ Audio (Under Settings) and decreasing the Bass Boost to 0 made the distortion go away. I don't know if there was a "Bass Boost" conflict with the iPAQ and the Sony speakers or not, but ditching Bass on the iPAQ did fix the distortion issue. Sound and Quality
How about the amount of sound? This is difficult to measure without equipment, so I'll explain the only way I know how. I pumped up the volume to where the music sound was good and no distortion could be heard. I left the music playing and went for a walk downstairs. I found that I could still hear the music playing from the upstairs bedroom. This is good or bad depending on whether your kids own a pair of these and whether you like what they are listening to.
I would say these are more than enough to provide good quality sound to a hotel room, workroom or bedroom. Thus they are sufficient for what I needed them for. I simply wanted a pair of speakers that would provide stereo music to a hotel room while I am travelling while still remaining portable enough I could slip them into a gear bag. Functionality and Pricing
There is a fold out Speaker "stand" in the back of the unit that is actually similar to a battery door. It serves two purposes. One it holds the speaker wire (mini-plug) in place while travelling. Two it swings out to give your speakers a stand so they can sit on a desktop or table without knocking over. I'll admit, the cable may be a little short for some people. I've more than once gone to grab my iPAQ and slung the speakers around like a medieval flail.
Going back to my memory of the prior "Sony Outlet" speaker system, I remember the price on those were in the $37 range. I purchased this little system for $34 dollars at the Shirokiya store - so they were reasonably priced. They require two AAA batteries, which I haven't run down yet after playing half a dozen CDs so they appear to be efficient enough for my standards. Comparison
I want to note that I compared the Sony T33s briefly to the SRST88 Speakers which are priced about double of the cost of the T33's. These use 4 AA batteries and claim to provide better and more powerful output. With the SRST88s cranked up all the way, I did not notice any difference at all. :? I am still a bit stumped by this. They have double the Wattage and are almost twice the size. So I figured they would dwarf the T33s. Perhaps the iPAQ simply couldn't push enough sound to make these speakers shine. As such, I can say I do not recommend spending the extra dough for Pocket PC use. Pros
• Small and Portable
• Decent Sound - More than enough for a big hotel room
• Beautiful design
• Requires only 2 AAA batteries Cons
• Not enough sound to replace your home stereo system
• Cable is short at only 10 inches Conclusion
If you have ever longed for some speakers that you could easily bring with you for some decent sound in your hotel room, in your workshop, office or at a small picnic, the T33s are a good way to go. They come in 3 different colors: blue, pink and silver and offer attractive styling. They do not require a lot of battery power to boost your Pocket PC sound. And at only $35-$40 they'd also make a good gift for a Pocket PC toting friend.
I don't know if there was a "Bass Boost" conflict with the iPAQ and the Sony speakers or not, but ditching Bass on the iPAQ did fix the distortion issue.
Probably nothing more than a physics issue. There is only so much air the little drivers are going to move, and when one tries to get more air to move, they start to break up b/c the surface area can't support that.
Sorry. I am an audio NERD.
I think those are cool speakers though! I'd be concerned about that short cord as well. I'd have to get an extension . . .
Good purchase man, and good review!
B
Thanks Hantra. Since you are an audio "nerd" any idea why the SRST88's didn't seem to provide more sound for double the wattage and double the battery power?
Thanks Hantra. Since you are an audio "nerd" any idea why the SRST88's didn't seem to provide more sound for double the wattage and double the battery power?
Well in terms of wattage. . . It takes TEN TIMES the amount of watts for an amplifier to be twice as loud, with all other factors being the same. So if the small ones put out 10 watts, you would have to have 100 watts to get +3dB from them, which would be twice as loud. 2x the watts is probably not that noticable, as it would only provide one with + .3dB, assuming the speaker sensitivity is the same.
If they were larger drivers, they probably have increased sensitivity, but even so, you're looking at + .5dB. That is the normal acceptible range of human hearing to be able to tell a difference in volume. That's why most high end speakers are matched within +/- .5dB.
Many other factors could play in such as the noise in the store, or the output gain of the iPaq could have reached its limitations.
HTH,
B
Great review Brad. Nice purchase, too. If you have an iPod and looking for a good travel speaker solution then you need a pair of these: inMotion speakers
__________________ James Kendrick Microsoft MVP - Tablet PCwww.jkontherun.com Lockergnome contributor- Mobile Lifestyle...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs.
Congratulations, Brad, on making Thoughts with this.
__________________ James Kendrick Microsoft MVP - Tablet PCwww.jkontherun.com Lockergnome contributor- Mobile Lifestyle...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs.
Well in terms of wattage. . . It takes TEN TIMES the amount of watts for an amplifier to be twice as loud, with all other factors being the same. So if the small ones put out 10 watts, you would have to have 100 watts to get +3dB from them, which would be twice as loud. 2x the watts is probably not that noticable, as it would only provide one with + .3dB, assuming the speaker sensitivity is the same.
If I recall correctly, 10 times the power will sound twice as loud, but that's not a 3 dB difference, it's a 10 dB difference. A 3 dB difference is what you get from doubling the power, and is considered barely noticeable. (See Tenhauser for more details.)
There are also two different decibel ratings, and I forget the difference. Sound Pressure Level (SPL) uses a factor of 20, while Sound Intensity Level (SIL) uses a factor of 10.
I was into audio like 20+ years ago, so I'm not as facile with the numbers as I once was.
Steve
Great site Steve!! Thanks!
You're right about that 10dB thing. Don't know what I was thinking. I don't listen with a meter, like most of my audio freak friends.
If people are still interested in these, I've found them for $28.09. Check my store for links to all three varieties (silver, blue and pink) -- as well as some other deals on memory and Pocket PC items.
Steve
That was back in 1998 and since then, I've always kept my eyes opened for a set of those speakers. However, I haven't really stumbled on a pair that I'd like to have. The ones I did find were always too big or required a more powerful external amp to power them. 
I pumped up the volume to where the music sound was good and no distortion could be heard. I left the music playing and went for a walk downstairs. I found that I could still hear the music playing from the upstairs bedroom. This is good or bad depending on whether your kids own a pair of these and whether you like what they are listening to. 
Linear Mode
