Sonodyne's SAMA 5000 Soundbar delivers what it's literature promises. It produces premium surround sound and gives a feeling of theatrical sound. Whether you are watching a movie or listening to music or watching a documentary the SAMA 5000 Soundbar adapts and produces the right kind of sound. The features and the specifications that Sonodyne's SAMA 5000 soundbar comes with put it at par and some times above par when compared with other premium soundbar available in the market.

Promises maximum fidelity in a minimalist design. Found this to be a masterclass of its own.

Love the music and it's dynamic range better than good, suits well as a stand alone product. Well done team sonodyne for your relentless effort in bringing out a new dimension to sound.

Amazing mid range and vocals. Go for it !!

I was having a Uranus II system earlier. Now after almost two decades I purchased the Sonodyne Malhar. No comparison with other foreign brands, Malhar is a superb product with unmatched sound quality in a box. Good base and treble. Great product!!

Bought the antara yesterday. It's a lovely speaker. The sound reproduction is wonderful. It gives a good bass cover even though it's so small and the power is very superior for its size. It's form factor is good. Small and portable. Though it does have some weight so it feels like a serious speaker. One spot for improvement is the volume buttons which also function as the skip button. Volume is long press and skip is short press. This can be confusing when you want to reduce or increase the volume just a little. Although these functionalities are there in the streaming device as well so it's not something that you can't get around. Overall top class.

Extremely pleased with our new Sonodyne Antara! After multiple disappointing experiences with fairly pricey Chinese speakers, over the past 3-4 years, this time my Dad and I decided to research well before buying. Our requirement was stereo sound, as most portable speakers offer only a mono sound - which we dislike. Furthermore many brands like JBL & Sony felt too bass-heavy (tuned for EDM music I feel). Then we came across Sonodyne’s Antara. My Dad’s had fond memories with the brand, plus our desire to try an Indian brand made us take the plunge for the Antara. And boy! Was that a good decision! The highs are clear, and elements like hi-hats, female vocals don’t feel shrill at all. The bass is punchy and works well in both Rock, Blues as well as Bollywood music. Classical music sounds divine on them. Might not be the best for EDM/Techno music, but still does the job well for playing music loud enough in our dining area with a room full of people. 10/10 would recommend. Value for money, solid build and excellent sound!

From my childhood I am a fan of sonodyne stereo. I remember the jetliner series. I have a stereo system but when I heard malhar at a mall I immediately purchased it. The sound is un believable.

I have been using the Sonodyne SRP 500 and 400 for almost 6-7 months, and I must say they are one of the best pairs of studio monitors I own. I have mixed and produced with them, and I love the results. I also have the Sonodyne SLF210v3 subwoofer, which I use in conjunction with them. In addition to the Sonodyne monitors, I have the Genelec 1032c, Adam A5X, the legendary Yamaha NS10M, and the KRK Rokit8G3. I must say that these monitors are among the best I have. They provide clear sound, excellent level and dynamics, and a well-balanced output. I love both my Sonodynes and Genelecs. I understand that the drivers in the Genelec 1032c and the Sonodyne SRP models are different, but honestly, you can easily compare them to the Genelec 8030 or 8330 models.

I have been using Sonodyne since 1992, and I love their products. My only drawback with this product is it doesn't have Airplay enabled. These days we use airplay to stream music on multiple devices, which is where it fails. I wish airplay could be enabled; then it is worth every penny.

Sonodyne remains a great choice in this price range. It may lack some modern features but delivers where it matters most. Impressed with the quality of sound and the overall feel of the device.

Came to know about Sonodyne by chance in a Twitter conversation. Glad about it! Bought Alaap from Flipkart. Good packaging both by Flipkart and Sonodyne. The system is top class in all respects - features, quality, design and sound. Good attention to detail - packaging, preventing the remote battery draining. The over voltage protection is thoughtful & useful. The user manual is good too, makes one actually want to read it. The quality is great. Even the power cord looks sturdy and of good quality plastic and metal. The remote is fully functional. Tried all the inputs except optical. It even played songs in an external USB 1 TB hard disk which also had lot of data files. It also remembered to play from where it had left off after restarting - very useful. One thing i miss is an FM radio - of course it can be played from via a mobile with Bluetooth, but a built-in one can be useful for not-so-tech-savvy people. Overall highly recommended.

Read about Sonodyne by chance in a Twitter conversation. Glad about it! Bought Alaap from Flipkart. Found it top class in all respects - features, quality, design. Good attention to detail - packaging, preventing the remote battery draining. The over voltage protection is thoughtful & useful. The user manual is good too, makes one actually want to read it. The quality is great. Even the power cord looks sturdy and of good quality plastic and metal. The remote is fully functional. Tried all the inputs except optical. It even played songs in an external USB hard disk which also had lot of data files. It also remembered to play from where it had left off after restarting - very useful. One thing i miss is an FM radio - of course it can be played from via a mobile with Bluetooth, but a built-in one can be useful for not-so-tech-savvy people. Overall highly recommended.

I have been using the Sonodyne SRP 201s for six months now, connected to the line out of my computer sound card. The results are amazing! I can finally enjoy hi-fidelity stereo sound from my computer's sound card without the need and complexity of investing in a pre-amplifier or headphone amp. The bass is deep and the treble crisp. All in a compact, stylish red aluminium Enclosure. There is not a better solution for the price and fidelity. Strongly recommend!

আমার জন্ম আশির দশকে ,তখন আমার স্টিরিও স্যেটে গান-বাজনা শুনতাম ।এরপর নব্বইয়ের দশকের শেষের দিকে বাজারে আসলো হোমথিয়েটার ,গান-বাজনা সোনার অভিঙ্গতা বদলে গেলো 2.1,4.1,5.1,7.2,9.2 এর দৌলতে ,SONODYNE ও পরিবর্তন হয়ে গেল অনেকটা । এই এমপ্লিফায়ারের পাওয়ার হ্যান্ডেল করার মতো উফার বা স্পিকার কোথায় ? এখন sr সিরিজ ও jetline সিরিজের মতো নস্টালজিক স্পিকার সিস্টেমের মতো কিছু বাজারে আনতে পারেন বেশি ওয়াটে।

I'm audio saler& installar, sonodyne is a very good Indian product, i want tecnical training,or wireing diagram for proper and aquastic installation for verious hotel& banquet.

I have tested Sonodyne SWH056 against Sony WH-1000M5 (rs. 29000) Why I selected – I was looking for descent headphone with ANC, There are very few good ANC’s around this budget. (JBL, Sony and Sennheiser), It is Engineered as Made in India. Well JBL and Sony is giving just NC. Sound quality - They deliver clear, crisp, and powerful sound quality that will leave you amazed. Base is not very high or boosted But provides descent base. I am not fan of loud music, 70-80% also gives good loudness. Even at full volume I didn’t found any sound cracking. Lossless audio format or streaming services makes also a much difference. with apple Music you dont need additional equalizer software. It gives best streaming experience. With Wire it becomes the ultimate Experience. Sound Quality is TOP NOTCH- Sound quality was compared to that of the Sony WH-1000M5 I've listened to a few songs with both headphones, including some classical, heavy metal, and Bollywood music, and I can categorically state that the sound quality Sonodyne produces is not even slightly inferior to Sony's ANS – Fantastic as good as Sony. Full stop. Microphone- Sorry I don’t have any other reference point but the cheap one’s like Boat or Noise. I can say- Sonodyne Microphone is far better. I have few cons I found after comparing with 30k Headphone, But at this price point that also becomes negligible- 1. Must Have Dual pairing option is missing 2. Equalizer app support. Can be added benefit. I know only very few people use the equalizers, and those also who uses, only uses for couple of time in the beginning. 3. C type Charging port. Need of future. (Supports Quick charging) 4. On Sony Headphones the feedback of the Buttons feels Very Premium But again 30k Headphone. 5. I don’t like Branding- Placement of the logo. Nothing to complain about it though. Build Quality and Design – I can not say I am very impressed with the design, But it works very well, earcups rotates as well as folds inwards. Fits well over the ear. It weighs around 200gms. Earcups are very soft and comfy.

Compact active studio monitors that punch above their weight! Solidly built with a good finish, the monitors are easy on the eye. Connect them to a good source (not your average smartphone, please) and you will be blown away by the detail and the clarity. Bassheads may find the lows lacking and may want to add a small subwoofer. For most desktop monitoring and casual listening these are incredible. Also, proudly made in India, if I may add.

From my very childhood, I heard about Sonodyne. Finally after so many years, I have got a chance to bless myself with Sonodyne speakers (not actually, as they are active production monitors). I bought them not for recording or mixing purposes, just for home listening. After tremendous amount of research on internet and a thorough market study regarding sound quality (have come across the sound of KRK Rokit 8 and Adam A7x, Monkey Banana, JBL lsr 308 etc with live demonstration), I came to the conclusion with PM 100s. Many people may question, if it is for home listening, then why didn't you go for hifi speakers?. My answer to your question is that I have owned two renowned (not mentioning the names) hifi systems earlier. But they can never give you such detailed sound with dynamics. There would always be coloration (either at the highs or at the lows) to the tunes you play. Now coming to the PM's part, I seriously don't have words to express my feelings about Sonodyne. I love detailed sound with each and every note, being distinctly audible. Sonodyne exactly serves that with tremendous amount of power. Highly recommended for serious audiophiles, not for those who crave only for heavy bass response and not clarity.

Sonodyne is a heritage. Even my dad was a big fan of Sonodyne. However, this was my first Sonodyne product. Initially, I was not sure whether I should go with the purchase, as I was not able to test it in person from Pune. Still went ahead with the nostalgia. It's an excellent pair in this price range and even in ranges above. Sound signature is well balanced, well tuned drivers, it's comfortable and the ANC istop-notch. Nice build quality. Two hiccups for me. One was the exclusion of any carrying case or bag with the product. Even a simple carrying pouch would have been really appreciated. Secondly, the branding could have been better positioned and more subtle. Would have given it a more cleaner asthetics.

