Sony LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker Review

Home audio is an important step towards experiencing comfortable living and an essential component for audio enthusiasts seeking auditory enjoyment. When I first heard about Sony’s “Glass Sound Speaker,” I didn’t initially think of it as a Bluetooth speaker designed for home audio.

Only in the release of the LSPX-S2 was I drawn to its ability to create a comfortable atmosphere where sound and light blend seamlessly. Then, I realized Sony’s Bluetooth speakers were slowly becoming a part of our lives. With a curious heart for Sony’s Glass Sound Speaker, I embarked on an in-depth experience with the LSPX-S2.

Design

LSPX-S2 is not merely an ordinary Bluetooth speaker; it’s also an exquisite and compact lamp. Its design exudes a sense of fashionable retro aesthetics. The lower part features a sandblasted aluminum alloy casing with an acoustic chamber.

Its tapered waistline gives it a stylish yet stable appearance. The upper part consists of a transparent organic glass “sound tube.” The overall design seamlessly blends with various home decor styles, focusing on lighting.

When you activate the candlelight mode, SONY LSPX-S2 resembles an oil lamp, casting a deep and atmospheric ambiance through its soft lighting. LSPX-S2 can be placed in any room or living space, enhancing different atmospheres with its uniform and gentle lighting effects. You can also adjust the intensity of the lighting, adding a tactile and visual dimension to this unique wireless Bluetooth speaker.

For those who are following the current Bluetooth speaker market, it’s clear that these devices are no longer just portable sound systems. They are expected to deliver exceptional audio performance in small spaces and have an appealing aesthetic.

To stay competitive, manufacturers often include various practical features. Many companies aim to balance these aspects when designing their products. On the other hand, Sony takes a more extreme approach by focusing heavily on aesthetics, making the S2 a Bluetooth speaker that appeals to both men and women.

It’s worth noting that the S2’s aesthetics are indeed attention-grabbing. When I first unboxed the product and shared it on my social media, it received numerous likes and inquiries from friends. However, this isn’t Sony’s first attempt at such a product.

The predecessor to the S2 was the NSA-PF1, launched nine years ago and resembling a decorative lamp for home use. Sony has continued the concept of the NSA-PF1 with the LSPX series, giving this beautiful “decorative piece” the opportunity to enter countless households.

Compared to the NSA-PF1, the S2’s size aligns better with consumers’ perceptions of Bluetooth speaker dimensions. The Sony LSPX-S2 looks right in any home environment, whether in size or aesthetics. The entire speaker can comprise two parts: the lamp tube and the base.

The lamp’s shell is made from a single piece of metal, crafted using precision CNC technology. This provides a smooth and comfortable visual experience and aids in the acoustic performance of the S2.

Sony has integrated a 35mm diameter speaker inside the lamp base, which, along with a passive diaphragm, handles the mid-low frequency performance of the S2. To fully harness the energy of the 35mm diameter speaker, a solid integrated metal lamp base is necessary.

You may have already noticed four curved openings at the top of this lamp base. This confirms that the S2 is a Bluetooth speaker capable of 360-degree sound projection, ensuring consistent audio quality for listeners from any position. Many may wonder about the high-frequency component of the S2, and the answer lies hidden within the lamp tube: the entire lamp tube serves as the high-frequency speaker.

Because it needs to perform the function of sound production, the lamp tube is not made of ordinary glass but rather a specially chosen organic glass material by Sony. Although we can’t see the internal structure of the lamp tube if we consider the design of the NSA-FP1, the Sony LSPX-S2 likely transfers energy from the lamp base to the lamp tube, which then resonates to produce sound.

Various materials are used for high-frequency speakers, but most are adhered to diaphragms made of materials like PVC.

The idea of directly using organic glass as a speaker material, as seen in the S2, is quite unconventional and showcases Sony’s industrial design prowess.

The design of the LSPX-S2 is more attuned to everyday life, featuring a clever button layout. Physical and functional buttons are strategically placed at the bottom edge and the base. The bottom edge houses the power switch, bass boost function, volume control buttons, a micro-USB port (for charging only), and a 3.5mm audio-in port.

The base includes NFC, candlelight brightness adjustment buttons, Bluetooth/PAIRING button, ADD (Speaker Add function) button, and TIMER/WPS button.

