GE recently announced it would stop making CFLs this year and focus on LED lights. That’s because these bulbs are evolving into consumer electronic products, offering much more than light. Consumer Reports tested eight LEDs with built-in speakers. The claims are inviting—“Light it loud” and “Turn it on. Turn it up.” We just had to take a look, and listen.
We bought the LED lights online and paid $26 to $200 per bulb. Engineers from our lightbulb lab tested each LED for brightness, energy use, whether it cast warm or cool light (color temperature), and its color rendering index or CRI. That tells you how well a bulb accurately reveals the colors of objects and skin tones.
Three trained listening panelists compared the sound quality of the Bluetooth speaker in the LED lights to the same high-quality reference audio system that we use for all home audio testing. The speaker in the LEDs were also compared to one of the lower scoring small portable Bluetooth speakers in our tests.
We bought the LED lights online and paid $26 to $200 per bulb. Engineers from our lightbulb lab tested each LED for brightness, energy use, whether it cast warm or cool light (color temperature), and its color rendering index or CRI. That tells you how well a bulb accurately reveals the colors of objects and skin tones.
Three trained listening panelists compared the sound quality of the Bluetooth speaker in the LED lights to the same high-quality reference audio system that we use for all home audio testing. The speaker in the LEDs were also compared to one of the lower scoring small portable Bluetooth speakers in our tests.
The Sound Quality
The idea is appealing, and the apps, for the models that had them, were easy to use and it was easy to connect them to Bluetooth audio sources. These LEDs used only 4 to 10 watts of energy, Unfortunately, they weren’t great as either light sources or speakers.
The speakers in all eight LEDs had poor sound quality that was tinny and about what you would expect from an intercom. They’re best suited for close listening but many could achieve adequate volume in a small to medium-sized room. Some online user reviews mention installing these LEDs in bathrooms, which are not known for their great acoustics.
The speakers in all eight LEDs had poor sound quality that was tinny and about what you would expect from an intercom. They’re best suited for close listening but many could achieve adequate volume in a small to medium-sized room. Some online user reviews mention installing these LEDs in bathrooms, which are not known for their great acoustics.
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