Marshall - Uxbridge Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa - Black
Model: 1005605
SKU: 6405602
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Customers praise the Uxbridge Smart Speaker's sound quality, particularly its bass and volume, along with its attractive design and compact size. Many appreciate the inclusion of Bluetooth and Alexa functionality. However, a common criticism is the lack of portability due to its reliance on a power source.
About the size of an alarm clock (5" x 5" x 7" tall), this speaker is unrepentantly designed in the very retro classic style of Marshall concert speakers, although the case is entirely plastic. Sound: Pleasantly, this sounds very good for its size. It's good enough to fill a small room and it does not distort at max volume. On top of the speaker, it has volume, bass and treble controls. If using the 'Marshall Voice' app, it has a five-band eq with presets (Rock, spoken, pop, flat, and of course, custom). Changing bass, treble or volume on the speaker simultaneously reflects on the app. Other physical controls: On the back of the speaker, there is a very discreet Bluetooth pairing button. The front has the after mentioned vol, bass and treble, and also a small play/pause at the left and a mic attention (turns on Alexa without the wake word) / privacy. At the front bottom of the speaker, on the copper-painted bar, there are four LEDs that change sequence and colors based on activity (Alexa colors, changing audio controls, etc.). Normally there are no lights on the speaker, except for Alexa notices or if the mic is off. The power cable is a 110v to C7 plug on the speaker, removable. It does not have an external adapter. Also it does not have a battery. It requires to be plugged in. Note that it also works with 240v, if traveling. Audio sources: - Note that it does not have an Aux In nor a headphones output. This speaker is really meant to be used either with Alexa voice or from a phone - Airplay 2: Works really well from Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, macOS, AppleTV) and other airplay devices. For example from the iPhone, I can start playing on the phone, and then send the audio to this speaker and simultaneously to other Airplay2 speakers in the house, or AppleTVs. It works well with other brands also, and without delay. Volume can be controlled individually for each speaker and the whole group. - Spotify Connect: From the Spotify app on a phone, at the bottom left, select this speaker and Spotify can stream directly to the speaker, using the app as a remote, but the app or phone are no longer needed while it continues playing. It does not require a subscription. - Amazon Music: Besides Alexa, the Amazon music app on a phone can play directly to the speaker. - Bluetooth: The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.0, which provides better range and it's better on the phone's battery, but it could only connect using the SBC Bluetooth codec. It didn't support aptX on an Android 10 phone. It sounds fine regardless and volume can be controlled from the phone's volume controls, from the speaker or the Marshall Voice app. Initial setup: Initial setup requires the Marshall Voice app from either Apple or Google app stores. The pairing process from an iPhone was flawless: It first detected the speaker via Bluetooth, found the WiFi network and asked for the Wi-Fi password. It did not require messing around with WiFi settings on the phone like other devices I used. Then it found a firmware upgrade for the speakers that took a couple minutes. Worked just fine. Alexa setup is optional. It's simple and it also requires one to have the Alexa app on the phone to finish the process. Note that this speaker supports both 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz Wi-Fi, which It's great and not usual. Amazon Alexa: This is an 'Alexa enabled' devices. Just like any other non-amazon Alexa devices I use, there are some things it cannot do. For example, communications like calling someone through Alexa des not work. Also Apple Music through Alexa does not work either. The Apple Music skill is very restricted, and I have similar issues with other Alexa speakers. These are really Alexa limitations, but keep it in mind. Pairing this speaker with other Alexa devices in music groups is supported, although it did not work in my case. The speaker shows as available to add in Alexa groups but ultimately fails for me. It might be a temporary issue. Plus: - Great, powerful sound, with deep but not overpowering bass. Clear Mids and Highs. It's really a step above most speakers of this size. - Well executed Alexa integration. - Airplay2 worked flawlessly in a household with a mesh Wi-Fi and multiple speakers and Apple devices. - Spotify Connect works out of the box. - Integrated power, Class-D amplifier. - Phone app is simple and intuitive, and not required besides setup. It shows the name of the song that’s playing (Even for Bluetooth, if the phone provides it), source service and cover-art (if available). Cons: - Does not support Chromecast Audio. A separate version of this speaker replaces Amazon/Alexa for Google Assistant/Chromecast. - Bluetooth does not support aptX codecs for Android. Other considerations: - I find the styling too forced. It's all plastic while evoking the classic Marshall styling. The long bar controls on the top are a bit much, and the copper bar at the bottom of the grille is really painted plastic. - That said, it's very well constructed, with solid rubber feet (Which is good because it puts out a lot of sound). The enclosure does not produce vibration sounds. It's thick and solid. Who makes this: - Marshall branded products are produced by a Swedish company, Zounds Industries, that also produces Urbanears headphones.
Posted by emiliosic
The design is classic and superior. Great sound quality packed into a small unit. The Alexa feature is the icing on the cake!!! It would be great if it were cordless however, still worth every penny.
Posted by Marshall
Sounds is perfect for its size. Materials are not cheap looking.
Posted by RomeoL
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