Don’t go by all the four star and lower reviews. Also please bear with the longish review, as some detail is required beyond the cryptic ‘could be better,’ and ‘lack of wow experience’ cliches. I could write a long form article on this. Looking for an analogy to describe this product, I first thought that it punches way, way above its weight. But that’s like saying it is the underdog who fights beyond their potential. This is no David that defeats an unlikely Goliath. In, fact its low price point is probably the only indicator that might lead someone to think that this product is not Avant Garde. In that regard, yes, it does punch way, way above its price point. Its weight (metaphorical, as it is physically quite lightweight) is never in question from the moment it snugly fits on your head, and the ANC is tangible from that moment on. After that it can only get better. And then the music starts, and its capabilities are unleashed. Tested it out first to Ride of the Valkyries. Each instrument is heard distinctly without any strain – from the string ensemble to the flutes, piccolo, oboe, and clarinets to the trombones, tubas, and of course the resounding trumpets, apart from the percussion. Felt like Bill Kilgore (Which reminds me to test this out on Apocalypse Now). Won’t go into too much detail of other songs tested, which included Locomotive breath and Thick as a Brick by Tull, Xanadu and Closer to the Heart by Rush, Take Five by Dave Brubeck, Comfortably Numb and Shine on by Pink Floyd, Life in the Fast Lane by Eagles, Baba O’Riley by The Who, among a few others. I must speak about two pieces that stood out. One is Raga Aberi by L Shankar, where he plays a ten-string double violin. It is one of the perfect pieces to test out the bases, mids and highs of this headphone, or any speaker for that matter. Also, The Singing Swans Part II from Rays and Forays by Chitravina N Ravikiran has a kanjira solo by G Harishankar. For those unversed, Kanjira is one of the most versatile frame drums, with a range that belies its size – especially the lower frequencies. G Harishankar was one of the most prolific kanjira virtuosos. Very few of his recordings exist online today. The solo starts at around the 7:50 mark, and the piece is available on Spotify. This portion also helps in testing out the spaces between the music, and each beat is heard distinctly. And Oh! The cellos on Eleanor Rigby. Hear it to believe it. That’s as far as music is concerned Also Watched Aston Villa beat Man Utd. The stadium crowd roar was palpable. Two films that have taken sound to a different level are Dune and Interstellar, both scored by Hans Zimmer. Watching them again, one could easily attest to the capabilities of this product. Truly immersive to say the least. As for calls, I could hear clearly without any effort. I also checked with the person at the other end, who said I was crystal clear. This despite talking while standing on the pavement in bumper-to-bumper traffic. To top it all, this is a homegrown, swadeshi brand that can give a run for the money to any of the popular and ‘high-end’ brands. As I said I could go on. But for those on the fence after some of the lower ratings, this product is not only value for money, but probably also underpriced for its flair. Hope the makers don’t take this last comment too seriously... :)

These are excellent budget friendly ANCs, which punch way above their weight. You won't get multi pairing, eq or an app but you'll get solid, balanced sound. But it's not flat. I'll have to burn them a bit more, right now they're slightly bassier but not thumpingly so and while it does dampen a few highs in the background it's not a deal breaker that you'll notice. It may iron out with use. Will update later. I've thrown basic mp3s as well as MQAs and Apple spatial at it. It has done justice to all of them and was quite forgiving of the mp3s. At this price it's a steal and primo Sonodyne quality.

Sonodyne SWH 056 headphone is really good both in terms of ANC and sound quality. There is no unnecessary extra bass which can suppress many hidden sounds in a track and produce a perfect sound. The active noise cancellation is also excellent. My neighbour who also uses many big brands headphones like B&W, Bose, Sennheiser etc was so much so impressed with it's sound quality that he instantly bought a Sonodyne SWH 056 for himself also, and remember I didn't burn the headphone yet.

Childhood dream to own a sonodyne came true

Initial Impression: When I received the product initially i started with Bluetooth audio with iPhone in Apple music. SInce there's no lossless format supported in Bluetooth the initial impression was so so. But don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the headphones itself. I am used to listening to music in Lossless/Hi Res Lossless on my 2.1 Setup featuring the Sonodyne 3165 and SUB 1010 (With Marantz Nr1200) also for lossless music on headphones. I have an Audio Technica ATH-M50x. So my reference point is Lossless support. Audio Quality: Thankfully Sonodyne has offered the 3.5 input as well and the moment I plugged them on my AVR and streamed the same song in lossless format (SHIVERS - ED Sheean) OMG, I was blown away, it was able to replicate the same magic my Audio Technica M50x does, and this is without even burning in. I always had the trust in Sonodyne to deliver, and they did in every way I wanted to. I got them for 5k, now for this money, i am able to use them as daily driver for music listening both Bluetooth/wired 3.5. The bluetooth music is also improving as burning is happening, this is just a weeks use On Calls; It has excellent call/voice clarity over calls on phone as well as teams call on meetings. Even the mic quality is amazing so good for the listener as well Noise Cancelling: Coming to ANC, these aren't industry leading, i can hear very minute reverb in vocals when ANC is turned on. But you'll hardly notice it. Also the ambient noise suppression is good, but not excellent. If you compare it with the likes of Sony. Hence 4 stars for ANC, But I don't have any complaints as I have paid hardly 5k for this. Build Quality: The headphones are light and very comfortable, although the plastics could have been better, I doubt for how long the power, volume and ANC button keeps working flawlessly. But again at this price you can't complain. Overall: At this stellar price there is hardly anything you can complain about, these are solid headphones and can easily compete with the best in the business. Highly recommended!! I am already using Sonodyne Tower speakers and Subwoofer which I am very happy with, added another to my Sonodyne Collection, thanks again Sonodyne for such a solid product!!

Just love the product. Bought it more out of nostalgia as we used to have a Sonodyne sound system when I was younger and dad used to play Rabindrasangeet on it. The sound quality is fabulous, ANC ,fairly ok

Definitely one of the best . Amazing clarity. Must have for music lovers

Recently got the Alaap. Usually listen to instrumental music. I am hearing notes I haven't heard before. Really amazing. I have heard a lot of music on Bose and Marshall . Alaap is way better - has very balanced sound. Reminded me of Jamo concert series. Similar sound for an affordable price.

Outstanding sound and classy too.Highly recommended for those with an ear for music.

We need to support local brands, Sonodyne is a class brand from Calcutta with really good experience

t is compact and has a decent look. Good for home listening. Good bass as well as nice string sound. Even in high volume sound doesn't Crack. Has safeguard against over voltage. BT connectivity is good.

Probably among the top wired BT speakers you can get in this price range. Very well tuned, natural and full sound with decent amount of bass. Only downside is that this is not a portable speaker as it is on the heavy side and requires a power connection. However, still recommend if you are looking for a high quality audio product for your home.

I bought Alaap last July as an impulse buy! As someone who owns a few Sonos products, the first two weeks I was a bit upset (probably a bit high on expectation) that it did not sound upto the mark. However, over a period it settled quite nicely as an amazing personal speaker, and stays produly in my bedroom bookshelf - could be that the burn-in (without getting in to myth or fact) worked out well. It has a decently wide soundstage and enough bass for a pleasent listening experience. I have it hooked to an Amazon echo device and that coverts it in to a smart speaker. For the price, I think it beats every other brand that we are obsessed with.

Parents …. Jazz …. and old woody crystal clear sound Sonodyne …. Feeling Nostalgic !!

Fabulous sound system to Party at home

It was 24/10/2022 while the country was celebrating the festival of lights, the Holy Deepavali, I became a proud owner of Sonodyne "Bandish" and my dream for having such an audio monster in my study cum leisure room finally came true. It was mid 1980s' when I first seen a red coloured 'Sonodyne 2-in-1' in a friends house, and fell in love with its' performance! However, during last long years I came in touch with Sony, Bose, Philips, Denon, Maranz etc., but I always missed that cutie Sonodyne product. A couple of days back I found a junk commercial mail while casually searching my inbox for an air ticket booked earlier and spent some time to read the splendours of Sonodyne Bandish and Mallhar. And neddless to mention searched the contacts of 'Auditro', Park Street, Kolkata and booked a demo in the afternoon. Finally back home with the Bandish and enjoyed splendid audio till midnight in closed doors with my ex-girlfriend, now wife and my new buddy the "Bandish". Yes, it's an experience in my life !! A room filling sound and heart touching prtformance indeed! Bravo Sonodyne, long live and bring out more.

Value for money

It’s simply taking me to a vibe. Superb PUNCHHH????????????

Itz good to listen ????

Just enjoying BANDISH a couple of days. Incredible, wonderful sound. Simple but cute and classical design. No extra unwanted display, no extra elements - simple look. Great sound quality with perfect combination of Bass and Treble . Price is reasonable ,, forget BideshiBrand… Just enjoy pure music , marvellous sound ..

To All those who find Bose, Marshall, Sonos, Denon and JBL to be Paragon of Fine Sound, here we have “Made in India” product SONODYNE MALHAR. I got mine delivered today (As per promised timeline) Malhar introduces itself as an Underdog in the race BUT trust you me, It has to be taken Seriously and Sincerely. I won’t go Ga Ga about the specifications which are already available on the sites BUT what I wish to mention is.. - Excellent packing which is extremely travel worthy. Unpacking it was quite a satisfactory experience. - The product availability follow up with SONODYNE team was really professional. Being it Ayush or Shankar Bannerjee. Staff is coordial and helping in nature. - Talking of Sound, It ACTUALLY delivers to the Hype around it. Sound is Crisp with good work being done on Lows and High’s. It’s finely tuned for Indian music scenario’s and listening habits. - Technically speaking, Loudness is dynamic without compromising on clarity in mid’s. Its USP is wooden cabinet (I SWEAR), which is way ahead of plastic speakers. Malhar is rendering CRISP sound. That “Wooden” Sound is BEST feature of this speaker. Its massive 8kgs weight make it feel like a Masculine product and must be helping in delivering 180W sound flawlessly. - It’s a Speaker with a good aesthetics with the semi gloss finish and huge speaker cones with controls on the top giving it up market feel. - At modest 35k, its a steal deal considering the Sound Quality it’s providing. It’s in competition with products worth 80k - 1L Its not about any Negatives, But everything has some scope of improvements, per my understanding following are the improvement pointers for the speaker to make it a Market leader. - Remote need to be in sync with the speaker in terms of quality. - The additional features will add to the charm like HDMI connectivity, some App based controls like Marshall for better sound controls. - Some basic display screen to show current volume, song name etc. - Do plan to launch a portable speaker with battery based set up. Trust you me, I’ll be the first one to buy. No show stoppers otherwise. All in All One of The Finest product available in market which is at par with the old market leaders and best part is it’s A Proud Indian product. ????

 I got the product and I already have a Marshall Stanmore 2 which I thought was gonna be way better. After listening to the Sonodyne Malhar I can confidently say that the Sonodyne Malhar is louder, and it is way clearer and it doesn't have any flaws in my opinion when compared to the Marshall Speakers

Delivering an excellent quality sound clarity and has become a very own and soothing music companion from the very day I received it from Amazon. It has been one of my family members , now. Thanks a lot to SONODYNE & wish them my best ......

Amazing and neutral clarity Literally blown by the sound quality. My first Sonodyne. Can't belive I never bought this brand before. Clean and impressive

The product is simply mind-blowing. Awesome performance - actoss genres. It more than meets my expectations, every time i switch on.

