Why don’t reviews mention if Bluetooth / standalone speakers are stereo or mono?

[Tapper82]

Hi all,
I’ve noticed that in a lot of reviews for Bluetooth speakers, standalone speakers, and even digital radios, there’s often no mention of whether the unit plays in stereo or mono.
To me, that seems like quite an important detail — especially when so many small speakers are actually mono, and some have clever setups to simulate or pair for stereo sound. Sometimes you only find out after buying and listening for yourself!
Is there a reason this isn’t consistently mentioned in reviews?
Do reviewers assume most readers don’t care, or is it just taken for granted based on the design?
Curious to hear your thoughts — and whether anyone else finds this detail as important as I do.
The latest review to leave out these details was the review of the Roberts Reva.

Thanks,
Tapper

 

[Shrek]

if its 1 speaker its not stereo .

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

Even if they were stereo, the left and right drivers would be so close together, you would hear them as mono anyway.

 

[Shrek]

Even if they were stereo, the left and right drivers would be so close together, you would hear them as mono anyway.

Exactly my thought .

 

[Vincent Kars]

Mono is defined as 1 channel.
Stereo id defined as 2 channels.
A single speaker sums L and R. What else could they do?
Of course you can't get the stereo image with 1, you need 2 speakers do so. But I wonder why you expect reviewers to state the very, very obvious.

 

[Tapper82]

if its 1 speaker its not stereo .

Hi I am sorry, but that is not true. I have had Sony bluetooth speaker that was stereo. I think it was the sbrx33. Then I read the JBL charge 5 review on here and the is no mention of it being just mono. I all so have the Monitor Audio AirStream S150 Bluetooth Speaker from a long time ago and that has 3 drivers and is still mono. Even in the review for the Monitor Audio AirStream S150 Bluetooth Speaker it does not tell you that it's mono.
I would just like to know why?

 

[Tapper82]

Mono is defined as 1 channel.
Stereo id defined as 2 channels.
A single speaker sums L and R. What else could they do?
Of course you can't get the stereo image with 1, you need 2 speakers do so. But I wonder why you expect reviewers to state the very, very obvious.

So when you are saying one speaker, do you meen just one box or one driver?

I am asking because there is lots of bluetooth speakers out there that are one box, but have multiple drivers.

 

[Tapper82]

Exactly my thought .

So why do they put stereo speakers on phones and laptops? You can get OK stereo sound from a device the size and shape of most of the JBL speakers.

 

[Tapper82]

Sound configuration is a pretty big deal for many buyers. Some people specifically want a stereo setup for better music separation, while others don’t mind mono as long as the speaker is loud and clear. Right now, you often have to dig through manufacturer pages or user comments to figure this out, and having it right in the review would save users time and confusion.
Adding a simple “Stereo / Mono” line under the audio specs would make the reviews more complete and make it easier for people to compare models. It’s a small detail, but it could make a big difference for anyone shopping for speakers.
Just wanted to throw that suggestion out there — I think it would be a really useful addition!

 

[Fandango Andy]

It probably doesn't seem important to them. If you have stereo speakers close together you are going to hear mono, the same as if it were coming from a single speaker. if however they have a "clever setups to simulate or pair for stereo sound." that is a key feature and would almost certainly me mentioned in the review.

 

[ianrjones]

About 25 years ago, my mother had an obscene, gigantic Sony CRT. To my amazment, it could throw it's sound, filling the room with multi-channel sound. I can't explain it. But there are some clever guys in Japan.

 

[Messiah]

Even if they were stereo, the left and right drivers would be so close together, you would hear them as mono anyway.

Cannot really sum it up any better than this really.

With speakers of this size you would be very hard-pressed to tell the difference.

With a traditional stereo speaker set up you would have the left and right speakers X feet apart to be able to create the stereo image, soundstage etc. Just think about how that same set up would sound if you placed those 2 speakers side-by-side.

 

[Messiah]

So why do they put stereo speakers on phones and laptops? You can get OK stereo sound from a device the size and shape of most of the JBL speakers.

Just to use the laptop as an example. I can understand putting a stereo set up on this as you would tend to be sitting very close to it so you would be able to appreciate the separation between left and right.

If you play music from that same laptop but place it across the room, you would not be able to tell the difference as well.

 

[AJM1981]

My B&W T7 is stereo and it does pretty well 'for a reasonable compact bluetooth loudspeaker'. Though, if you want to have a better stereo image go for a modern bluetooth boombox like Harman Kardon produces or home hi-fi if it has to be "perfect".

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

About 25 years ago, my mother had an obscene, gigantic Sony CRT. To my amazment, it could throw it's sound, filling the room with multi-channel sound. I can't explain it. But there are some clever guys in Japan.

It works because of the way human hearing works. You detect the position of sound sources by the tiny differences in the timing of those sounds reaching each ear, as well as the differences in level.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

It's like shoe-horning Atmos into phones - there's no hope of hearing height from a phone, but most people assume it just means 'better' and part with the cash.

 

[AJM1981]

It works because of the way human hearing works. You detect the position of sound sources by the tiny differences in the timing of those sounds reaching each ear, as well as the differences in level.

Besides that, it was a "gigantic" CRT. So it has a weight and size advantage for loudspeaker integration

Probably not 'this' gigantic, but stil big I assume.

 

[JoelSim]

All one box small speakers are effectively mono, which is why they don't mention it.

 

[Gray]

...there is lots of bluetooth speakers out there that are one box, but have multiple drivers.

Yes, such as the little Kitsound Hive speaker I was once given.
I've got a feeling they put separate channels to the different drivers on that - but, as others have said, you're rarely close enough to notice.

You're right about stereo speakers on (some?) phones....maybe more to do with the fact that they otherwise need to be giving stereo out of any fitted headphone socket.

 

[daytona600]

The first stereo systems in the early 1950s used 3 speakers not 2
with 3‑channel audio, using three speakers to create a fuller soundstage. This was especially popular in high‑end home hi‑fi setups and reel‑to‑reel tape systems
Old Blue Eyes System

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

The first stereo systems in the early 1950s used 3 speakers not 2
with 3‑channel audio, using three speakers to create a fuller soundstage. This was especially popular in high‑end home hi‑fi setups and reel‑to‑reel tape systems
Old Blue Eyes SystemView attachment 10346

Some headphone amps use ‘crossfade’ to achieve a similar effect.

 

[daytona600]

L/C/R 3channel recordings Stereo with a dedicated centre channel
70years later and what progess 2025 using mono speaker

1930 Walt Disney used multi-channels almost a 100years ago
Fantasia. premiers used 'Fantasound' with 52 speakers.

.