For the past couple of months, my studio has been echoing with the sound of something truly different: the AIAIAI Unit-4 Wireless+ monitors. My first impression? Conflicted. These aren’t just good-looking boxes; we’re talking serious studio monitors packing 4-inch woofers and silky 1-inch tweeters that deliver a crisp, balanced sound. But the real kicker, the reason these command an $800 price tag for a pair, is their freedom. Forget Bluetooth as an afterthought – the Unit-4 boasts AIAIAI’s rock-solid, low-latency 2.4Ghz wireless tech, the same system that wowed us with the Studio Wireless+ a while back. And the best part? Ditch the power cord. With a beefy battery under the hood, these monitors will pump out pure audio bliss for up to 20 hours on a single charge.
I scoffed at the Studio Wireless+. “Wireless studio monitors?” I thought. A solution to a problem that didn’t exist. Then, freedom sang. No more Medusa’s head of coiled cable strangling my audio interface. The Unit-4, however, faced a steeper climb. My existing PreSonus monitors? Their cables are practically invisible ninjas. They don’t hinder my guitar grabs or synth shelf raids. The Unit-4, it seemed, was laser-focused: delivering pristine studio sound outside the studio walls. The question was, did Ineedsound that pristine,thatmobile?
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Unit-4 Wireless+
Unit-4 Wireless+ monitors: sonic brilliance meets stunning design. But be warned, their innovative features and premium price tag carve out a decidedly exclusive niche for discerning ears. Are yours among them?
Pros
- Stylish minimalist looks
- Relatively flat frequency response
- Incredibly long lasting battery
- Unique low-latency wireless
Cons
- Expensive
- Niche appeal
- Slight noise using minijack over W+ at higher volumes
$799 at Perfect Circuit
Frankly, I rarely find myself in this predicament. Road-worn musicians, those sonic nomads perpetually chasing the next gig, would undoubtedly grasp the allure instantly. But for a weekend warrior like myself, unearthing a genuine need? That’s the challenge.
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Forget the “why” for a moment. Let’s talk about “what” AIAIAI is up to. They’ve built their name on headphones, and the predictable move would be studio monitors. But let’s be honest, the market is flooded with them, many surprisingly good for the price. AIAIAI isn’t about adding to the noise. They’re after something different, something uniquely AIAIAI.
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Forget tangled cables. When asked what would revolutionize their workflow, some artists surprisingly craved wireless freedom – specifically, monitors untethered from power outlets. Enter a clever solution: a pair of 4-inch studio monitors powered by W+ Link, the low-latency tech originally crafted for the Studio Wireless+. Bluetooth’s latency headaches, bouncing from a tolerable 40ms to a lag-filled 100ms+, are banished. W+ Link delivers a rock-solid 16ms. Zero latency? Not quite. But close enough to ignite spontaneous recording sessions and electrify casual jams.
Don’t expect earth-shattering bass from these diminutive speakers. Bumping up to 5-inch woofers unlocks noticeably richer low-end frequencies. However, the Unit-4s aren’t entirely gutless. They deliver a respectable punch and a relatively neutral frequency response. Still, similar to the Studio Wireless+, I perceive a slightly shadowed timbre.
Fortunately, both iOS and Android users can sculpt their sound with a dedicated app, putting EQ control at your fingertips. In my attic studio, a gentle scoop in the mids and a subtle trim of the sub-bass breathed newfound clarity into the audio, banishing any muddiness. But the app’s brilliance extends beyond personalized tweaks; intelligent presets adapt the sound profile to your environment, whether they’re stationed horizontally on your desk or soundtracking a sun-drenched picnic.
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Forget sonic neutrality for a moment. The Unit-4s? They’re flat-out gorgeous, no matter where you plant them. Studio monitors often resemble black boxes of sonic purpose. The Unit-4’s, on the other hand, are sculpted statements. Picture this: sleek, obsidian towers, a magnetically-secured metal grille hinting at the power within, and a captivating halo of white light emanating from around the woofer once they’re powered. Does that ring of light improve the frequency response? Nope. But are they leagues ahead of my drab PreSonus Eris E5s in the looks department? Absolutely.
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While the Unit-4 largely nails its design, a few choices give me pause, even if I grasp the rationale (weight and size, naturally). The most glaring? The omission of XLR inputs. I get it, portability is king. And yes, balanced TRS connections are present. But in a world saturated with combo XLR/TRS jacks, their absence feels like a missed opportunity. Surely, those versatile jacks wouldn’t have added significant bulk.
Let’s talk power bricks – behemoths, really. AIAIAI boasts about the Unit-4’s trim 5.5-pound weight, and while that’s true for the speaker itself, prepare for a shock when you meet its external power supply. It’s a chunky one-pounder, dwarfing even my studio monitor’s power solutions. Packing two Unit-4s and their accompanying bricks? You’re suddenly lugging around nearly 14 pounds. It begs the question: why external bricks at all? My other speakers manage just fine with a standard AC cable. This decision, while potentially keeping the speaker svelte, feels like a significant oversight for a supposedly portable monitor.
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Calling the Unit-4 “portable” feels like a stretch. Sure, youcanmove it, but lugging it around on a spontaneous whim? Unlikely. It’s more “relocatable” than readily portable. And frankly, if AIAIAI is going to tout the “portability” angle, a carrying case shouldn’t be a $70 afterthought. It should be part of the package.
The most perplexing change? Ditching the built-in battery in the Unit-4’s X02 Transmitter. Unlike the Studio Wireless+’s X01, the X02 demands external power. The trade-off? Sleek USB-C dongle functionality with your laptop. But forget the laptop, and you’re tethered to a power bank for minijack output – AC adapters are a buzzing, ground-looping nightmare best avoided. It’s a strange choice, trading convenience for clean audio.
