I was having a Uranus II system earlier. Now after almost two decades I purchased the Sonodyne Malhar. No comparison with other foreign brands, Malhar is a superb product with unmatched sound quality in a box. Good base and treble. Great product!!

From my childhood I am a fan of sonodyne stereo. I remember the jetliner series. I have a stereo system but when I heard malhar at a mall I immediately purchased it. The sound is un believable.

I have been using Sonodyne since 1992, and I love their products. My only drawback with this product is it doesn't have Airplay enabled. These days we use airplay to stream music on multiple devices, which is where it fails. I wish airplay could be enabled; then it is worth every penny.

To All those who find Bose, Marshall, Sonos, Denon and JBL to be Paragon of Fine Sound, here we have “Made in India” product SONODYNE MALHAR. I got mine delivered today (As per promised timeline) Malhar introduces itself as an Underdog in the race BUT trust you me, It has to be taken Seriously and Sincerely. I won’t go Ga Ga about the specifications which are already available on the sites BUT what I wish to mention is.. - Excellent packing which is extremely travel worthy. Unpacking it was quite a satisfactory experience. - The product availability follow up with SONODYNE team was really professional. Being it Ayush or Shankar Bannerjee. Staff is coordial and helping in nature. - Talking of Sound, It ACTUALLY delivers to the Hype around it. Sound is Crisp with good work being done on Lows and High’s. It’s finely tuned for Indian music scenario’s and listening habits. - Technically speaking, Loudness is dynamic without compromising on clarity in mid’s. Its USP is wooden cabinet (I SWEAR), which is way ahead of plastic speakers. Malhar is rendering CRISP sound. That “Wooden” Sound is BEST feature of this speaker. Its massive 8kgs weight make it feel like a Masculine product and must be helping in delivering 180W sound flawlessly. - It’s a Speaker with a good aesthetics with the semi gloss finish and huge speaker cones with controls on the top giving it up market feel. - At modest 35k, its a steal deal considering the Sound Quality it’s providing. It’s in competition with products worth 80k - 1L Its not about any Negatives, But everything has some scope of improvements, per my understanding following are the improvement pointers for the speaker to make it a Market leader. - Remote need to be in sync with the speaker in terms of quality. - The additional features will add to the charm like HDMI connectivity, some App based controls like Marshall for better sound controls. - Some basic display screen to show current volume, song name etc. - Do plan to launch a portable speaker with battery based set up. Trust you me, I’ll be the first one to buy. No show stoppers otherwise. All in All One of The Finest product available in market which is at par with the old market leaders and best part is it’s A Proud Indian product. ????

 I got the product and I already have a Marshall Stanmore 2 which I thought was gonna be way better. After listening to the Sonodyne Malhar I can confidently say that the Sonodyne Malhar is louder, and it is way clearer and it doesn't have any flaws in my opinion when compared to the Marshall Speakers

Delivering an excellent quality sound clarity and has become a very own and soothing music companion from the very day I received it from Amazon. It has been one of my family members , now. Thanks a lot to SONODYNE & wish them my best ......

Amazing and neutral clarity Literally blown by the sound quality. My first Sonodyne. Can't belive I never bought this brand before. Clean and impressive

The product is simply mind-blowing. Awesome performance - actoss genres. It more than meets my expectations, every time i switch on.

Ever since I was a kid, I had a fascination with speakers. I loved listening to music and I remember visiting my neighbor’s house just to listen to their Sonodyne system, I think it had a turntable but now not so sure, that was the best thing I had ever heard, in my kid head. It was like magic to me! I always wanted to own a Sonodyne speaker someday, but life got in the way and I never got around to it. I wasn't even sure if they made consumer speakers anymore. But I always had huge respect for the brand, and the Mukherjees just like the Bose family, two iconic audio brands with Indian roots. Then recently, I stumbled upon an YouTube video on Bandish, and then found this Malhar. I read some reviews, was very impressed and immediately decided to buy the Malhar. Childhood dream come true! It arrived in a solid packaging in about 6 days and I was eager to set it up. It was very easy to do so, as it came with clear instructions and all the necessary stuff. Bluetooth connectivity was good and conveniently paired with my phones and other devices. I turned it on and played some of my favorite songs. And wow. It was like being transported back to my childhood. The sound quality was amazing. The high build quality shines through the rich and detailed sound that filled the room. The bass was deep but not overwhelming like dj boxes, the mids were clear and balanced, and the highs were crisp and bright. I listened to some fantastic hi-res tracks from different genres, such as Hotel California by Eagles, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, some good hi res symphony tracks and of course Tagore instrumenals. Each sounded like a new experience with Sonodyne Malhar. It was like listening to them for the first time! The speaker also worked well with my TV and other devices using an aux cable. I watched some movies and shows with it and enjoyed the immersive sound effects. I hardly needed subtitles anymore! The remote control was functional and easy to use. I think it does the job. I am yet to feel like any need for bass control. The balance and tuning is perfect the way it is. The only thing I haven’t tried yet is connecting it with Google Home using DLNA6 (Digital Living Network Alliance), which is supposed to enable wireless streaming of music from any device on the same network. But I’m sure that will work fine too. I am glad that I purchased the white box. It goes really well with my tv area (you can see my nest speakers, Sony home theatre and ps5, oh yes, playing games is too good, very realistic sound effects). Sonodyne Malhar is truly a childhood dream come true for me. It is the best speaker I have ever owned or heard. It has brought back the joy of listening to music for me. If you are looking for a speaker that combines nostalgia with modern technology, and sounds like a million bucks, look no further than Sonodyne Malhar.

