When it comes to audio equipment, one of the golden rules is ‘you get what you pay for’. But what happens when you only pay $7.86?
In this review we will be reviewing the SiBYL Model E-1059 Colourful Speaker.
Who is SiBYL?
As one can expect from this site and a sub $10 pair of speakers, finding information on who exactly made them can be tricky.
While the bottom of the box says Shantou Sibyl Electronics Co., Ltd which does not appear to have any direct match’s. With a little digging and with a little help of Alibaba, it appears the speakers are actually made by Shenzhen Sibyl Electronics Co., Ltd or ‘SiBYL’ for short who have a factory in Shantou, Guangdong.
The company produces a wide range of audio devices, including TWS earbuds, wireless neckbands, wireless headphones, and wired earphones for the Asian Market. SiBYL claims to have over 300 employees and produces at least 10,000 earphones daily.
Key Features
First impressions of the E-1059’s box are satisfying. A professionally rendered box showing how the product looks, no outlandish claims and key features translated in both English and ????
- 3.5mm Input Jack with External 3.5mm headphone jack on left speaker
- Wheel volume adjustment which functions as a On/Off switch
- USB (A) powered
- RGB LED Lighting
- Output Power: 3W Per Speaker
- Frequency Response: 60Hz-16Khz
Impressions & Build Quality
The pair of ‘colourful speakers’ come individually wrapped in plastic bags which combined with a solid box offer sufficient protection during shipping.
Both speakers seem to have been made from the same basic mold to cut costs, which is functionally fine but for me creates a visual imbalance since they are not mirrored. This is particularly noticeable because both have LED lighting strips positioned on their left sides, making the pair look somewhat odd when placed together.
Build quality is solid with both speakers having no loose parts in them, fused closed and gone to the expense to add minor but important details like padded feet on the underside of the speakers as-well as bass ports on the rear. The 3.5mm and USB cable which can be split is only ~1m long, which while suitable for laptops may be to short for desktop computers that sit beneath the desk.
Contrary to the what the box may suggest, the LED lighting is not controlled by ambient sound or sound level. Once the device is turned on it fades through it different could cycles by itself.
How It Sounds
Sound is subjective, especially for someone who is certifiably half deaf! Being fair to the speakers and its intended audience, the benchmark for these speakers is to be better than an integrated laptop or phone speaker.
The model E-1059 delivers sound via a single 3w 1.5″ Full range 4Ω Driver in each speaker.
Music through the pair of SiBYL is surprisingly clear and detailed with separation between different instruments. One of the reasons for this appears to be some aggressive low-pass circuity filtering that cuts out bass frequency’s completely below ~85hz.
There is no problems listening to podcasts and voice, with no signs of harsh sibilance ( sharpness of “s” and “t” sounds) or background hiss when no audio is playing. The speakers seem to have a slightly exaggerated warm tonal balance or midrange, which naturally softens higher frequencies.
In terms of loudness the speakers get about twice as loud as a phone, however do so remaining distortion free. This should be sufficient for basic desktop use however the sound will not fill space larger that small room such as may be required for plugging it into a TV, nor provide enough amplification for a weak source signal.
9. Conclusion
Overall for the price the SiBYL Model E-1059 exceeded expectations and produces very usable sound for a very affordable price. It would have been nice to see slightly longer cables and an option to disable the lighting or for the lighting to have been negated completely at this price point.
For someone on a tight budget or with limited options who needs a functional set of speaker, SiBYL make a very solid product that ticks a lot of boxes.
Price: ~USD$7.86
Date of Review: December/ 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
10. FAQ
Q: Can the lights be disabled
A: No, the lights cannot be disabled or programmed in any way and activate automatically once the device is switched on.
Q: Does the Speaker Support USB-C or Bluetooth?
A: No, the speaker is powered only via USB and requires a 3.5mm audio input for audio.
Q: Does the Speaker Power Off Automatically?
A: No, it will remain on and LED’s illuminated for as long as the device receives USB power. If plugged into a computer it may turn off automatically when the computer turns off.
Do you have any questions about this product? Let Us know in the comments below