Ever since I was a kid, I had a fascination with speakers. I loved listening to music and I remember visiting my neighbor’s house just to listen to their Sonodyne system, I think it had a turntable but now not so sure, that was the best thing I had ever heard, in my kid head. It was like magic to me! I always wanted to own a Sonodyne speaker someday, but life got in the way and I never got around to it. I wasn't even sure if they made consumer speakers anymore. But I always had huge respect for the brand, and the Mukherjees just like the Bose family, two iconic audio brands with Indian roots. Then recently, I stumbled upon an YouTube video on Bandish, and then found this Malhar. I read some reviews, was very impressed and immediately decided to buy the Malhar. Childhood dream come true! It arrived in a solid packaging in about 6 days and I was eager to set it up. It was very easy to do so, as it came with clear instructions and all the necessary stuff. Bluetooth connectivity was good and conveniently paired with my phones and other devices. I turned it on and played some of my favorite songs. And wow. It was like being transported back to my childhood. The sound quality was amazing. The high build quality shines through the rich and detailed sound that filled the room. The bass was deep but not overwhelming like dj boxes, the mids were clear and balanced, and the highs were crisp and bright. I listened to some fantastic hi-res tracks from different genres, such as Hotel California by Eagles, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, some good hi res symphony tracks and of course Tagore instrumenals. Each sounded like a new experience with Sonodyne Malhar. It was like listening to them for the first time! The speaker also worked well with my TV and other devices using an aux cable. I watched some movies and shows with it and enjoyed the immersive sound effects. I hardly needed subtitles anymore! The remote control was functional and easy to use. I think it does the job. I am yet to feel like any need for bass control. The balance and tuning is perfect the way it is. The only thing I haven’t tried yet is connecting it with Google Home using DLNA6 (Digital Living Network Alliance), which is supposed to enable wireless streaming of music from any device on the same network. But I’m sure that will work fine too. I am glad that I purchased the white box. It goes really well with my tv area (you can see my nest speakers, Sony home theatre and ps5, oh yes, playing games is too good, very realistic sound effects). Sonodyne Malhar is truly a childhood dream come true for me. It is the best speaker I have ever owned or heard. It has brought back the joy of listening to music for me. If you are looking for a speaker that combines nostalgia with modern technology, and sounds like a million bucks, look no further than Sonodyne Malhar.

I am using this product at my food outlet from since last 3 years , and customers always praise us for the sound quality of the system , i am fully satisfied with my investment in this product.

Initial Impression: When I received the product initially i started with Bluetooth audio with iPhone in Apple music. SInce there's no lossless format supported in Bluetooth the initial impression was so so. But don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the headphones itself. I am used to listening to music in Lossless/Hi Res Lossless on my 2.1 Setup featuring the Sonodyne 3165 and SUB 1010 (With Marantz Nr1200) also for lossless music on headphones. I have an Audio Technica ATH-M50x. So my reference point is Lossless support. Audio Quality: Thankfully Sonodyne has offered the 3.5 input as well and the moment I plugged them on my AVR and streamed the same song in lossless format (SHIVERS - ED Sheean) OMG, I was blown away, it was able to replicate the same magic my Audio Technica M50x does, and this is without even burning in. I always had the trust in Sonodyne to deliver, and they did in every way I wanted to. I got them for 5k, now for this money, i am able to use them as daily driver for music listening both Bluetooth/wired 3.5. The bluetooth music is also improving as burning is happening, this is just a weeks use On Calls; It has excellent call/voice clarity over calls on phone as well as teams call on meetings. Even the mic quality is amazing so good for the listener as well Noise Cancelling: Coming to ANC, these aren't industry leading, i can hear very minute reverb in vocals when ANC is turned on. But you'll hardly notice it. Also the ambient noise suppression is good, but not excellent. If you compare it with the likes of Sony. Hence 4 stars for ANC, But I don't have any complaints as I have paid hardly 5k for this. Build Quality: The headphones are light and very comfortable, although the plastics could have been better, I doubt for how long the power, volume and ANC button keeps working flawlessly. But again at this price you can't complain. Overall: At this stellar price there is hardly anything you can complain about, these are solid headphones and can easily compete with the best in the business. Highly recommended!! I am already using Sonodyne Tower speakers and Subwoofer which I am very happy with, added another to my Sonodyne Collection, thanks again Sonodyne for such a solid product!!

"OUTSTANDING OF OUTSTANDING" THIS PRODUCT. I think the last quality of the SOUND is MALHAR. I am very proud to be using this product. Salute to SONODYNE company for this.

Excellent music experience

To All those who find Bose, Marshall, Sonos, Denon and JBL to be Paragon of Fine Sound, here we have “Made in India” product SONODYNE MALHAR. I got mine delivered today (As per promised timeline) Malhar introduces itself as an Underdog in the race BUT trust you me, It has to be taken Seriously and Sincerely. I won’t go Ga Ga about the specifications which are already available on the sites BUT what I wish to mention is.. - Excellent packing which is extremely travel worthy. Unpacking it was quite a satisfactory experience. - The product availability follow up with SONODYNE team was really professional. Being it Ayush or Shankar Bannerjee. Staff is coordial and helping in nature. - Talking of Sound, It ACTUALLY delivers to the Hype around it. Sound is Crisp with good work being done on Lows and High’s. It’s finely tuned for Indian music scenario’s and listening habits. - Technically speaking, Loudness is dynamic without compromising on clarity in mid’s. Its USP is wooden cabinet (I SWEAR), which is way ahead of plastic speakers. Malhar is rendering CRISP sound. That “Wooden” Sound is BEST feature of this speaker. Its massive 8kgs weight make it feel like a Masculine product and must be helping in delivering 180W sound flawlessly. - It’s a Speaker with a good aesthetics with the semi gloss finish and huge speaker cones with controls on the top giving it up market feel. - At modest 35k, its a steal deal considering the Sound Quality it’s providing. It’s in competition with products worth 80k - 1L Its not about any Negatives, But everything has some scope of improvements, per my understanding following are the improvement pointers for the speaker to make it a Market leader. - Remote need to be in sync with the speaker in terms of quality. - The additional features will add to the charm like HDMI connectivity, some App based controls like Marshall for better sound controls. - Some basic display screen to show current volume, song name etc. - Do plan to launch a portable speaker with battery based set up. Trust you me, I’ll be the first one to buy. No show stoppers otherwise. All in All One of The Finest product available in market which is at par with the old market leaders and best part is it’s A Proud Indian product. ????

After a lot of research I settled on Sonodyne Malhar. FIrst piece I got was damaged. I initiated the return. But surprisingly within 1 hour I got a call from Ayush, from Sonodyne. The rest of the story won't fit in this space, but hats off to the staff of Sonodyne especially Mr Ayush, I finally got a product at my home without any scratch. Believe me this is the best customer care I've ever received in my entire life. Thanks to Mr Ayush and all other supporting staff of Sonodyne. The impact is such that i won't think about buying an audio product from any other company from now onwards. The pros.....Speaking about the sound, this is the product for us.... It has got mind blowing Highs and Mids, and Thumping Lows. I must say it excels when it comes to playing Indian music which the greats in the field lacks. And the wooden cabinet...no words...Good sound comes from good wood as they say....so true.... The cons... Well nothing on the sound quality, just a few simple suggestions...in the next updates u can think of an off timer since I wish to sleep while hearing music, so it will be a helpful feature for ppl like me. And of course a small display. But these are too minute when compared to the sound you provide. Once again thanks to Ayush and other support staff of Sonodyne for giving me an opportunity to have a feel of this awesome product. God bless u all...Thank you

From my very childhood, I heard about Sonodyne. Finally after so many years, I have got a chance to bless myself with Sonodyne speakers (not actually, as they are active production monitors). I bought them not for recording or mixing purposes, just for home listening. After tremendous amount of research on internet and a thorough market study regarding sound quality (have come across the sound of KRK Rokit 8 and Adam A7x, Monkey Banana, JBL lsr 308 etc with live demonstration), I came to the conclusion with PM 100s. Many people may question, if it is for home listening, then why didn't you go for hifi speakers?. My answer to your question is that I have owned two renowned (not mentioning the names) hifi systems earlier. But they can never give you such detailed sound with dynamics. There would always be coloration (either at the highs or at the lows) to the tunes you play. Now coming to the PM's part, I seriously don't have words to express my feelings about Sonodyne. I love detailed sound with each and every note, being distinctly audible. Sonodyne exactly serves that with tremendous amount of power. Highly recommended for serious audiophiles, not for those who crave only for heavy bass response and not clarity.

I bought Bandish on 24 July 2022, after a lot of hesitation. Hesitation because, whether I should wait for the Malhar model, or buy Bandish. I have Marshall Woburn II, so I wanted to have very good sound quality, if not better than Marshall Woburn II. After burning the drivers of Bandish for a reasonable period, now I can say, I am really satisfied with the overall sound signature by Sonodyne Bandish. Build quality is good, and the remote is a welcome addition for the convenience. Please note, Marshall Woburn II delivers better sound stage, but considering the price and power of Sonodyne Bandish, you will not regret. Five star for the product. The way the speaker is packed and shipped, worth mentioning. Fantastic packaging. ???? I have 5.1 speakers also from Sonodyne since 2012. Overall a satisfied customer. ???? Improvement points: 1) Adding Bass and Trible control could have been better. 2) Or dedicated App to control the Equalizer could have been added. 3) There are good scope for improvement in the fit & finish, if we compare it with the international standard.

I was in the market for an audio system with a budget of about 30k. Read a lot of reviews about Marshall, Harman speakers and almost finalised Marshall Acton 2. Then I saw Sonodyne Alaap and Bandish while browsing Amazon catalogue. I had heard good things about Sonodyne from my father and instantly got interested. The product got delivered in secure packaging. After unboxing I was impressed with the build quality. The speaker feels solid and I love the wooden finish. Turning it on, the sound quality is amazing. It produces a very balanced output. Clarity is on point. Bass is punchy but not overwhelming. I listen to a wide genre of music and Bandish handles all of them beautifully. Good for movies as well. I use AUX and Bluetooth inputs to connect with my computer and phone. I did not face any issue with connectivity. This does not have any built-in battery. I avoided speakers with built-in battery keeping in mind the longevity of the product. The remote feels a bit cheap and out of place. A better quality remote would complement the speaker. Overall I am satisfied with Sonodyne Bandish. Highly recommended!

As a critical listener who does a little dabbling around with speakers and sound this one is right in league with some of the best by the best manufacturerst that one can buy at this price point. Pristine clear sound, amazing soundstaging and volume of air being pushed out from such a small package, warm and balalnced lows and midrange with the highs being crisp without being too 'trebbly'. This is surely a system for the enthusiast and the purist with true old world simplicity and solidity of design. Connectivity options are simple, varied and work like a charm The only irony is that we have such amazing product, design and quality that is designed produced and manufactured in our own country by our own talent and professionals yet they hardly manage to be recognised in the mainstream market which is full of foreign products both reputed and average but who charge us more than twice for what they offer. Try Indian once. Have faith and try Sonodyne. You wont go wrong with it.

Recently got the Alaap. Usually listen to instrumental music. I am hearing notes I haven't heard before. Really amazing. I have heard a lot of music on Bose and Marshall . Alaap is way better - has very balanced sound. Reminded me of Jamo concert series. Similar sound for an affordable price.

