Photo gallery: Cygnett Maestro Portable Speaker System for iPhone & iPodMaestro of its domain
Its sides are surrounded in a glossy black plastic, the top and back are bedecked in textured black panelling, and the unit is supported by silver legs that wrap around the body. It certainly sounds appealing on paper, doesn't it? In person, the Maestro isn't as attractive as this description would lead you to believe.
Like all good conductors, the Maestro works with just about any device in the Apple orchestra, from the shuffle through to the iPhone. You'd be forgiven for mistaking the iPhone or iPod as a piece of toast waiting to be plucked from the heated caverns of the speaker base, as it sits surreptitiously in the cradle of the Maestro. A subwoofer echoes from the base of the device, with the main two speakers located on the front underneath a fabric grille. If you're particularly popular, the system will fade the music when a call comes through on your iPhone. It's also clever enough to charge your device of choice whilst it plays music. On the side is a cover that lets you insert AA batteries for cordless operation.
The rest of the design is fairly spartan — there's a power button sitting in front of the iPod mount that glows blue, and volume buttons on either side. Included in the box are the speaker unit, an array of docking station covers that can be used to support smaller iPods, a remote and a 3.5mm cable to connect an auxiliary device. This is a pretty bare-bones device though, so don't expect luxuries like an FM tuner for instance.
Sound quality
Thanks to the subwoofer, the Maestro can produce some pretty heavy bass, even when playing something that's not exactly what we'd describe as "bass heavy". When we put it side by side with something like the Philips DC350 iPod dock the sound difference was marked — the Maestro had much stronger bass, clearer mid-range and more accurate treble. The Philips sounded tinny by comparison.
The Cygnett (left) and Philips dock (right). Spot the toaster. (Credit: CBSi)
That said, for audiophiles, the mid-range might be a little muddy, and it's definitely suited for music that's more electronic or beats/bass-oriented than classical compositions. As for the volume, the Maestro was able to fill a fairly large room with clear sound that didn't distort too much. It might not be loud enough for a serious party, and certainly won't replace a dedicated hi-fi system, but it's certainly adequate for a small gathering. There are no audio controls either, so all adjustments will need to be taken care of from the iPod's own EQ.
Conclusion
For AU$189.95 the Maestro is a considerable investment for a system that is possibly worth as much as the iPod you mount on it. However, there are a lot more expensive options out there — like the Philips system that we also tested — so if all you want is a basic but good music player for your iPod or iPhone, it's worth the price. Just don't blame us if you find yourself mistaking your iPod for some hot-buttered toast.
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