Earlier this year I had the opportunity to test out what promised to be a revolutionary new wireless speaker: the Syng Cell Alpha. I was really looking forward to it. The first speaker from a startup founded by a 22-year Apple design veteran, with an emphasis on spatial audio and the claim to be the world’s first triphonic speaker? Count me in.
It took a little longer than planned to actually publish the review — summer vacation, Covid-19, a new job, and home construction projects got in the way — but here it is.
A Speaker That Looks Like the Death Star on a Stand
Unboxing the Syng Cell Alpha is an experience. The speaker looks like nothing else out there. It’s a big, clear plastic sphere with the top and bottom sliced off (those surfaces are flat and the business end of 6.5-inch woofers. The bottom also has a connector for power and the included table stand (floors stands and ceiling mounts are optional). The middle of the sphere is ported with a circular beamforming array.
There is a more than passing resemblance to the Star Wars Death Star, but it is also an ultra-modern looking device.
Clear plastic (or acrylic or whatever the material is) can show scratches, smudges, and it was definitely a magnet for dust and pet hair, so be warned you may be doing some extra cleaning with one of these. Also, I’m not saying this will happen to the Cell Alpha (and in most rooms it would be a non-issue), but just be aware that historically, clear plastic has had long-term discoloration issues when exposed to the sun for extended periods.
Setup
Assembly is relatively straightforward. Route the cable through the stand, plug it in, then screw the base into the bottom of the speaker. It’s heavy, solid, and stable.
You then need to register the speaker. At the time I had the review unit, the setup app was iOS only, with an Android version coming soon (that may still be the case). The speaker uses Bluetooth during setup, but cannot stream audio by Bluetooth.
After going through a registration process and connecting to your Wi-Fi network, the fun begins. The app helps to optimize audio based on the speaker’s position in the room, making use of the Cell Alpha’s onboard array of microphones. You can then virtually move the speaker around the room in the app, which changes how it projects audio. The app also has basic treble and bass controls, plus an option to choose between “Reduced” and “Standard” bass. More on that shortly.
Performance
This is where the rubber meets the road. Is this really $2399 worth of speaker?
Set up in my office, the Syng Cell Alpha triphonic speaker performed significantly better than any single wireless speaker I’ve tested to date in terms of pulling off the illusion of being multiple speakers filling the space. Pretty much any seat in the room is in a listening sweet spot. Using the app you can also virtually move the speaker around in space.
The speaker also produces audio that puts most wireless speakers to shame, but some may find it heavy on the bass. Even with the bass switched to “Reduced” in the app. If you’re used to the high energy tuning that many headphones and portable speakers employ, you’ll be familiar with the approach. The issues is that someone who is paying $2399 a pop for a speaker may be expecting a more neutral sound. It simply doesn't work as well for some genres as for others.
Personally, I enjoyed it and I was very sorry to see the review sample go. And I have to say, the Syng Cell Alpha was like a magnet to my kids. Most speakers I test get a grudging nod from the teenagers. But I had all three of them sitting up here at the same time, watching the top-mounted woofer pumping as they played the Cicada remix of Depeche Mode’s “World In My Eyes” loudly and repeatedly. They declared it to be the coolest speaker ever.
While a pair of Cell Alphas would undoubtedly do an even more convincing job, a single speaker still puts out some impressive sound including pretty convincing spatial audio.
Syng Cell Alpha Key Specs:
- 3-way triphonic speaker system with 8 drivers including dual 6.5-inch woofers in opposing configuration, 3 horns in circular beamforming array
- Frequency response 23Hz to 20kHz
- Control ring for on-system volume and play/pause
- 3 microphones for automatic room equalization
- Multiroom audio support
- Dual band 802.11ac
- Supports Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect
- Bluetooth 4.2 (for setup only)
- 2 x USB-C inputs
- Optional Syng Link cable supports eARC HDMI
- Includes table stand
- MSRP $2399
About Connectivity
From my perspective, the most head-scratching decision the Syng team made with the Cell Alpha was around connectivity. Not wireless (although Bluetooth would be a nice add to the Wi-Fi speaker for convenience) — my beef is with wired connectivity options. The only option is a pair of USB-C ports. No 3.5mm AUX inputs and no RCA inputs. This is a very capable and stylish speaker that screams to have a turntable connected to it. The company recognizes this and its promotional material even shows one set up with a turntable.
But the only way you can connect is to find a turntable or a Phono preamplifier that offers USB-C output. These aren’t exactly commonplace. There are a few that offer USB Type-A or Type-B output for connecting to a PC for ripping vinyl, but who knows if a USB-C converter thrown in the mix would work.
I asked the Syng representative why they decided to equip the Cell Alpha speaker with only USB-C ports. This is the response I received:
“As additional connections can come with costs of complexity to the system and to the product identity, Syng has left the door open for listeners to enjoy their particular needs by way of their USB interface, while electing to eschew the trappings of technology products. Instead, Syng embraces the simplicity and elegance more fitting for the domestic environment they design for, alongside furniture and lighting.”
I suspect that one big piece in the puzzle is that Syng’s founder was a long-time designer with Apple — a company that had a thing for pushing USB-C at the expense of all other ports on its laptops for many years...
It’s too bad, because a Syng Cell Alpha or two connected to a good turntable would make for a killer, compact, modern-looking record listening setup. It shouldn’t be so difficult to do that.
I should mention that connecting to a TV is made possible through the optional Syng Link USB-C cable with HDMI.
Recommendation
When the Syng Cell Alpha review unit first arrived, the speaker was priced at $1799. That meant a pretty exclusive club of potential buyers. Since then, the price has shot up to $2399, making it a even tougher sell. And that’s for a single speaker. It’s up there among the most expensive I’ve tested.
The bottom line is the Syng Cell Alpha is a very cool wireless speaker. Probably the most futuristic I’ve ever had the opportunity to try out — both in looks and its spatial audio wizardry. The strong bass presence may not be for everyone, however, and the lack of wired connectivity options is limiting.
If you have the budget and these issues don’t bother you, the Syng Cell Alpha is definitely a statement wireless speaker. Personally, I’d love to have one on my desktop but there’s no way I could get that purchase past my significant other.
By Brad Moon, Senior Contributor. Brad Moon covers audio gear, Apple products and consumer tech.