About 30-35 years ago, I had a sonodyne system. The sound was good. But the amplifier had lot of problems. In my city there wasn’t a soul to repair. The system used to work for a month and not work the next two. Although it sounded great, my overall experience was pathetic. So pathetic that I forgot it as I grew up. I have heard Bose, Elac, Polk Audio, Bang and Olufsen and many others and satisfied with all of them. And one fine day I saw that Sonodyne has Alaap, Bandish and Malhar. I was skeptical. But then my childhood got reminded and decided that I will buy alaap thinking it will be small in size. Although I wanted to buy Bandish, due to space constraints I bought Alaap which saved me money as well. Alaap finally arrived. To my surprise it was larger than I imagined. Now let’s get down to business than nostalgia. As far as the design is concerned, sonodyne needs to get a product designer. The top panel is very crude, the back panel is horrendous with a gazillion screws. The glaring make in India lion giving the false assumption that Indian products will be bad looking. Well the cribbing ends here. It was extremely well packed and it took me about half an hour to keep removing cover after cover and side boards to even get a sight of the speaker. Connected my phone via Bluetooth. Connected quite easily. Played 2 songs, just 2 - Fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra and Love by Nat Cole King. I was impressed by the quality. Lows are good for 60Hz and I thought they would be non existent literally. Highs aren’t a shrill and the only problem is with a garbled or not so pronounced mid range. But then it’s still good. Sound is well balanced and rounded. Packs the punch. Well sonodyne has exceeded itself well. 17500 is a bit too on a slightly higher side. But it sounds simply superb. Hopefully, the electronics won’t go bad. Today is my first day and I shall update the after few weeks again. 5 star for the sound quality. Yes, I am proud that this is a truly make in India beauty. Updates As claimed by the company the sound is neutral. It doesn’t add any additional bass. I listened to some tracks by the weeknd and they sounded good. Revelacion by Selena Gomez couldn’t take up too lows. However the modern ballads like De una vez, save your tears and I feel it coming sound beautiful. The soundstage is slightly packed and not very open. This could be due to smaller sized speakers. Instrument sounds are pristine. May be the next variant Bandish will be able to handle these flaws better. Some more additions Use a decent lossless music source. Apple Music and Spotify premium did the work. I used some random aux cable and the sound was way too muffled and low when I connected it to my computer. I then changed to a better quality aux cable with gold plated jacks. This made it sound much better. I haven’t tried the optical out yet.

It is compact and has a decent look. Good for home listening. Good bass as well as nice string sound. Even in high volume sound doesn't Crack. Has safeguard against over voltage. BT connectivity is good.

During my School Days I used to listen to a Tape Recorder, After that, didn’t find anything to enjoy music, Having the Sonodyne Malhar, is like that Having my Childhood Back, Thank You Sonodyne.

Proud to be Indian manufacturing company Sonodyne stands at the Internationally. Sound quality is great, Music like live concerts, Bass might high for some areas while playing movies, overall satisfying to my needs in one product. Value for money considering International products which are in the range of 50k

After a demoing a lot of Bluetooth speakers from JBL, Bose, Marshall, Sonos etc., I finally ordered the Sonodyne Malhar based on Sonodyne’s rich history around making world class studio monitors. Was a bit apprehensive as I could not get a demo of this before the purchase. Excitedly waited for it to be delivered. Rushed home on the day of delivery. Immediately opened it and switched it up. Setup was fuss free and done in a minute. Played a few classic rocks on it. Was blown away by the quality of the vocals and instruments that could be heard with great clarity. Not unnaturally bass heavy like most other speakers. Studio quality sound. Perfect to enjoy an evening with friends and family. It took 2 days for the speaker to settle in. Enjoying different genres on it now. Grab one now as stocks are very low.

Great sound quality, wide sound stage, amazing mids and highs. Works great for everything that doesn't need a subwoofer like hip hop for example. A little bigger than I expected but solidly built and safely packaged. Much better than imported speakers in this price range like Marshall, Bose, Denon and Sonos. Great value.

My family has owned high-fidelity sound systems since the 1980s; therefore, I am well versed in hi-fi sound. I was initially skeptical of Malhar due to its Class D amplification system. In my mind, I was always sure you could not produce high-fidelity sound without Class A or Class AB amplification, but to my surprise, Sonodyne has done a remarkable job in the Class D segment results, Malhar. I have tried and tested several Bluetooth speakers, home theatre speakers, and sound bars manufactured by various well-known rewound brands, but none of them even come close to Malhar. 99% of these brands produce a sound with heavy bass and almost no midrange. Even the bass that they produce is out of control; there is no preciseness in it. Malhar has done an excellent job here, and passive radiators, in particular, add a lot of punch with Sonodyne's usual clear midrange. Malhar is probably the only speaker that has a piano-finish body in this price segment; all the other brands are giving you relatively cheap plastic, and sometimes it's not even ABS. If you really want a classy, premium-quality speaker, go for Malhar.

Went through many high ends, some had extra base some had extra irritating treble sounds, Though wanted to hear first but was not able to do so and gambled with Sonodyne's MALHAAR after going through reviews and it payed me quite well. I was surprised by the soothing sound quality, balanced , subtle sound effects in the compact design ????. Not only for music MALHAAR is going fine with with TV also . Going to buy one more MALHAAR in few days to pair it up with with the current one????????.

First of all my expectation of a audiophile grade headphone is met with this purchase. For the amount of money that I spent, I was very satisfied with music output of the phone. The bass heavy rock numbers were delivered with musicality and timing, I hardly noticed any lag, neither for bass nor for the trebles. The mid and the high notes of less heavy music like Indian classical or jazz had excellent imaging. For phone call over wireless I have not encountered any drop in line or anyone reporting problems in clarity. ANC is working well and without ANC also voice usage has been uneventful and steady. One issue that probably needs OEM attention is that the metal straps are very stiff and probably the hardness will go over long usage. Recommended over ear headphone especially at this price range.

Superb sound, just excellent. Sound quality on every range is balanced its like wearing light comfortable Bose and listening to Audio-Technica Ath-M50X without much cramp force of ears or side of the ears and very light weight. The sound quality at this price is Top Notch...... almost comparable to Sennheiser's......listened to it with 3.5mm wires connected to balanced AMP......its really good. Well done job by Sonodyne..........

I bought Sonodyne swh056 headphones it's a great headphone with good anc noise cancellation it can easily compare with Bose QC45 I have tested both they sounds absolutely same except the Google assistant in Bose present slightly better in battery backup also marginally otherwise both are same I think even mic and noise cancellation is better in Sonodyne it's much cheaper than Bose 2yrs warranty It's better than the Chinese cheaper headphones in the market.One thing u have to remember u have to make custom settings in urs smartphone to sound better according to ur's need the Amazon service is excellent with in 2days delivery good packaging at good price Rs6,500.

Sonodyne is a heritage. Even my dad was a big fan of Sonodyne. However, this was my first Sonodyne product. Initially, I was not sure whether I should go with the purchase, as I was not able to test it in person from Pune. Still went ahead with the nostalgia. It's an excellent pair in this price range and even in ranges above. Sound signature is well balanced, well tuned drivers, it's comfortable and the ANC istop-notch. Nice build quality. Two hiccups for me. One was the exclusion of any carrying case or bag with the product. Even a simple carrying pouch would have been really appreciated. Secondly, the branding could have been better positioned and more subtle. Would have given it a more cleaner asthetics.

Don’t go by all the four star and lower reviews. Also please bear with the longish review, as some detail is required beyond the cryptic ‘could be better,’ and ‘lack of wow experience’ cliches. I could write a long form article on this. Looking for an analogy to describe this product, I first thought that it punches way, way above its weight. But that’s like saying it is the underdog who fights beyond their potential. This is no David that defeats an unlikely Goliath. In, fact its low price point is probably the only indicator that might lead someone to think that this product is not Avant Garde. In that regard, yes, it does punch way, way above its price point. Its weight (metaphorical, as it is physically quite lightweight) is never in question from the moment it snugly fits on your head, and the ANC is tangible from that moment on. After that it can only get better. And then the music starts, and its capabilities are unleashed. Tested it out first to Ride of the Valkyries. Each instrument is heard distinctly without any strain – from the string ensemble to the flutes, piccolo, oboe, and clarinets to the trombones, tubas, and of course the resounding trumpets, apart from the percussion. Felt like Bill Kilgore (Which reminds me to test this out on Apocalypse Now). Won’t go into too much detail of other songs tested, which included Locomotive breath and Thick as a Brick by Tull, Xanadu and Closer to the Heart by Rush, Take Five by Dave Brubeck, Comfortably Numb and Shine on by Pink Floyd, Life in the Fast Lane by Eagles, Baba O’Riley by The Who, among a few others. I must speak about two pieces that stood out. One is Raga Aberi by L Shankar, where he plays a ten-string double violin. It is one of the perfect pieces to test out the bases, mids and highs of this headphone, or any speaker for that matter. Also, The Singing Swans Part II from Rays and Forays by Chitravina N Ravikiran has a kanjira solo by G Harishankar. For those unversed, Kanjira is one of the most versatile frame drums, with a range that belies its size – especially the lower frequencies. G Harishankar was one of the most prolific kanjira virtuosos. Very few of his recordings exist online today. The solo starts at around the 7:50 mark, and the piece is available on Spotify. This portion also helps in testing out the spaces between the music, and each beat is heard distinctly. And Oh! The cellos on Eleanor Rigby. Hear it to believe it. That’s as far as music is concerned Also Watched Aston Villa beat Man Utd. The stadium crowd roar was palpable. Two films that have taken sound to a different level are Dune and Interstellar, both scored by Hans Zimmer. Watching them again, one could easily attest to the capabilities of this product. Truly immersive to say the least. As for calls, I could hear clearly without any effort. I also checked with the person at the other end, who said I was crystal clear. This despite talking while standing on the pavement in bumper-to-bumper traffic. To top it all, this is a homegrown, swadeshi brand that can give a run for the money to any of the popular and ‘high-end’ brands. As I said I could go on. But for those on the fence after some of the lower ratings, this product is not only value for money, but probably also underpriced for its flair. Hope the makers don’t take this last comment too seriously... :)

Malhar.... bought it without any demo. But man....its mind blowing. Amazing quality. But what was heart touching was your customer care. Mr Ayush.. you showed me what customer care/service is all about. Thank you all for a nice product and amazing support

Sonodyne is the age old Indian loudspeaker brand of the 80s and 90s that we grew up listening to vinyl and tapes. Known for excellent build quality and exceptional sonic performance, these loudspeakers delivered rich studio-like sound without breaking the bank. In todays era of synthetic bass and tinny treble emanating from plastic loudspeakers, the Malhaar truly stands out! Vintage sound quality with the convenience of playing your favorite streaming service, I was truly blown away by the richness and clarity of sound. Like an excited kid, I played through my favorites and found the same timbre and tonality as expected from a studio monitor! Grab one before it sells out!

Connected it to my Phone in the hall and played the 1st song.. And man I was in Awe. Continuing the legacy of Sonodyne, the speaker didn't fail impress. The highs are sharp, mids are crystal clear and lows are thumping. No distortion at any volume. Plus what I loved about is its simplicity. No complicated process to setup and the speaker knows what to do without your help. I ended up listenening to it the whole day. The Wooden built and premium looks complements the interior of my house AWESOME.

During my School Days I used to listen to a Tape Recorder, After that, didn’t find anything to enjoy music, Having the Sonodyne Malhar, is like that Having my Childhood Back, Thank You Sonodyne.

Purchased this around a couple of weeks ago. I use this both for music (both standard web and premium services like Spotify) and voice. The ANC is pretty good I feel completely isolated in a place with other people having conversation. Music sound detailed and musical without any processed artefacts. HAve used with rock and jazz, and both sound musical and punches in a fidelity which is pretty good for this price range.

