TDK Sound Cube

The basics

The TDK Sound Cube looks amazing and it’s a good job it has a handle on the top as the first thing everyone does is pick it up and admire the design. With a speaker on each side you can comfortably fill the room with sound no matter where you place it.

The good

You'll find twin 5 1/4-inch coaxial drivers, which are big enough to pump out up to 20 Watts of attitude. You can connect your iPod or iPhone using the included 30-pin cable and there is also USB, as well as 3.5mm audio jack and Auxiliary audio jack for instruments and external mixers.

Rounding out the package is the fact that it can also be used on the move. Simply slap a dozen heavy duty 'D' batteries into the base for the privilege of boom-box on the move.

And what a sound it delivers, so warm and rich. There is plenty of bass without sacrificing the top end and even if you crank this box up to full volume you won’t find any distortion. We think TDK has done an amazing job of getting the sound balance just right with the Sound Cube.

The front facing controls are a mix of LCD screen, touch-sensitive buttons and two over-large dials that take a little getting used to. There is a graphic equaliser, which is fussy but works well and sourcing your input is easy to do.

With 5 presets on the AM/FM built-in radio you can even decide to leave your iPod at home if you like. There is even an oh-so-retro aerial you can pull out of the top. We also like the USB port, which not only has the power to charge devices but will instantly play music from any attached drive.

The bad

We'd have liked native iPod/iPhone support and while it may be designed to be used just about anywhere, weighing in at over 1kg you may need to think seriously about taking it on the move with you. Plus, the speakers come without covers, so do you really want to leave them exposed to the vagaries of the weather?

The bottom line

The TDK Sound Cube may be designed for use outdoors only on hot sunny days but there is no denying the build quality and overall sound, which are simply outstanding. If this is the shape of things to come, then it’s clear that in the future it’s hip to be square.