2017 was a big year for SOLIS, who debuted a number of attractive, connected, and stellar-sounding speakers. From portable, smart Bluetooth speakers to gorgeous vacuum tube amplifiers, SOLIS has every audiophile covered. I had the pleasure of testing two of their offerings in my home and came away impressed. Read on to hear about the SO-3000 and the SO-8000.
The SOLIS SO-3000 is a Bluetooth and WiFi enabled smart speaker with Chromecast built-in. You can utilize multiple SO-3000 units to steam music in multiple rooms throughout your home using your phone, laptop, or tablet using the Google Home app or Bluetooth. The SO-3000 is also hi-res audio compatible, so you’re able to stream lossless audio from streaming services that support it.
The SO-3000 is about 12 inches wide by 4 inches deep by 6 inches high and is built using a wooden cabinet that features low resonance with a tuned bass port. The rear of the speaker contains an auxiliary port that can be used to connect your iPod, MP3 player, or any other source with analog outputs. The SO-3000 is draped in an attractive heather grey fabric so that it will match almost any décor. The top is made of a glossy black material that also houses the buttons used to control the speaker.
At its price at $229.99, the SO-3000 provides excellent sound quality. The tuned bass port offers great low-end sound while the two 3.5” speakers throw out natural and crisp HiFi sound. This smart speaker can fill up any room with high-quality sound.
The SOLIS SO-8000 is a beautiful piece of audio hardware, plain and simple. So beautiful, in fact, that it comes with a pair of white gloves and each piece is boxed inside a white fabric bag to protect the surfaces. The surfaces that need protection are gorgeous black glossy wood that is also more than likely a fingerprint magnet. The vacuum tube preamp is paired with a solid-state power output stage, which is meant to be a win/win for audiophiles. The outcome is clean, crisp highs, warm, natural mids, and excellent bass power.
There are two preamp vacuum tubes and a Magic Eye VU meter that indicates amplifier output. The two-way bass reflex speakers take up less than 7” of shelf space, but they put out amazing, clear, and room-filling sound. It’s a truly gorgeous addition to any living room or media room.
The SO-8000 comes packed with Bluetooth technology for wireless streaming and as well as two auxiliary inputs for connecting other wired devices. Each speaker puts out 17watts and the whole system operates on 120V AC power. The speakers are built with 5-inch polymer cone woofers in a bass reflex enclosure. A 1.25-inch soft dome polymer tweeter offers the overtones necessary for excellent, full sound.
As soon as we pumped up the volume on the SO-8000, I understood what the hype was all about. We were instantly impressed by the clarity of the sound pumped out. As advertised, the bass was powerful, the mids were warm, and the highs were clear and crisp. For the price, you can do a lot worse than the SOLIS SO-8000 at $549.99.
This was my first experience with SOLIS, and I’ve got to say that I’m impressed with the overall build quality and sound quality while compared to the fair pricing. If you’re looking for gorgeous, high-end speakers for your home, you’ll do well to check out SOLIS’s products first. I look forward to seeing what’s next from SOLIS in 2018!
Source: The SO-3000 and SO-8000 were manufacturer supplied review samples
What I Like: Gorgeous speakers; Amazing HiFi sound; Smart and connected, with multiple source options; What more do you need?
What Needs Improvement: Not much!
