- VERDICT
The attraction of the stunning Pantheone Obsidian is it uniqueness. There is nothing like it on the market. Typically speakers are angular and boring. But the Pantheone Obsidian is anything but typical.
When is a speaker also a work of art? Answer: When it’s the new Pantheon Obsidian that is a much a feast for the eyes as it impressive to the ears.
How many speakers have you heard of that are individually hand-crafted and named after a stone that’s formed when lava cools.
The minimalistic style and sculptured shape are striking – and this is even before we’ve even turned it on.
It is unlike any other speaker on the market – in looks, style and quality.
And the best thing is Pantheone is a 100 per cent award-winning Australian company flying the flag in the prestige audio market.
Available in black or white, the Pantheone Obsidian has a built-in rechargeable battery so it can be moved around the home so you can admire the design and appreciate the sound anywhere.
The build quality is obvious as soon as you lay eyes on it with top shelf materials and precise manufacturing. You will never question the quality – you will only appreciate it.
It’s not a small speaker – it’s about 36cm tall with a 25cm wide footprint. It also weighs 5kg. It’s not easily portable at this size – but its possible to move it but some may need help doing so.
On the audio side, the sound quality is stunning thanks to the DSP-controlled amplifier and high-excursion mid-bass driver.
Also under the hood is two tilted hi-fi silk dome tweeters which offers the detailed clarity to your music.
There is real authority to the sound with a decent scale that will fill a house not just the room.
And the clarity and detail are still there despite the big sound.
That’s all backed by just the right level of bass – the unit has the volume to really move some air, but the bass is not overpowering – it’s at just the right level.
This music quality fits the character of the speaker – it stands out but can be subtle as well.
The Obsidian has both wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity so you can simply stream music from your phone (Bluetooth) or play music from a music service in high quality (wi-fi).
With the wi-fi connectivity it’s also possible to create a multi-room system – if you can afford more than one.
If you have two Obsidian speakers, you can set them up as a stereo pair and really hear the left and right separation so your favourite music will sound amazing.
It’s also possible to have a line-in from your source as well.
Users can stream their music from Tidal and Spotify and other services through the Pantheone companion app as well as accessing your own music on your device.
And if you connect via Bluetooth, you can stream Apple Music and even hear your podcasts and audiobooks through the Obsidian.
It also has Apple AirPlay onboard so whatever you can play on your iPhone you can also play through the speaker.
The Pantheone Obsidian is not only beautiful and offers amazing sound quality – it is also smart.
Yes, it’s an Alexa smart speaker as well so you can ask it to play your music or your favourite radio station and include it into your smart home’s ecosystem and control your devices with your voice.
And with Alexa, the speaker can also access Amazon Music if you have an account or are an Amazon Prime customer.
The battery life is another impressive feature with up to 15 hours of playback on a single charge.
So who would buy the Pantheone Obsidian – this work of tech art?
For a start it’s someone who can afford it – the speaker costs $1,999.
If you have an appreciation for art and audio and is looking something that fits your home décor, then the Obsidian will appeal to you.
If you can fit this in your budget, you will have made an investment in beauty and quality.
The Pantheone Obsidian is priced at $1,999 and is available now from www.pantheoneaudio.com and retail stores including Len Wallis, Sight + Sound Galleria, Top3 and Audio Tailor.
VERDICT
The attraction of the stunning Pantheone Obsidian is it uniqueness. There is nothing like it on the market. Typically speakers are angular and boring. But the Pantheone Obsidian is anything but typical.