Despite the somewhat restrained design emphasizing unity, the overall layout does not impede ease of use. Sony has also developed the Music Center app, allowing users to control various aspects of the LSPX-S2, such as adjusting light brightness, Bluetooth codecs, sleep timer, bass enhancement, DSEE HX settings, and music-related functions. This app greatly enhances the user experience.

If the lighting effects bring warmth and ambiance to the LSPX-S2, its many features elevate the overall experience. The LSPX-S2 is a wireless Bluetooth speaker for home audio enthusiasts, offering a range of wireless audio capabilities, including NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. NFC functionality has become a standard feature in Sony’s audio products, and you can even pair two Glass Sound Speakers to create a stereo mode.

In addition to the traditional wired Audio-in option, LSPX-S2’s wireless Bluetooth capabilities support three codecs: SBC, AAC, and LDAC. The inclusion of LDAC is a unique Sony technology, on par with aptX but not supported in the LSPX-S2; instead, it features support for 5G Wi-Fi.

It’s worth noting that while 5G Wi-Fi is similar to wireless Bluetooth, Wi-Fi offers greater bandwidth in wireless transmission, resulting in audio quality closer to lossless standards.

Furthermore, the LSPX-S2 supports DLNA streaming and Wi-Fi playback through QQ Music’s exclusive Qplay. The 5G Wi-Fi functionality is well-suited for home audio products, offering better stability in connectivity and transmission and superior audio quality compared to wireless Bluetooth.

Compared to its predecessor, the LSPX-S1, the LSPX-S2 not only adds a candlelight mode to enhance the atmosphere but also increases its technical prowess. Regarding technology, the LSPX-S2 upgrades to the S-Master HX digital amplifier and supports DSEE HX digital upscaling, significantly enhancing the audio experience and making it more impressive overall.

Although the LSPX-S2 removes the Clear Audio+ audio technology, it replaces it with a low-frequency boost. It’s worth noting that the LSPX-S2 offers approximately 8 hours of playback time.

The mystery of the LSPX-S2 lies in its use of an organic glass tube as both a visible high-frequency speaker and a component for sound production. One of the highlights of the LSPX-S2 is its 360° listening experience, thanks to the omnidirectional design of the speaker unit.

With just one LSPX-S2, you can enjoy surround sound, and it doesn’t require specific placement, making it versatile for placement anywhere. In addition to using the organic glass tube as a high-frequency speaker, the LSPX-S2 also incorporates a 35mm diameter mid-range unit and a passive diaphragm for the low-frequency unit.

Sound Performance

Regarding sound quality, the LSPX-S2 is a Bluetooth speaker with a distinctive audio profile. It doesn’t pursue extravagant and delicate performance but aims to provide a soft and balanced listening experience.

The low-frequency response of the LSPX-S2 is rich and well-extended, but due to its emphasis on lower bass overtones, the decay may feel loose, and its dynamic performance is somewhat lacking. The low-frequency performance can be described as somewhat sluggish, which can be improved by activating the “bass boost” sound effect.

Although it employs a 35mm diameter mid-range speaker and a passive diaphragm for mid-low-frequency sound production, the S2’s low-frequency presence may not be considered strong compared to some of the “bass-heavy” competitors today. While you can activate the bass boost feature to increase the low-frequency presence, it’s reminiscent of Sony’s MegaBass from the days of CD WALKMAN, and I prefer to keep it turned off.

However, this doesn’t mean the S2 lacks depth and elasticity in its lower frequencies. Suppose you are not a bass enthusiast or primarily listen to music other than electronic genres. In that case, the S2’s lower frequency depth and elasticity are more than adequate and can easily handle popular music genres. Still, the relatively subdued low-frequency presence might impact the overall sound.

In the mid-range, the LSPX-S2 delivers a mild sound profile with moderate separation between vocals and instruments. The balanced sound distribution results in a rich and mellow listening experience, and the instrument reproduction is detailed. Moving on to the mid-high and high-frequency ranges, the LSPX-S2 offers smooth and pleasant sound, with good high-frequency extension and natural overall sound projection.

listening to the S2’s mid-range, you’ll notice some characteristics reminiscent of older Sony audio products—slightly emphasized vocals, fine details in the lines, and an overall sweet and comfortable feeling. This “focus on the mids” approach, once hailed as “most suitable for Asian listening preferences,” indeed compensates for the slightly lacking mid-frequency density of the Sony LSPX-S2 and works quite well for listening to popular music genres.