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AIAIAI went battery-free on purpose, and here’s why: Batteries die. Instead of tossing a perfectly good transmitter because its battery gave up the ghost, AIAIAI designed a sustainable solution. Ironically, they’ve mastered modularity in their studio monitors –everythingis removable and replaceable, battery included. So, making a swappable transmitter battery? Seems like a solvable problem.
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
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Tethered to your laptop, the Unit-4 sings. Untethered? That’s where the battery’s absence bites. Suddenly, your wireless freedom needs a leash – an external power bank. Jamming with the SP-404? Busking in the park? Now you’re juggling another cable, another thing to forget, another reason why “wireless” feels ironically wired.
Okay, so it’s a few niggles against a mountain of usefulness for a specific user. This isn’t aiming for mass appeal like the Studio Wireless+’s effortless studio-to-street versatility. We’re talking about a niche – the musician who demands a monitor-grade experience with the connectivity flexibility for a streamlined workflow. Ifthat’syou, these drawbacks probably won’t even register. But let’s be real, that’s a far cry from the universal appeal of headphones that seamlessly transition from low-latency tracking to on-the-go listening with a simple flick. We’re not talking about bedroom producers anymore. We’re talking a select few.
“Okay, tour bus convenience? Sure. But the real magic? Untethered creativityanywhere. Forget attic isolation! I dragged a Unit-4, transmitter, and powerbank downstairs, plugged into my Gaia 2, and jammed with synth sounds whileactuallyspending time with my kids. Finally, music-making without sacrificing family time.”
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Hauling the Unit-4 to the park for a photoshoot wasn’t my brightest idea. My back screamed bloody murder before I even found a decent backdrop. But, duty calls! The real test? Blasting tunes through those bad boys, SP-404 MKII at max volume, unleashing sonic fury upon unsuspecting picnickers. Heads turned. Daggers were thrown with their eyes. Despite the glares that could curdle milk, the Unit-4 held its own. Crystal-clear audio, punchy bass, even at a distance. No distortion, just pure, unadulterated sound. The downside? Pushing the volume past 75% with the Wireless Studio+ revealed a sneaky little noise gremlin lurking in the minijack connection.
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These aren’t your average Bluetooth speakers; they’re a sonic force to be reckoned with. Chilly weather has kept my backyard shindigs on hold, but that hasn’t stopped me from blasting tunes with a Unit-4 while tackling the autumn leaves. Crank these babies up, and I could easily become the neighborhood’s most hated resident, drowning out the roar of my trimmer and leaf blower with pure audio bliss.
Forget battery anxiety. The AIAIAI Unit-4 isn’t just loud; it’s relentless. Picture this: powering through hours of yard work, blasting tunes at a boisterous BBQ, and even surviving the late-night cleanup crew, all on a single charge. AIAIAI boasts 20+ hours of playback, but the real question is: Bluetooth or W+ Link?
I put these bad boys to the test. Cranking out tracks from Ableton Live and djay Pro at a solid 75% volume via W+ Link, the Unit-4 didn’t flinch… at first. The first speaker finally surrendered after an impressive 17 hours and 46 minutes, its partner-in-crime giving up just 11 minutes later.
Here’s the kicker: the Studio Wireless+ lastsfour timeslonger on Bluetooth. So, while W+ Link delivers the goods for serious audio work, switching to Bluetooth unlocks a marathon of musical enjoyment. But then again, why neuter a racehorse? Using the Unit-4 asjusta Bluetooth speaker would be missing the point entirely.
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Forget audiophiles – the Unit-4’s dream customer is a busker. This beast handles live gigs with imperceptible latency, doubles as a studio-grade monitor for pristine mixing, and cranks loud enough to soundtrack a house party (or politely serenade the neighbors). DJing? That’s its one tiny Achilles’ heel. Youcouldfinagle it, headphone-splitting the cue and the live mix, but for razor-sharp transitions, that latency is a deal-breaker. It’s built for everything else, though.
Latency Landmines: Unit-4, USB-C, and the Windows Woe
Heads up, latency lurkers! Your Unit-4 experience hinges on your connection type and operating system. Plugging in via USB-C on a Windows machine? Brace yourself. Windows’ built-in audio drivers, while better than their ancient ancestors, still lag behind Apple’s Core Audio and Steinberg’s ASIO. Think of it as a tortoise versus a hare situation.
Don’t blame the Unit-4; Windows is the culprit. For lightning-fast response times, ASIO4ALL is your digital defibrillator install it.
But the ultimate latency-busting hack? Ditch USB-C altogether. Connect your X02 Transmitter via TRS cable to a dedicated audio interface. Yes, you’ll need a power source for the transmitter (power bank or USB-C adapter), but the reduced latency is worth its weight in sonic gold.
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Forget cable clutter. The Unit-4 wireless studio monitors offer pristine sound untethered. They stand alone in a market craving cable-free freedom, boasting a sleek design and a sound as natural as it is revealing.
But these aren’t for everyone. Think of the Studio Wireless+ at $350 as the dependable all-rounder. The Unit-4, however, at a cool $800, targets a specific pain point: the need for truly portable, professional monitoring.
Are they worth the premium? If ditching cables without sacrificing audio fidelity is your holy grail, then unequivocally, yes. The Unit-4 isn’t just solving a problem; it’s liberating your workflow.
Thanks for reading AIAIAI Unit-4 review: Unique wireless portable studio monitors
