Sound quality: Morel's Hogtalare had acceptable overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. Bass has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is a bit prominent and boomy. Midrange is fairly even, but is somewhat hazy, a bit grainy, and a touch etched and nasal. Treble is fairly extended, but is a bit smeared, sizzly and dry. It does a decent job of recovering room ambience, but sounds somewhat congested. The two channel sound field extends a bit above and beyond the sides of the speaker enclosure and lacks depth. There is no significant difference between Bluetooth and Aux inputs. When combined with a second unit to form a stereo pair, its sound stage width and focus depends on how it is placed. When well placed the sound field extends well above and to the sides of the speakers and has a hint of depth, and individual instruments and voices are identifiable and have a bit of a three dimensional quality. Tonally it's pretty much the same except that treble becomes a bit subdued. As a stereo pair the sound quality improves but remains just acceptable. Provides a decent volume level in a large sized room. Note: We noticed low level hiss during Bluetooth playback that goes away after a short period of time when Bluetooth is paused and when the speaker is set for higher volumes. This also occurs when the line-in source is chosen. The hiss can be heard when close to the speaker (within 4-5 ft.) but not at more normal listening distances. Also, a low level "pop" noise can occasionally be heard when switching between inputs and occasionally when Bluetooth playback has been paused for a while and restarted. This occurred with both samples in our tests.
Ease of use: We found the Morel Hogtalare ease of use to be acceptable overall. Bluetooth: Pairing requires long press of a multifunction connection button that is also used for stereo pairing, and then the selection of unit from Bluetooth selection list on source device; unit provides an obvious indication that the unit is in pairing mode as well as when pairing has actually occurred. Volume controls are backlit +/- buttons with no audible, visual, or tactile indication when max volume is reached. It also controls the volume of cord connected inputs. Input/source button is a prominent and clearly labeled backlit button, but source indicator of which source is selected is ambiguous (Bluetooth source lights up connection symbol, which is used for Bluetooth and stereo pairing).
