Ifirst saw the Showfeel A1 Bluetooth speaker from Showfeel a few years ago at the audio exhibition in the Grand Hotel. Two things attracted me: one was the elegant arrangement of the room, and the other was the impressive low-frequency performance of the small Bluetooth speaker, which sounded as if it had a small subwoofer. I asked the vendor, Mr. Zhou from Showfeel: “Aren’t you from Shantou? How could you arrange the room so tastefully? Did you bring the decor items for the exhibition?” He replied that he studied design and his company is a design firm, not an audio company; the furnishings and lighting in the room were things he bought from IKEA.Aesthetic Bluetooth SpeakerIt was hard to believe that a manufacturer of Bluetooth speakers from Shantou could have such an aesthetic level. I asked him about the name “Showfeel”; he said it means high-quality items for home that can enhance the quality of living and enjoyment of life. Thus, the English name Showfeel also implies “quietly showing off”. Hmm, quite a unique company.
A2 features a 2.5-inch full-range driver and a 4-inch driver for sub-bass.Outstanding Low-Frequency PerformanceWhy does their A1 Bluetooth speaker produce such remarkable low frequencies? I was curious. He said the secret lies in a 5.25-inch passive radiator (essentially a fake speaker) located at the bottom of the enclosure, which is their core technology. This passive radiator extends the low frequencies produced by a 4-inch “super paper cone” (responsible for frequencies below 100Hz) and enhances the overall volume. Additionally, there are two 2-inch PP diaphragm full-range drivers responsible for 100Hz-20kHz. I asked what the bandwidth is; he replied that the low frequency reaches 26Hz and the high frequency reaches 20kHz. How is that possible? Even large speakers struggle to reach 26Hz. To be honest, I don’t believe such specifications; at the extremes, there might be a drop of over ten dB, right? But that doesn’t matter; what’s important is how it sounds. How much does this Bluetooth speaker cost? Initially, it was under 10,000 TWD, but the price has increased.
A2 has a 5.25-inch passive radiator at the bottom, which is key to its rich bass.Specially Designed Passive RadiatorWhy is this 5.25-inch passive radiator considered core technology? Mr. Zhou explained that it has a heavy metal plate inside, designed according to the resonant frequency of the entire enclosure, allowing the passive radiator’s diaphragm to be driven by the resonant frequency. Moreover, the suspension of this 5.25-inch passive radiator is unique; while most speaker drivers use a convex or concave semicircular shape for the suspension, this one has a combination of a convex and a concave semicircular structure. When this driver vibrates back and forth, the two suspensions counteract and expand, providing excellent control. Typically, single suspension drivers experience increased distortion at long excursions, but Showfeel’s dual suspension design maintains low distortion even at long excursions.Home IntegrationWell! A Bluetooth speaker priced just over 10,000 TWD is not cheap, but their Bluetooth speaker has a design that exudes Nordic style, featuring curved lines and a horizontal layout, which young people should appreciate. Mr. Zhou mentioned that this design intentionally aims to “de-emphasize the audio aspect” so that the Bluetooth speaker can blend into home decor, serving as a decorative element.Later, I saw Showfeel’s Bluetooth speakers multiple times at audio exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore’s Hi-End Asia, and Taiwan. This time (December 2024), I couldn’t resist asking Mr. Zhou if I could keep a pair to listen to closely. If they sound just as good for music in stereo, we could report on it.A2 in the magazine’s listening room, with the stand being the original factory stand.Improved and Premium VersionsHowever, the Bluetooth speaker exhibited this time, although visually the same, is now labeled as A2, and is divided into A2 Improved and A2 Premium Improved versions. The so-called improved version features a Qualcomm Bluetooth 5.0 chip. The premium version has a black ebony wood veneer with piano lacquer, and the drivers have also been upgraded; the 2-inch full-range driver has been changed to a 2.5-inch driver, now using neodymium magnets. Mr. Zhou mentioned that the newly launched A2 Improved version is priced at 13,400 TWD each, significantly more than the original. The black ebony wood version is even pricier, reaching 20,000 TWD each. The stand on-site costs 3,800 TWD each.