I 1st experienced Sonodyne system in my uncle's place which he bought on 1986, it was the Uranus 2 stereo setup. From that point onwards I got pulled towards buying a proper 2 channel stereo for my music. I started exploring different bracds from Polk audio, Kef, Q Acoustics etc. All were nice, but lacked the precision i was looking for specifically for the folk and indo classical music. When I first heard this pair Sonodyne 3165, i was immediately blown away with the precise frequency distribution and pin point accuracy especially in the high and the mid frequencies. It brought life into all my folk and indo classical favorites like no other speakers have managed so far (At least in the similar price bracket), So i decided to buy them. I have paired it with Marantz AVR and the musicality the DUO produce is absolutely stunning. Although i had to pair the Sonodyne SUB 1010 along with the tower to get the complete frequency coverage, as i said earlier that the tower are astonishing for mids and highs and decent low end as long as you have same folk music love as i do. But for low end you have to add a sub. I do adore the SUB1 1010 since after its addition it's a complete setup to enjoy all kinds of music and movies. I have been recommending Sonodyne to all my friends and family ever since and will continue to do so. I am proud to have this in my living room and proudly say its a make in India and Made in India product!! Cheers SONODYNE, please keep making such products in the future to come.

This one beats the Sony WH -1000XM3 hands down. The timing and punch excellent. High end so clear and distinct. Overall very audiophile in dynamic driver side. Congratulations Sonodyne I am a little disappointed with the packaging. Please look at the packaging of HiFiMan, Audeze or any other headphone in the $ 150 - $ 200 range.

Good quality sound and good battery life

The brand Sonodyne is nostalgic as it was the first system I bought 35 years back. So couldn’t resist to buy this entry level speaker more as a memento. Liked the retro look as well. Plays very well - good value for money.

Having grown up with Sonodyne products when I was younger, I always had a dream to equip my home with Sonodyne audio systems. I have finally managed to get my hands on the Bandish, a product I have been waiting for. It fits perfectly onto my table top and sounds phenomenal. Music has never sounded so good! It is a personal matter of pride also that I am supporting a truly make in India company. Their products truly do make India proud. Keep it up Sonodyne!

Not only does the Bandish look classy, it packs a PUNCH!!! After playing it at some gatherings with friends and family, everyone was shocked at the superior sound quality and were amazed that an Indian company was manufacturing this beast. I am pretty sure some of my friend's and family will be buying this speaker soon. Well done Sonodyne!

I love the comfortable fit of these headphones. I have been using them while I run, and in the rain too!! The headphone sounds great, feels super comfortable. A steal at this price!

These are premium headphones and are available for an absolute bargain at Rs 8999. I have compare them to Sony and Bose noise cancellation and the audio quality is extremely similar to the bigger brands. I have been waiting to own my first Sonodyne product for years and I am so happy they have come out with a headphone I can afford.

I recently purchased the SWH 056 and have been amazed with how comfortable it is. I use it for long durations while working and even after hours of constant use they do not feel uncomfortable. The audio quality is crystal clear and I don't struggle to hear my zoom meetings anymore. Highly recommend this product to everyone.

“Made in India” long before it became a buzz phrase, Sonodyne has long served the serious audiophile and pro-studio markets. The brand has forayed into Bluetooth wireless speakers, and the Antara is the entry-level in the lineup. Upon first glance, Antara sports a fairly safe, inoffensive design, with a black metal grille across the front of the speaker and an ABS body – in black or white finishes - with IP65 splash resistance for poolside use. It’s small enough to be thrown into a backpack, if the 1.5kg weight isn’t a deterrent. Playback controls are ensconced within a black rubberized panel on the top, an aesthetic I couldn’t really get behind – unless this speaker is placed in a brightly lit area, you really have to look closely as the controls lack any backlighting whatsoever. While most would use Bluetooth 5,4 to connect with the speaker, you do get connectivity ports around the rear – a USB-A for plugging into a thumb drive to play MP3s (if you still have them around), a 3.5mm aux-in for wired playback and a Type-C port for charging…although a set of LEDs would have been nice to indicate current charge levels. Interestingly, there’s a pre-out port to connect an external subwoofer, a nod to the brand’s legacy in home audio equipment, but most would consider it excessive for a Bluetooth speaker. Handier is the ability to connect two Antaras in ‘Duet Mode’ for a more immersive audio experience. Peel back the layers and you’ll find two 2.5-inch drivers that work along with two 2.5-inch passive radiators and two 0.5-inch tweeters for a total rated power of 40W and a respectable soundstage for something this size. Used at moderate volumes, the 3,350mAh battery inside is rated for up to 12 hours of use, and charging via the bundled charging adapter takes a little under five hours to juice up the device completely. Music played off the Antara is clear and rich, if a little hamstrung on bass response. Not having a companion app means there is no way to customize the equalization to suit the music you’re playing, but there is inbuilt digital signal processing (DSP) equalization to cut out distortion even at high levels. This is a speaker best suited for personal listening to vocals, classical music or jazz, less so for hip hop or rock, unless of course, you have that sub-woofer handy.

Sound on: The best bluetooth speakers under Rs 25,000 -  This high quality speaker from the proudly Indian audio brand, Sonodyne, makes our list for its stellar audio performance and durable build. Positioned as a high fidelity stereo wireless music system, Bandish takes its name from the Hindustani Classical music term that refers to multiple instruments playing together. This 120W speaker will please sound aficionados with its crystal clear audio and Class D amplifiers. The remote control unit is a thoughtful addition while the highly rigid wooden cabinet minimises cabinet vibration. https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/my-kolkata/lifestyle/the-best-bluetooth-speakers-under-rs-25k-you-can-buy-right-now/cid/2069005

Wireless speakers come in all shapes and sizes and some even with smart functionality or voice inputs. The Sonodyne Malhar that we have for review today prefers to keep things simple and almost turns back time by a few years. Despite that, it would be rather unfair to call it just a wireless speaker, and the company rightly prefers to call it a high-fidelity music system. This may not be a product for all but there’s a lot to like about it.  If you have been thinking about a portable Bluetooth speaker, that’s not what we have here. Of course, it is Bluetooth 5.2 compliant and you can move it around; it weighs ’just’ 8 kgs. But a permanent spot in the room would be a better idea, and it needs to be plugged into a power socket at all times. The Malhar is fitted with four active speakers and two passive radiators. To be specific, it has two 5-inch glass-fiber cone woofers, two 1-inch silk-dome tweeters with Neodymium magnets and two 5-inch passive radiators for bass. Collectively they can deliver up to 180 Watts of sound output thanks to a Class D amplifier inside. The stated frequency response ranges between 40 Hz to 20 KHz. With the key specifications out of the way, it’s time to tell you what’s good and what’s not about this wireless speaker or Hi-Fi music system from the 50+ years old renowned Indian audio brand. What we liked about the Sonodyne Malhar The vintage design looks really cool It has a rectangular boxy design like the speakers of yore. A rugged wooden (MDF) cabinet with a glossy finish houses all the drivers and other circuitry. The woofers and tweeters are covered with metal grilles, adding to the vintage look. The uncovered passive radiators on the side also all to the aesthetics. Long story short, we liked the Malhar’s design and it made us a tad nostalgic. We got a black variant for review which looks sober. It comes in three more colour options which I believe would look cooler due to the distinct contrast with the black speaker grilles. Powerful sound output with ample detail as well as bass The Sonodyne Malhar makes good use of its size and components and delivers a powerful sound output. It is loud, punchy, with ample bass and excellent detail in audio as long as you play it loud enough. The soundstage is reasonably broad too. While you can use it for some soft nighttime listening, one can get the best out of it only beyond a particular loudness level where the three major frequency ranges play well collectively and the finer detail is distinctly audible. Soft listening is fine for vocal-heavy tracks or classical music. But for bass-heavy tracks, the bass feels slightly dominant and vocals as well as some instrument sounds seem a bit recessed till you push the volume higher. At the right loudness, it sounds great across various genres of music. It is loud enough and has ample thump for a mid to large sized room and one can easily use it for a house party. Another thing to note is that its performance on wired inputs is a notch or two higher than on Bluetooth. Multiple audio inputs Speaking of inputs, the Sonodyne Malhar has a bunch of options at the back. It has an optical in, a 3.5 mm aux input, Bluetooth 5.2 and one can also play audio through a USB drive. If you still have your old ‘legal’ MP3 collection, you can put it on a drive, plug it into the USB port and enjoy. The performance through USB is quite good, and even if you switch off the speaker, you can resume from the last track you played when you turn it back on.   Do plug it into the right USB port though. There’s a second USB port but that has been provided to charge devices like wireless earphones or smartwatches or even smartphones if you aren’t in a hurry to juice it up briskly.     Easy to use and comes with a full-function remote control One of the best aspects of the Sonodyne Malhar is its simplicity. There’s hardly any setup or a learning curve. Just power it up, choose the input source and you are good to go. There are physical buttons at the top of the speaker with an LED indicator, one for each input and function. It’s hard to go wrong with that. The company bundles a neat looking compact infrared remote control that gives you access to all the inputs and functions from the comfort of your seat. Yes, I may have a small issue with the remote that you will soon discover, but it covers all the key bases. What rains on its parade No sound customisations at all This point may sound somewhat contradictory to the previous one but it is what it is. Yes, sound tweaks or equalisers may feel intimidating for some but it is always great to have the option to finetune the audio to one’s taste. While the Sonodyne Malhar is tuned very well out of the box, something as basic as bass and treble controls would have worked well here and added to its old world charm along with the functionality. I wasn’t even suggesting a full-blown companion app with a multi-band equaliser, but just a couple more buttons on the remote wouldn’t have diminished its ease of use. Scant Bluetooth codec support We did not find the mention of the Bluetooth codec used here and we safely assume it’s SBC. A speaker of this class (and budget) certainly deserves a bit more bandwidth on the wireless front. While the speaker has multiple inputs, it is highly likely that Bluetooth will be the most commonly used option in this age. And its sound quality over Bluetooth is a notch or two lower than the wired options including playing audio from USB. A better codec like aptX or LDAC could have probably got more out of this product.   Could have used a couple of modern features We do understand that the theme is retro but I would have liked to see some modern tech for connectivity, especially given its selling price. And I don’t just mean the aforementioned codec support. Two things that would have benefited the Malhar are HDMI input and a Bluetooth remote instead of IR. The speaker is powerful enough to be used with TVs as a soundbar alternative. While you do have connectivity options like optical and aux inputs and even Bluetooth, HDMI would have yielded best results.   The desire for a Bluetooth or even a RF remote control instead of IR stems from a habit developed due to the use of smart TVs and streamers like the Amazon Fire TV Stick over the past few years. They have Bluetooth remotes that one can point anywhere, and not necessarily at a receiver, before pressing a button. With the Malhar, I had to take that extra effort and at times the input wouldn’t register from sharp angles. I may be nitpicking but a Bluetooth remote would have also allowed one to control the device from an adjacent room within the wireless range. Sonodyne Malhar: Price and verdict The Sonodyne Malhar is priced at Rs 31,999 and comes with a 2-year warranty. It does miss out on a few modern features like support for high throughput Bluetooth codec, Bluetooth remote or HDMI ARC input but it hits the bullseye with its sound quality. It is certainly not an alternative for a portable Bluetooth speaker or a party boombox, however, it can play both those roles well and with a touch of class.   If you are just looking for either of those things, you can get a lot of options for less than half its selling price. But if you are someone who appreciates the finer detail in music and looking for a high fidelity speaker with a fairly balanced sound output and a handful of connectivity options, the Sonodyne Malhar is something you should strongly consider.