The S2 delivers singer vocals with a soothing and comfortable quality thanks to its better physical speaker characteristics that create a sense of “high-definition remastering.” This is not only due to Sony’s clever handling of the mid-range but is also related to the use of the “glass high-frequency speaker” that Sony has adopted.

While the high-frequency texture may be somewhat refined, the sound is clear and appealing, making it enjoyable to listen to. The LSPX-S2 creates an expansive soundstage, and the sound performance feels open without being constrained. Overall, the musicality and energy of the speaker are quite satisfying.

Many may wonder if Sony has truly entrusted the high-frequency rendering to this “glass lampshade.” You can easily confirm this by pressing the top of the lampshade with your hand, and you’ll notice a significant reduction in high frequencies.

Using glass as a high-frequency speaker is a creative idea only Sony could develop. Compared to high-frequency speakers made of other common materials, Sony’s glass high-frequency speaker benefits from the material’s physical properties, making the high-frequency performance appear more transparent compared to regular Bluetooth speakers.

This transparency aligns well with the mid-range and enhances the mellowness and delicacy of some mid-tempo pop music, elevating the listening experience. However, this glass high-frequency speaker is sensitive to sibilance.

If a song’s production quality could be better, or if the singer’s vocals contain a lot of sibilant sounds, the S2’s response to them may be more pronounced. This can be seen as a characteristic of the glass high-frequency speaker.

Moreover, the new S2 supports Hi-Res high-resolution audio, which enhances the clarity of the bass, richness of the mid-range, and transparency of the high frequencies. With Hi-Res support, the Sony LSPX-S2 offers a more diverse and high-quality audio experience, catering to various listening preferences and requirements.

Conclusion

Due to the Sony LSPX-S2’s aesthetics and acoustic qualities, I use it alone. Whether on ordinary evenings, enjoying some vocal performances at home, or even directly streaming programs through radio apps, or during weekends when I work late in the office, from the afternoon till dusk, the sound emanating from the Sony LSPX-S2 keeps me company.

The S2 stands out in terms of its appearance, features, and sound signature, differentiating itself from other brands and products within its brand. It’s not a speaker that aims to flaunt its audio prowess; instead, it’s a clever fusion of design and acoustics akin to a decorative piece.

In the presence of the S2, listening to music becomes more than just an auditory experience; it engages your eyes and soul, inviting you to savor it fully. This remarkable charm resonates with the essence of the SONY LSPX-S2 and is quintessentially Sony.

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Sony LSPX-S2 Specifications

Sound:

• Sound Modes:
• S-Master HX
• DSEE HX
• Bass Boost
• Output Power:
• Approx 11W (woofer, at 1% harmonic distortion, 1kHz, 4Ω)
• Speaker Type:
• Tweeter: Organic glass Cylinder type
• Woofer: Approx. 35 mm dia.

Size & Weight:

• Weight:
• Approx 1.1kg
• Dimensions (W X H X D):
• Approx φ90㎜ x 277㎜

Wireless Connections:

• DLNA:
• YES
• SPOTIFY CONNECT:
• Yes, to selected countries
• SONY | MUSIC CENTER:
• YES
• NFC:
• YES
• WIFI:
• YES
• Bluetooth Speaker Add Function:
• YES
• Frequency Range:
• 20Hz-20,000Hz (with 44.1kHz sampling)
• Supported Codecs:
• SBC, AAC, LDAC

Illumination:

• Brightness:
• 32 steps
• Candlelight Mode:
• YES

Interface:

• Input and Output Terminals:
• Stereo Mini Jack (IN)
• micro USB B (DC IN)

General Features:

• Power Supply:
• AC Power Supply, Built-in Lithium-ion Battery
• Battery Life:
• Approx. 8 hours (Bluetooth mode, lighting max)

What’s In The Box:

• USB AC adaptor
• AC power cord
• Cleaning cloth
• Micro-USB Cable
• Warranty card