Sonos Ikea Symfonisk review: the best of both worlds

Sonos and Ikea have created a speaker together. And the funny thing is that you can also use this speaker as a bookshelf. But how good is this speaker actually? Read all about it in our Symfonisk review!

Symfonisk review

The Symfonisk series is a striking collaboration between two well-known names. On the one hand you have Sonos, known for their excellent audio products. And then there is Ikea, which you know from the cabinets that you have to assemble yourself (sometimes swearing).

Together they have now come up with the Symfonisk series, a number of excellent WiFi speakers for an affordable price. In this review you can read more about the Symfonisk WiFi bookshelf speaker (the second generation). 109 euros.

Well finished design

The Symfonisk WiFi bookshelf speaker is available in black and white. In the box you will find two cables: an Ethernet cable and a power cable. The power cable is a braided (nylon) cable and we would like to see that more often. That just looks a bit nicer.

The cable is neatly concealed in the slots on the back of the speaker, making it easier to place it against the wall. But it is of course a shame that a power cable is absolutely necessary, as it cannot be used wirelessly.

The bookshelf speaker can be placed horizontally or vertically, which is nice. It also looks quite robust and chic. The rectangular Symfonisk is a bit higher than a HomePod 2023, but less wide. Furthermore, the speaker has three physical buttons with which you can make the sound louder or softer or start and pause the music.

Installation: done in no time

To use the Symfonisk you must install the accompanying app from Sonos on your iPhone. The installation is very easy and takes no time at all, but you do need to create a (free) Sonos account if you don’t have one yet. During installation you can choose to install this speaker alone or add it to another set of speakers (from Sonos) if you have one.

Once you have done that, you can use the smartphone to further adjust the sound of the speaker using TruePlay. Your speaker will then be adjusted correctly to the place where you placed it.

After setting up, we noticed that the sound sounds a bit ‘fuller’. But if you move the speaker afterwards, you’ll have to run TruePlay again. Keep this in mind if you are not yet sure where you want to place the speaker.

You can then add the speaker to Apple’s Home app. Unfortunately, this is not possible by scanning a QR code, but you have to do it manually. So open the Apple Home app and then select ‘New accessory’. Then ‘More options…’ and then where you placed the speaker. Adding it is simple enough, but can of course be made easier, as with many devices, using a QR code.

Once you have done that, you can use Siri on your iPhone to give commands and it works as you expect. For example, you can say that you want to listen to Queen music in the living room. Just wait a few seconds and the music starts. That works great!

And this is what it sounds like…

The sound of the Sonos Symfonisk sounds very good. We compared it with the HomePod 2023 and we have to admit that Apple’s ‘music ball’ has a little more power and better bass sound. In terms of sound, it certainly blows away the HomePod mini, which at € 108.95 is in a comparable price range.

You should not forget that the HomePod 2023 is also considerably more expensive (349 euros). The sound quality of the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker is slightly lower than that of the HomePod 2023, but the price is considerably lower. Funny detail: the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker in this review has recently become a bit cheaper and now costs only 109 euros.

You can also connect two Symfonisk speakers together. The sound will then sound even better. The difference with a single HomePod 2023 then becomes even smaller. And even if you buy two of these bookshelf speakers, they are still cheaper than the HomePod 2023. This connection is done via the Sonos app or AirPlay 2.

Are you planning to buy the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker? Then it is best to place it against the wall, on a cupboard. Or attach to a wall with the holder that can be purchased separately. The bass tones then sound better and that improves the sound.

No Bluetooth, with plug

It is a shame that this speaker does not support Bluetooth. So you cannot directly connect your iPhone to the speaker. The speaker also does not work without a plug. So you can’t just take it to an outdoor party without arranging a power point and WiFi.

Of course, there are also advantages to the Symfonisk using your WiFi (or Ethernet) to stream. You will then have virtually no problems with disruptions, delays and interruptions that often occur with Bluetooth. But it would be nicer if both options were possible.

With or without shelf

As mentioned, you can attach the speaker to the wall like a kind of bookshelf with the wall mount. You have to buy that separately 14.99 euros. You will then receive a silicone mat to place on the speaker.

You also have the option to use the Symfonisk in combination with a charging board to buy. You can then attach the speaker to the wall with a bracket and have a wireless charger in the shelf below. A smart idea, but it depends very precisely on how you place the smartphone.

So are you planning to hang the speaker? Then take the wall mount. Or put it on a bookshelf yourself.

Conclusion review Symfonisk bookshelf speaker

As you may have already noticed, we are very pleased with the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker from Sonos and Ikea. The sound is good. Pretty good even if you keep the reasonable price in mind.

It works with Apple Home and can easily be incorporated into a multi-room setup. The operation is simple and the speaker looks very nicely finished. What else do you want?

It is a shame that you cannot connect directly to Bluetooth. In addition, a plug is always necessary and that is sometimes difficult to conceal if you use it as a bookshelf on the wall.

You can also buy the speaker with an extra shelf as a wireless charger. That idea is nice, but the place where you have to place the iPhone is quite precise. If you do not place the iPhone exactly on it, it will not charge. That quickly causes irritation. Then it is better to buy the Symfonisk speaker separately, with a separate MagSafe charger.