Sonodyne Malhar - The wireless speaker with a thump Pranav Dixit, Business Today Powerful Audio Output - Delivers 180 watts of high fidelity sound ensuring immersive listening across various genres Precision drivers - Equipped with dual 5" glass fibre cone woofers and 1" neodymium magnet silk dome tweeters for deep bass and clear highs Dual Passive radiators - features two side mounted passive radiators that enhance low frequency response providing rich and detailed bass Multiple connectivity Options - Offers Bluetooth 5.0, USB Audio, Optical and Analogue stereo inputs, allowing seamless integration with various devices Duet mode for expanded soundstage - Link two Malhar speakers to create a wider soundstage, perfect for large spaces or enhanced stereo separation Elegant wooden cabinet - Crafted with a rigid MDF enclosure, and available in multiple finishes, it combines aesthetic appeal with acoustic performance User-friendly controls - Comes with an intuitive control panel and a full featured infra red remote for convenient operation Built-in limiter for distortion free sound - Incorporates a built-in limiter to prevent distortion, ensuring fatigue-free listening even at higher volumes Price & availablity - Sonodyne Malhar is available at www.sonodyne.com and is priced at Rs 37500   

I admit I’m partial towards Indian brands that can hold their own against global ones and stand tall in the face of intense competition. Sonodyne is one such brand and has built up a solid reputation in Hi-Fi systems and home audio. It has now ventured into Bluetooth speakers as well, with its portfolio including models that get their monikers from Indian classical music — Antara, Alaap, Bandish, and Malhar. The Antara is the entry-level model in the lineup and is currently listed at Rs 13,499. I gave it a listen over a few days to figure out how it fares. The Antara features a blocky, minimalist design, and comes in back or white colourways. My review unit is white, and looks nice with its glossy finish. The fit and finish are good, though there are some areas of improvement visible on close inspection — nothing that raises any red flags though. A black metal grille occupies most of the front, with a Sonodyne logo placed in the centre. The top has a strip of rubber that bears the controls for music playback, power, Bluetooth, volume and inputs. There’s no backlight for the controls though, and the rubber is prone to collecting dust particles, especially between the raised portion of the buttons. The sides have a pair of passive radiators. The design is IP65 rated for resistance against dust and water, so using it at the poolside shouldn’t be an issue. Measuring 250 x 86 x 98mm, the Antara isn’t too big and can be shoved inside a backpack, though the 1.5kg weight could make you think twice about doing that. At the back, a bunch of ports are hidden under a rubber flap. There’s a USB Type-A port for connecting a flash drive loaded with MP3 songs, a 3.5mm aux-in, and a Type-C port for charging. There’s also a pre-out for connecting an external subwoofer, if you so want. A charging indicator LED is also located on the back. It’s worth mentioning that Sonodyne includes a Type-A to Type-C cable and a charging adapter in the box, which is a nice touch. Not only does the speaker allow you to connect an external subwoofer, a pair of Antara speakers can be connected together in duet mode for a more immersive listening experience. Inside, the Antara has a couple of 2.5-inch drivers that work along with two 2.5-inch passive radiators and two tweeters to give you a stereo soundstage, with the total power rated at 40W. Wirelessly, the Antara works over Bluetooth 5.4, which is the latest BT standard and promises improved battery life and range. There’s no companion app though, and no way to customise EQ. There is, however, inbuilt DSP equalisation that ensures zero distortion. The 3,350mAh battery inside is rated for up to 12 hours of use, and needs about 4.5 hours via the bundled charging adapter. Straight off the bat, the Sonodyne surprises pleasantly with its clarity and richness. Pump up the volume to the max and it’s clear that the bass doesn’t have the punch some folks might prefer, especially with genres like EDM and rock. That said, the option to connect an external subwoofer via the pre-out port should be helpful in this case. Genres like classical and jazz shine with clear, rich sound that doesn’t distort even at max volumes. Priced at Rs 14,999 and currently listed online at Rs 13,499, the Sonodyne Antara seems better suited for personal listening than powering a party, and for specific genres / use cases… which isn’t a bad thing at all. As a wireless Bluetooth speaker, the Sonodyne Antara’s strengths lie in producing clear, distortion-free audio, along with providing ample connectivity options like a dedicated subwoofer pre-out and the ability to pair two speakers together. The solid build and IP65 rating help too. Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10 Clean, rich sound Ample connectivity options IP65 rated

While audio is a personal choice, at times buyers find them struggling to find that perfect speaker for home entertainment. Many fall short in terms of design, sound performance, or affordability, leaving enthusiasts searching for the speaker that ticks all the boxes. Made-in-India Sonodyne Malhar speaker aims to bridge the gap between classic aesthetics and modern functionality. Priced at Rs 37,500, the speaker features a wooden cabinet with two front- facing woofers and tweeters paired with side-faced dual passive radiators. In this review, we’ll explore whether the Malhar can indeed meet the high expectations of audio lovers looking for a reliable speaker or is it just another contender in the market.  Sonodyne Malhar design The Sonodyne Malhar 180-watt speaker features a ‘timeless design’ with a modern twist. It has an old-school, vintage-inspired look – a rectangular-shaped cabinet made from MDF wood with a glossy finish. This material choice gives the speaker both classic design and durability. Edges are sharp that give it a bold profile and adds to its vintage aesthetics. On top of the Sonodyne Malhar speaker, there’s a sleek control panel with physical buttons that offer direct access to essential functions like volume control, power on/off, play/pause, track forward/rewind, and mode selection between USB, optical, or Bluetooth. While the layout is intuitive, the buttons themselves are quite small, which adds to the speaker's minimalist aesthetic. Having said that we like to add that it may require a bit more precision during use. Despite their compact size, these buttons give the speaker a tactile, hands-on feel, complementing its blend of retro design. The speaker’s IR sensor on the front allowed us to control the device wirelessly via a remote that came bundled inside the box. Using the remote - which we must say is sleek and stylish – gets all the controls that are available in the control panel on the speaker that we just mentioned above. The Sonodyne Malhar speaker comes with two passive radiators placed on the sides to enhance the bass response. These radiators work by responding to the air pressure generated inside the speaker, delivering deeper and more powerful low frequencies. The woofer and tweeter units are placed on the front behind a metallic grille, enhancing the speaker’s vintage appeal as well as protecting the drivers. The company’s branding can be seen at the front bottom. The speaker’s rear side is home to inputs for AUX, Optical, USB along with the power input. A manual switch is also located on the back, allowing you to control the speaker's power while it remains plugged in. Now do note that the device weighs 8kg and you will be finding it tied to one place Overall, the speaker's design combines elegance, durability, and accessibility features, making it a worthy addition in your living room. Sonodyne Malhar audio performance Top-notch! The Sonodyne Malhar bluetooth speaker delivers an exceptional audio experience that truly stands out. Let’s quickly run through the technical info. The speaker is equipped with two 5-inch glass-cone fiber woofers, two 1-inch polycone tweeters, and dual 5-inch passive radiators. It has a D Class high power amplifier that goes up to 180 watt, producing loud sound that can fill even a big room. With its powerful woofer and precision tweeter, the speaker offers a remarkable balance of deep, resonant bass and crystal-clear highs, ensuring that every note is rendered with stunning clarity. The speaker's 5-inch dual passive radiators enhance the low-end response, providing a rich and immersive soundstage that fills the room. The Sonodyne Malhar speaker does true justice to its name by delivering exceptional performance. And of course, we started the audio test with Hindi classical music. We chose a Hindi classical playlist in the Spotify app and that is when we came across musical gems like Gaud Sarang and Dhani by Shruti Sadolikar, Ahir Bhairav by Buddhadev DasGupta and Muskurahte-Reprise by Shail Handa. These intricate melodies and rich nuances of ragas come alive with the Malhar speaker, making it an ideal choice for music admirers of this genre. For example, when listening to 'Gaud Sarang Dhani' by Shruti Sadolikar, the speaker's ability to render the delicate notes and subtle expressions is truly impressive. Similarly, 'Ahir Bhairav' by Buddhadev DasGupta showcases the Malhar's capacity to deliver depth and warmth in its sound, creating an immersive listening experience. Tracks like 'Jaa Kaga' and 'Muskurahte-Reprise' by Shail Handa highlight how the Malhar captures the emotional essence of each piece, making every song feel engaging. We also tested the speaker for other genre songs like Olivia Rodrigo's 'Good 4 U', and Therefore I Am by Billie Ellish. The Sonodyne Malhar speaker handled the energetic pop of 'Good 4 U' impressively, delivering punchy bass and crisp vocals. Meanwhile, 'Therefore I Am' showcased the speaker's ability to reproduce Billie Eilish's signature sound, with the subtle nuances coming through clearly. Sonodyne Malhar speaker will not disappoint you if you are an admirer of songs like Softly by Karan Aujla, Pasoori by Ali Sethi x ShaeGill or Hass Hass by Diljit Dosanjh. We also watched a couple of movies like the Do Patti on Netflix and the speaker surely added to the experience. Whether you're enjoying your favorite music or watching movies, the Malhar captures the full spectrum of sound, making every moment engaging and enjoyable. Verdict Sonodyne Malhar debuted with a price tag of Rs 37,500. But you can easily buy it below Rs 32,000 on Amazon and other platforms. At this price point, Malhar offers remarkable value for its combination of classic design, robust audio performance, and modern features. Its impressive bass response and clarity make it suitable for a variety of genres. Overall, the Sonodyne Malhar speaker is a worthy investment. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/reviews/sonodyne-malhar-review-classic-style-powerful-audio/articleshow/114878978.cms

