Sound quality: AirPulse's AU4 Compact had acceptable overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. Bass has decent impact and goes fairly deep but is a bit tubby and a touch prominent. Midrange is fairly even, but is a somewhat hazy, congested, a bit grainy and a touch nasal. Treble is a bit subdued, somewhat smeared and a bit sizzly and lacks upper treble. Does a so so job of recovering room ambiance and is a somewhat congested. The speaker is monophonic and the sound field extends not much to the sides and above the speaker enclosure. Individual instruments and voices are identifiable but have a two dimensional quality.
Volume
Provides a decent volume level in a small to medium sized room.
Ease of use: We found the AirPulse ease of use to be very good overall overall. The volume control is a high contrast well labeled knob with graphical markings. However, the console lacked a mute control.
Source selection on the unit is a button control that is prominent and of optimal contrast.
Bluetooth pairing: Per the unit instructions model is always in pairing mode or is in pairing mode the first time it is turned on (or after a factory reset) but subsequent pairing may require some other step. Shows a pairing mode indicator, indicates when pairing mode has occurred and never times out.
