Review Ikea Symfonisk table lamp: light on, sound on

The Ikea Symfonisk table lamp with built-in active Sonos speaker has appeared in new shapes and with improved sound technology. The round base with control buttons has disappeared and the buttons have been moved to the back. The rather large mechanical button for operating the lamp has been replaced by a small electronic push button on the front. The basic units are available in light gray and almost black. The covering of the middle section, the loudspeaker part, is finely woven than in the first series and now looks nicer. The glass shades are available in white or dark glass. In addition, for the light and dark model, there is a light textile shade with a diffuser around the lamp and a shade with vertical gray or dark stripes around it. The fitting has grown from E14 to E27, which means more options. More choice and more chic versions.

SOUND
Sound-technically, the new model sounds audibly more dynamic and transparent, the round beam effect has remained. It is a pity that the app indicates that the old and new versions are not compatible and can therefore not be configured as a stereo pair. Control is possible from the app with internet radio stations, Spotify, Apple’s Airplay 2, Plex, Synology DS Audio and many other possibilities, including remote control via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

INSTALLATION AND USE
The installation is very simple. As soon as the lamp is plugged in, the unit is already found by the Sonos app and you can pair it via NFC or by entering the serial number. Once that’s done, it checks for a software update and installs it. Then, when using an iOS phone or tablet, the Trueplay calibration allows you to match the sound to the room in which the device is located. In the settings you can set high and low to your own taste and loudness activate, adjusting the sound to sound full at low volumes. The unit is suitable for control from – the Zigbee-based – IKEA Home Smart with a separately available remote control.

Summarized: good sound technology for not too high volumes and, if the models match your interior, a nice lamp for a good price. For Ziggo subscribers who have lost the analog FM and do not yet have a good alternative, this is a recommended replacement.

Product: Ikea Symfonisk table lamp (2nd gen.)