IN HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL music, rang Malhar is associated with torrential rains. Some say that singing this collection of pitches can bring rain to the area. Sonodyne's Malhar might not possess that ability, but this high fidelity stereo wireless music system is disarmingly detailed and powerful, and does justice to an artist's musical creation by its ability to produce impressive sound. In particular, its soft and warm tone when played at a low volume is most soothing. At Rs 31,999, its high price tag might cause some people to shy away from it, however, take my word - the Malhar has a premium look and feel, and the sound quality is what makes this speaker special.    Sonodyne was started in the summer of 1970 by Ashoke Mukherjee, a bright young engineer from IIT Roorkee. Starting from a makeshift office in south Kolkata, the homegrown venture has since grown to be a well-known player in the high fidelity audio space. Its sound systems are installed in some of the leading retail chains, such as, Reliance, Future Group, Aditya Birla Group and H&M. Some of its popular speakers include Alaap and Bandish.  The Malhar is a handmade wooden speaker in semi-gloss white/black/red paint. Ideally located on a tabletop or the sideboard, it has a metal mesh for woofer and tweeter. It is somewhat heavy at around 8kg, but comes loaded with features. To begin with, it has output power of 180 watt and plays music from Bluetooth, USB, Optical and Aux inputs. It is compatible with a mobile phone and there are remote and on-speaker controls. The remote control features either side. These passive radiators assist the woofer in reproducing deep bass notes. I feel this is also an ingenious way to get a whole lot of extra oomph out of the sound system. The woofers are driven by a high power 2 channel Class-D amplifier. There are two separate 1-inch dome tweeters with neodymium magnet which ensure smooth, wide and extended high frequency response.   In actual usage, I connected the Malhar to my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and streamed music from the Spotify app. Without a doubt, the sound quality is impressive. There is a lot of depth and openness and a crystal clear sound. The speaker certainly offers much more stereo experience than many Bluetooth speakers from brands such as Sonos, Marshall or JBL Harman. However, I personally feel it's still not quite the same as listening to a pair of separate speakers that many people are more comfortable with. Both in terms of volume and bass performance, the Malhar is good. I also liked the fact that it sounded clearer and more natural, with a wider soundstage. It isn't as sleek or compact as a Bose system, but it still manages to produce good sound. Highly recommended.     KEY FEATURES - Hi-Fi stereo wireless music system - 180 watt output power - Optical, Aux, USB, Bluetooth connectivity - 12 × 5" woofer, 2 x 1” dome tweeter, 2x passive radiators - Wide stereo soundstage - Estimated street price: Rs 31,999

The Malhar isn't sold outside India, but if you're in the country and need a great Bluetooth speaker, it is the obvious choice.  https://www.androidcentral.com/accessories/audio/sonodyne-malhar-review

https://news.hybriques.com/review-of-sonodyne-malhar/ Over time, it seems most of us have lost the context of pure sound. What we are used to these days via our headphones, televisions, and Bluetooth speakers is a cacophony of amped-up bass and synthetic sounds. Yes, audio has to be a very personal choice, but it has to be a choice where a user decides this is exactly how they want to listen to their music. Every once in a while, an audio device comes along trying to underline the beauty of pure sound, which is more natural and live. The Sonodyne Malhar is clearly in that range of products.  The Malhar, manufactured by Sonodyne in Kolkata, is immediately noticeable when you take it out of the packaging. This one has a substantial 8 kg wooden cabinet that exudes a beatbox-like vibe and gives off the impression that it means business. Additionally, there’s a certain simplicity that makes people like me, who have been around for a while, feel a little nostalgic. Malhar boasts a wide soundstage with excellent fidelity, thanks to its two front-facing drivers and tweeters, which are surrounded by two side-facing radiators. The top of the cabinet has a number of buttons that allow you to change songs and volume in addition to input modes. Even the remote control is designed to prevent users from tinkering with the bass or treble levels on the Malhar. Easily switch between multiple sources that you can connect, including USB, optical, and auxiliary, based on what you have. Some audio devices give off vibes that make one want to listen to certain types of music on them. The Malhar clearly gave me Carnatic, Hindustani, and Leonard Cohen vibes, not just because of its name. And I was not wrong. The first playlist I went to was a Spotify Hindustani Classical playlist with many renditions of Ragas I had not even heard of, clearly a good sign for music discovery. Not one to be intimidated, I settled for Nirali Kartik’s familiar voice and a less familiar Gurjari Todi. Soon her voice was filling the living room and overpowering this year’s subdued December chill. But on the Malhar, her voice, the Tanpura in the backdrop, gets centre stage so that gets into a meditative state with the Todi, just as intended. The audio profile also has a warmth radiating from it, almost mellow, perfect for this time of the year. With a richer composition like Manasa Sancharare by Bombay Jayashree, the mrudangam comes into the mix, activating the radiators and telling us the speaker can handle deep lows really well too. But I could not help but feel I was enjoying her silken voice. That is how the soundstage of the Malhar stands out. And the Malhar is not content with just classical. When you listen to a live performance of Fever or Chantal Chamberlain’s Besame Mucho in HiFi, you can experience Malhar’s rich sound profile. This speaker excels at isolating the vocals from the rest of the sound. With the vocals slightly ahead of the instruments, the song appears to be projected in three dimensions. Interestingly, Apple Music and Spotify were being streamed over Bluetooth for all of this. To push the boundaries a little further, I downloaded Apple’s Classical Music app and looked up the London Philharmonic, who is once again up for Orchestra of the Year. Even though the volume was not at maximum, the Bach Concerto for Oboe, Strings, and Continuo was audibly powerful, filling the room even though it took a few seconds to load. The Vienna Philharmonic’s rendition of Mozart’s overture also produced a stereo effect that was striking, something that very few one-piece speakers could match. My house started to feel like Christmas all of a sudden. I continued so as not to leave my fifth-floor window’s neighbors wondering why there were reindeer outside. I loved the Malhar for its ability to stay true with renditions that switch from highs to lows, like with most of the orchestra compositions. And even at high volumes, the speaker does not struggle. There is a fullness to whatever the Malhar does so you will not be disappointed. My only complaint is that power lights are on top and often you can’t tell whether the speaker is on. And this means it stays connected to the phone without you realising it. The LEDs would be more useful on the front. Also, I would like to see a Wi-Fi version of this so that I can start streaming to the Malhar without the irritations of a hyperactive smartphone like mine. The Malhar, which retails for Rs 37,500, is the kind of speaker that appeals to people who value purity in music and who share that appreciation. I would spend money on a speaker like this for my weekend morning sessions, where I discover new music and revisit my favorite songs. The Malhar is the kind of speaker that could easily be mistaken for a European audio masterpiece. And the fact that this is coming from an Indian business that is speaking out and telling the world that it’s time to listen to us makes me proud.  

One of the best speakers I reviewed in recent times came from an Indian company – Sonodyne. Now, the company, launched by IITan Ashoke Mukherjee, has come up with a portable Bluetooth speaker that tries to bring its distinct audio profile to a larger audience. The Sonodyne Antara is compact and has a design that promises European sensibilities in a minimalist kind of way. Its enclosure is made of what seems like fibreglass with two radiators on both sides and a flap that opens to reveal the port options in the rear. The controls are on the top in what is a soft touch panel with LEDs to guide you about Bluetooth pairing and the like. The speaker has USB and USB-C ports along with AUX-in. Though compact, inside the Antara packs two subwoofers and dome tweeters, but all you see is the front grill in black. Also, this is a heavy speaker, not one you will put into your backpack for a sleepover with friends.

Bluetooth speakers have become an indispensable gadget segment. Everybody's got one somewhere by now. Whether you use your speaker around the house, or in the shower, or bring it to the park, or maybe you're one of those folks who keeps it on the balcony and shares music with everyone nearby. The thing about Bluetooth speakers is that once you buy one, there is no need to update for years, especially when the sound quality is good. No wonder, Sonodyne continues to invest heavily in the sound department. Everybody growing up in ’80s and ’90s India has heard of this brand, which has delivered in the era of big-box home loudspeakers with their full-bodied sound as much as it is offering now through portable speakers. After coming up with the excellent Malhar system a few years ago, the company, started in 1970 by IIT engineer Ashoke Mukherjee, has come up with Antara, a portable wireless music system that can be defined with two words — sound sorcery. Sound is constant Unlike the Apple HomePod or Bose SoundLink Max, Sonodyne is focussing on what matters — sound and sound alone. Innovation is restless but sound is constant.  The small, portable Sonodyne Antara sounds phenomenal, delivering true stereo sound. The company hasn’t crimped on the technology driving the 25cm x 8.6cm x 9.8cm sturdy wireless device: It comes with two 2.5-inch LF transducers (woofers) with 2.5-inch passive radiator and two HF drivers (tweeters). So a total of four drivers and two passive radiators create a rich soundstage. Antara delivers expansive sound with a surprising amount of bass and crucially, that low end isn't muddy or boomy, instead, everything about this speaker is rich, clear, and detailed. All this is very important: Recently we reviewed Sony ULT Field 1, which too is a good speaker but make no mistake, its bass output can overpower and kill a song like Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust or even something fresh out of recording studios — Sabrina Carpenter’s Please Please Please.   Whether you lay the speaker flat or carry it around, the sound is warm and surrounds the listener, which is quite unlike most of the offerings from a market that’s becoming stagnant. Consistency matters One may point out there’s no built-in microphone so you can't use it as a speaker phone. The point is: Who wants to take calls on a speaker? Even the Bose SoundLink Max speaker doesn’t have a microphone. But there is one feature that the Sonodyne speaker offers: You can connect two Antaras in “duet mode” for a more immersive sonic experience. Sonodyne has gone with Bluetooth 5.4, which is the latest version. One of the main improvements in Bluetooth 5.4 is the bi-directional communication with thousands of end nodes from a single access point. It also translates into energy efficiency, reliability with connection and better security. Range? It remains as good as before but there is better connectivity. Another feature you will find highlighted on the box if you choose to explore the product is DSP or digital signal processing technology. It’s integral to audio engineering that makes use of specialised mathematical algorithms to measure and modify digitised audio signals. Using DSP, the device can precisely manipulate digitised audio signals, besides using it to monitor and control audio signals presented to input and amplifier circuits. Like a race car is optimised for a certain type of racing, the audio DSP is optimised to process audio data efficiently and accurately. The hardware translates into rich sound quality, which is ultimately what makes this speaker special. The passive radiator enhances bass performance and, at the same time, there is some fancy digital processing to reduce distortion, even at high volumes. The speaker holds up together quite well. Sonodyne has done a good job creating a wider sound stage than you'd expect with the max giving sound more depth and openness. It offers more of a stereo experience than many Bluetooth speakers that claim to be stereo speakers. Sonodyne Malhar, the bigger brother, has a more booming sound but Antara doesn’t fall far behind, both in terms of volume and bass performance. It certainly ticks all the boxes to become a companion for a pool party, besides filling a small- to medium-sized room, taking up very little space. Should you buy it? Despite the size, the sound is big. Personally, I don’t care for a Bluetooth speaker to have a companion app as long as the soundstage is accommodating. This one can be moved from room to room or carried outside. The choice of ports is also worth noticing: Aux In, Pre Out, USB and USB-C charging. The 3,350mAh battery can offer up to 12 hours of playtime and there is IP65 rating, ensuring you can use the speaker outside. The only thing I find missing is a handle, which can be useful to carry the 1.5kg speaker around. Overall, Sonodyne Antara definitely helps the listener escape the boundaries inherent in streaming audio over Bluetooth to a small speaker.This is affordable sonic sorcery. At a glance Device: Sonodyne Antara Price: Rs 14,999 High notes ** Sounds excellent for its compact size ** Battery life is very good ** Comes with Bluetooth 5.4 ** Sturdy and has IP65 rating Muffled note ** A handle on the speaker would have made it easier for those on the move By Mathures Paul Published:29 Jun 2024, 8:39PM

Long before vocal for local became part of the political discourse, Kolkata-based audio brand Sonodyne has been making its presence felt in professional studios, concert venues, and the living rooms of audio connoisseurs across the country for over 50 years. The brand has a loyal following among listeners who prefer their music just 'as the artist intended' with no added flavouring