A2 in my office, note the impressive thickness of the stand’s top plate.What Has Evolved?What are the differences between the improved version A2 and the original A1 version? Mr. Zhou said: First, the premium version has upgraded the original 2-inch full-range driver to a 2.5-inch driver. Second, the premium version’s magnetic system now uses neodymium magnets. Third, both the improved and premium versions have upgraded the Bluetooth chip from version 4.2 to version 5.0, supporting aptX HD. Fourth, the built-in D-class amplifier power has increased from the original 60 watts (15 watts for each full-range driver and 30 watts for the subwoofer) to 67 watts (16.5W×2 and 34W×1). Fifth, the original wood veneer was PVC, now upgraded to high-grade mahogany and black ebony piano lacquer. Sixth, the grille material has changed from burlap to wool. Seventh, the packaging has also been improved, presented in a gift box design. Additionally, the entire enclosure is sealed with silicone to prevent any air leaks. With so many improvements, it’s no wonder the price has skyrocketed.Factory Designed StandAfter the audio exhibition, Showfeel left us with two A2 Premium Bluetooth speakers, but the triangular speaker stands were not left behind; he said they were not ideal and not stable enough. He would send us a pair of speaker stands later for us to use. Two weeks later, we received very heavy stands, with a thick metal plate on top and a cylindrical base, with a large round plate in contact with the ground. These stands are very heavy, which should help with sound performance, but I think the original tripod stands look better.I listened to this pair of A2 Bluetooth speakers both individually and in pairs; I tested them in my office cabinet, in the magazine’s listening room, and on the speaker stands in my office. First, I will discuss the results from the listening room. This room has many sound-absorbing and diffusing devices, along with various audio equipment, which absorb much of the sound energy emitted by the speakers. Clearly, the sound energy from the two A2s is limited and gets absorbed by various items in the listening room, making the sound too dead and evidently lacking in energy. The conclusion is: the A2 Bluetooth speaker of this size is not suitable for use in a sound-absorbing and diffusing audio room; it is more suitable for general home spaces.
A2‘s grille fabric is made of wool.Small Space is SufficientNext, in my office (4.15×3.70 meters), using just one A2, the sound energy is enough to fill the entire office. When pairing two A2s, the sound energy is even stronger, making it sufficient for listening to various music, almost like listening to music with traditional bookshelf speakers. In my office, I tried placing it on my cabinet, and the sound performance was excellent; placing it on the stands provided by Showfeel also yielded great sound. As for how much better it sounds on the stands? I think it’s just a bit better because my cabinet is quite large and has a solid top, so placing the A2 on it does not cause strong vibrations.By the way, since the A2 has a downward-firing passive radiator, it is not suitable to place on soft surfaces; unstable tables are also not suitable. It must be placed on a very stable surface, such as a marble table, thick glass table, or luxurious kitchen countertop, to achieve good low-frequency response.If you only want to use one A2, aside from the aforementioned restrictions, you can place it anywhere because a single A2 is a beautiful Bluetooth speaker. Can you use a speaker stand for one A2? Yes, but it depends on your needs; however, I think it’s unnecessary. Just find a suitable corner and place it on a sturdy surface to produce good sound.
This is the back panel of the A2, which can be used in Mono or Stereo mode.When Used in StereoIf you want to pair two A2s for left and right channel use, speaker placement becomes crucial; it’s best to place them against a wall and use the original factory stands. However, please do not use traditional ugly bookshelf speaker stands, as that would ruin the aesthetic of the A2. You can also place the A2s in your bookshelf, making them true “bookshelf speakers”.Next, the key point: what performance capabilities can the A2 exhibit when used as stereo speakers? First, let’s not forget that the A2 is a “Bluetooth” speaker; although the Qualcomm Bluetooth chip is of high quality, the transmission rate of Bluetooth music is still far from that of CDs or high-resolution music files.Suitable for Home SpacesHowever, even so, when I listen to the A2, I do not feel that the sound density is lacking (because my office is not large), and I find the sound quality quite good. Why do I say the sound quality is quite good? Because I played classical music, testing with violin, cello, piano, vocal, string quartet, and orchestral music. The violin’s tone is beautiful, the piano has a strong presence, the cello’s woody flavor is charming, and the string quartet sounds great; however, the scale of large orchestral music is still limited. A pair of small Bluetooth speakers can allow me to listen to classical music without sounding thin or sharp, and the beauty of various instruments can be presented, which is no small feat.When I listen to pop or jazz music, the low-frequency performance indeed surpasses most Bluetooth speakers, with ample volume; I should say it even surpasses typical small bookshelf speakers, and it can also deliver the necessary bounce, which is truly amazing. However, the explosive power and instantaneous response cannot compare to traditional speakers. Due to the sufficient low-frequency volume and the extended tail, listening to most pop music is satisfying.Hi-End Bluetooth SpeakerIn conclusion, for a single A2 Bluetooth speaker, it performs quite well in small spaces, while in larger spaces, it should only be used for background music. If using two A2s as left and right channels, the price of the standard pair definitely exceeds the value of two bookshelf speakers plus an amplifier and source. As for whether it can outperform active DSP bookshelf speakers? That remains to be seen.When using it, if you also consider hiding the power cables well, leaving only the two beautiful A2s visible in a small space, it truly fulfills the “Showfeel” function. The Showfeel A2 is a Bluetooth speaker crafted with a Hi-End spirit, and it comes highly recommended.Specifications:Bluetooth speaker. Bluetooth 5.0, compatible with aptX HD, featuring two 2.5-inch full-range drivers and one 4-inch subwoofer, along with one 5.25-inch passive radiator. Built-in power of 67 watts, bandwidth of 26Hz-20kHz, dimensions of 320×200×162mm, and a net weight of 3.9 kg.Manufacturer: Shantou Weimei Design Co., Ltd.