Sonodyne is an Indian brand many of us (and some of our parents) grew up with, and my earliest memories of the brand date back to the late ’80s/ early ’90s, when I used to regularly visit an uncle in Kolkata who was a big fan of the brand and its single-minded focus on recreating music “as the artist intended”. Fast forward to 2024, and while the brand continues to serve the serious audiophile and pro-studio markets, it’s their Bluetooth wireless speaker range that caught my eye, specifically the most powerful in their range, the aptly named Malhar (after the raga, Malhar which, as the myth goes, has the power to induce thunder and rain). Not one for slimline aesthetics, the Malhar resembles a cajón (or a clapbox as many may know it), an immediate throwback to when audio equipment was engineered for producing clean sound, first and foremost. With its wooden cabinet, classic aesthetics and all, the 8-kilogram Malhar is pleasing on the eye, but it demands pride of place — it’s not one to disappear into the décor. Around the front are two 5” glass-fiber cone drivers accompanied by two 1” tweeters, and the sides have two 5” passive radiators. Inputs are all clustered towards the rear, with optical, aux, USB ports along with a handy 5V DC USB port to charge a phone while it’s connected to the speaker. Controls to switch between these inputs and change tracks/volume are all on the top and are mirrored on the supplied remote. No buttons to fiddle around with bass/treble settings (intentionally so to retain the original feel of the track), and I would have preferred the indicator LEDs to be more visible, so you know the speaker is on or which input is selected. No app or Wi-Fi connectivity, which one starts expecting at this price point. Any reservations you may have had subside the moment you start playing music on the Malhar. Irrespective of genre, the speaker stands up and delivers, with a balanced sonic signature that accurately renders the highs, mids and lows without colouring the audio, so to speak. Streaming tracks as varied as Simon and Garfunkel to the Beach Boys to some of AR Rahman’s classics, Malhar reproduces the tracks damn near flawlessly across its wide 40Hz – 20kHz frequency range. Throw in some punchier tracks and bump up the volume, and you really have to wake up the neighbours before the speaker starts showing the slightest hint of distortion at the top end. Worth noting as well is the expansive soundstage and the open quality to the playback. At its price, Malhar is likely to appeal to audio purists, and despite its name, this truly is a speaker for all seasons. The ‘Made in India since 1970’ is bonus appeal. Rating: 8/10 Price: INR 37,500

Very nice and compact bookshelf speakers, excellent sound without any coloration to original sound recordings, low distortion levels in speakers.

I am really really satisfied with the soulful sound. Good value for money I spent.

Very soulful sound. I am quite satisfied with its performance.

Have grown up always envying of owning a Sonodyne.Bose was not so widely available in the 70/80's and used to be frightfully expensive. But now after so many years I had the opportunity to own one ....a dream fulfilled. Like an excited teenager I listened to it till 12.30 pm yesterday forcing some of my neighbours to sleepless night... marvelous experience , just what I was wanting. Thanks

Simply brilliant. Outstandingly clear and outsmarts many famous foreign brands in its catagory. I am extremely happy that I chose Malhar.

The speaker make and feel is classy. The name plate looks simple and cheap like a monogram stuck on the cabinet. Better the name would have been embossed in golden shade would have given it still better look. The punch or thump is less than what I expected from a 35000 only speaker. Long back I use to own the Sonodyne stereo system which had a stereo amplifier with equilizer, cassette layer which use to sound mind blowing. What I wanted to say was that 35000 is big price am paying for a Bluetooth speaker only. A stereo amplifier with two speakers cost nearly the same but will sound bigger. Sorry if I have hurt someone. Tried to be as Frank as possible.

Audio quality of Malhar is outstanding and fantastic.

I am blown away by the Bandish. It really sounds like a good music system!

For audiophiles, Sonodyne has been a legendary Make in India brand, & the Bandish offers 120W of pure grade sound!

The Bandish is an incredible handcrafted bluetooth speaker!

I like the white colour Bandish, the sound & how easy & accessible it is to enjoy an immersive listening experience!

These bluetooth speakers provide mesmerising, soulful sound for all music genres!

A classic BT speaker that sounds better than any competition at this price!

"a classic BT speaker that sounds better than any competition at this price."  ~ Nishant Padhiar, STUFF MAGAZINE

I am an avid enthusiast of music and high-end music systems. I was very pleased to hear some of my favourite tracks, Rock, Pop, Classical, electronic sounds on Sonodyne's excellent range of Bluetooth speakers, Alaap and Bandish. As an existing owner of their SRP series monitors, I expected the same level of perfection from the Alaap and Bandish and was not disappointed. True stereo separation, high-fidelity sound reproduction via a distortion-free signal path, wide and excellent frequency response, crisp highs and deep lows. All driven by a powerful class D amplification. I can truly say that this range from Sonodyne are among the very few hi-fi Bluetooth speakers available today, and are a perfect offering for a company with such a rich history of hi-fi electronics, now poised for the present and future of streaming, compact, high-fidelity music. All this in an excellent enclosure, the wooden hand built one being my personal favourite.

Bought the product more for nostalgia and the wooden box design. The sound quality is okay but that’s what one can expect from a product of this price range. Overall satisfied.

The sound output for that size is astonishing. It fills the room. A perfect buy for someone looking at a 5.1 in a living room

I am very happy for Sonodyne Systems

Sonodyne products are excellent.

Impressive audio product by an Indian company….super sound reproducing all frequencies from low to mid to high!

I am satisfied. The outside noise is taken care and music sounds really cool. Looks good and I think it’s a good deal.

I have purchased it from sonodyne dealer at Kolkata with 8.1k & l am extremely satisfied with the performance. I have listened a no. of speakers and headphones so far. Denon around 33k single drum speaker is my first preference within 40k, Bose Companion 50 is the 2nd most beautiful product which l bought at 31k. Now if we expect some headphone within 10k there may be a dozen but they might not the world class products except this one. If you go for Bose you have to be very careful while selecting coz not all headphones have the same quality and those are beyond reach ( above 25k),Still Bose is Bose, but this headphone has some exceptional clarity, bass and modest depth. This is the first choice to those who prefer to listen Rock, Drums loud music and for soothing songs you have to balance your output through equalizer. Now coming to its other technical aspects it is the most updated product with all advantages,Auto noise cancellation, good battery life and connectivity , foldable and have Aux also. If you can go for any Bluetooth headphone within 6-8 k go for it. Sonodyne is the ultimate name in sound production in parallel with Bose and Denon.

These headphones have excellent noise cancellation. I was worried because they weren’t priced as high as other noise cancellation headphones and thought the performance may be less than the others but I was extremely surprised once I started using them. These are great and I highly recommend them to anyone wanting great sounding, comfortable headphones ????

A sturdy product. Beautiful wooden build and pristine sound. I love listening to it and I love looking at it. Thank you.

It is great to see Sonodyne entering the wireless market with such fantastic products that don’t just look classy but also deliver clean, crisp sound. Added to this is the fact that the Bandish is Made in India. It makes me proud to own an Indian product made by one of the oldest Indian companies. I recommend this highly. Well done Sonodyne and best of luck, I’m rooting for you!

I was searching for a good quality Bluetooth Speaker under Budget Rs.25000/-. Suddenly, I found that Sonodyne has launched two new bluetooth speakers 1. Aalaap and 2. Bandish. I could not resist myself. I purchased Bandish. After listening to music and watching movie connecting my Bandish, I was spellbound. What a crystal clear sound quality is!! Each and every note of a music can be heard even in a very low volume. Wonderful voice celerity. Build quality is another aspect. No other such produce has this type of built-quality and finish. All is made of wooden. No one will be disappointed. Balanced bass. I can rate it as follows: Sound 5/5 Built & Finish 5/5 Connectivity 5/5

Finishing is not at par, looks old and used. But it's handcrafted single piece wooden frame with super acoustics...Just awesome, music only device.

I have been using Sonodyne products from the 1990's starting with the Uranus 2B integrated amp and direct drive turntable. Followed in the early 2000s by the Sonus set of speakers powered by a NAD receiver in a 5.1 configuration. That gave up the ghost after 3 years and was replaced by the just launched preamp and amp in a 6.1 configuration manufactured in-house. Apart from a few hiccups into its 12th year the system still delivers well. However the way of listening to music has changed dramatically. It's all in the clouds now so to say. Chinese speakers are flooding the market when it comes to catering to this segment. A few ones are really vfm products with appreciable sound quality. But true audio quality comes at a premium. The Bandish fulfills on that count. Another Bengali named multinational in the audio business arguably makes fantastic sound systems but comes up hopelessly short on after sales, although truth be said Sonodyne does not exactly shine in that respect, and I speak from personal experience. ( I registered my product online about 10 days back but am yet to receive an acknowledgement of any sort) But I digress. Coming to the product. Sound 4/5, a bit bass heavy which is not bad in itself but the bass is muddy. Rest managed with equalization. Finishing 3/5. The idea was good but bad workmanship all around, be it the finish of the wooden cabinet, the back panel, the feet, everything. Aural fatigue on long time listening - well, not tried yet but very doubtful. Also not tried the optical input so can't comment on the quality of the DAC. Overall, a good piece for casual listening, but much room for improvement in the finishing.

After having demo'd several bluetooth speakers, I happened to come across this new retro looking speaker from Sonodyne at Starmark Kolkata. Having grown up with Sonodyne, I was expecting the sound would be extremely detailed and balanced and I was extremely happy that turned out to be the case. The Alaap now sits in my living room and is definitely the new centre of attraction.

 I was looking for good sounding headphones with active noise cancellation for my meetings. I auditioned Senheisser, Sony, and Marshall, and they were all quite good. I found the Sonodyne to be quite good for music and excellent for ANC and voice clarity for meetings. I am quite happy with this product and would recommend it if you love listening to music. 

At ₹45,000/- retail price, Sonodyne Micro 5.1 Speaker Package is surely going to make its market share higher by reducing the shares of Polk TL-1600 and Elac Cinema 5 package. This high power and tight punch package is ideal for room sizes ranging from 100 sq ft to 220 sq ft. You can combine them with any atmos ceiling speakers around ₹15,000/- and enjoy the best 3D Surround Sound experience in your homes with your TVs.

The SRP 400 is not a good 4.5" monitor... it’s a great 4.5" monitor.

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The SRP 600 retail for $775 each but I feel like overall they sound a little more expensive that that. 

I love Sonodyne. I love the quality of the product for the price you pay, they never let me down, you have to find your Sonodyne product for your own taste but you will never find a better product for the price.

As the crown jewel of the Indian hi-fi manufacturing industry, Sonodyne has been at the top of its game for a while now.

With the SRP 800, Sonodyne has another highly professional monitor in the program. The 8 "system impresses with very good readings and excellent sound characteristics.

What I can say is that these Sonodyne SRP800s are exactly what I wanted.

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In real terms, however, the SRP 202 "measures" better than the manufacturer promises

At this price point there is no other speaker I tested that delivers that kind of sound for the money =>700 US$/pair. The sound/money ratio is impressive!

Since its inception in the early 70s, Sonodyne is a company that has been at the forefront of the innovative Indian professional audio market

Sonodyne are a true underdog of professional studio monitoring. The company produces professional and consumer level products as well as servicing cinemas, permanent installations and music studios.