"OUTSTANDING OF OUTSTANDING" THIS PRODUCT. I think the last quality of the SOUND is MALHAR. I am very proud to be using this product. Salute to SONODYNE company for this.

Excellent music experience

To All those who find Bose, Marshall, Sonos, Denon and JBL to be Paragon of Fine Sound, here we have “Made in India” product SONODYNE MALHAR. I got mine delivered today (As per promised timeline) Malhar introduces itself as an Underdog in the race BUT trust you me, It has to be taken Seriously and Sincerely. I won’t go Ga Ga about the specifications which are already available on the sites BUT what I wish to mention is.. - Excellent packing which is extremely travel worthy. Unpacking it was quite a satisfactory experience. - The product availability follow up with SONODYNE team was really professional. Being it Ayush or Shankar Bannerjee. Staff is coordial and helping in nature. - Talking of Sound, It ACTUALLY delivers to the Hype around it. Sound is Crisp with good work being done on Lows and High’s. It’s finely tuned for Indian music scenario’s and listening habits. - Technically speaking, Loudness is dynamic without compromising on clarity in mid’s. Its USP is wooden cabinet (I SWEAR), which is way ahead of plastic speakers. Malhar is rendering CRISP sound. That “Wooden” Sound is BEST feature of this speaker. Its massive 8kgs weight make it feel like a Masculine product and must be helping in delivering 180W sound flawlessly. - It’s a Speaker with a good aesthetics with the semi gloss finish and huge speaker cones with controls on the top giving it up market feel. - At modest 35k, its a steal deal considering the Sound Quality it’s providing. It’s in competition with products worth 80k - 1L Its not about any Negatives, But everything has some scope of improvements, per my understanding following are the improvement pointers for the speaker to make it a Market leader. - Remote need to be in sync with the speaker in terms of quality. - The additional features will add to the charm like HDMI connectivity, some App based controls like Marshall for better sound controls. - Some basic display screen to show current volume, song name etc. - Do plan to launch a portable speaker with battery based set up. Trust you me, I’ll be the first one to buy. No show stoppers otherwise. All in All One of The Finest product available in market which is at par with the old market leaders and best part is it’s A Proud Indian product. ????

After a lot of research I settled on Sonodyne Malhar. FIrst piece I got was damaged. I initiated the return. But surprisingly within 1 hour I got a call from Ayush, from Sonodyne. The rest of the story won't fit in this space, but hats off to the staff of Sonodyne especially Mr Ayush, I finally got a product at my home without any scratch. Believe me this is the best customer care I've ever received in my entire life. Thanks to Mr Ayush and all other supporting staff of Sonodyne. The impact is such that i won't think about buying an audio product from any other company from now onwards. The pros.....Speaking about the sound, this is the product for us.... It has got mind blowing Highs and Mids, and Thumping Lows. I must say it excels when it comes to playing Indian music which the greats in the field lacks. And the wooden cabinet...no words...Good sound comes from good wood as they say....so true.... The cons... Well nothing on the sound quality, just a few simple suggestions...in the next updates u can think of an off timer since I wish to sleep while hearing music, so it will be a helpful feature for ppl like me. And of course a small display. But these are too minute when compared to the sound you provide. Once again thanks to Ayush and other support staff of Sonodyne for giving me an opportunity to have a feel of this awesome product. God bless u all...Thank you

During my School Days I used to listen to a Tape Recorder, After that, didn’t find anything to enjoy music, Having the Sonodyne Malhar, is like that Having my Childhood Back, Thank You Sonodyne.

Proud to be Indian manufacturing company Sonodyne stands at the Internationally. Sound quality is great, Music like live concerts, Bass might high for some areas while playing movies, overall satisfying to my needs in one product. Value for money considering International products which are in the range of 50k

After a demoing a lot of Bluetooth speakers from JBL, Bose, Marshall, Sonos etc., I finally ordered the Sonodyne Malhar based on Sonodyne’s rich history around making world class studio monitors. Was a bit apprehensive as I could not get a demo of this before the purchase. Excitedly waited for it to be delivered. Rushed home on the day of delivery. Immediately opened it and switched it up. Setup was fuss free and done in a minute. Played a few classic rocks on it. Was blown away by the quality of the vocals and instruments that could be heard with great clarity. Not unnaturally bass heavy like most other speakers. Studio quality sound. Perfect to enjoy an evening with friends and family. It took 2 days for the speaker to settle in. Enjoying different genres on it now. Grab one now as stocks are very low.

Great sound quality, wide sound stage, amazing mids and highs. Works great for everything that doesn't need a subwoofer like hip hop for example. A little bigger than I expected but solidly built and safely packaged. Much better than imported speakers in this price range like Marshall, Bose, Denon and Sonos. Great value.

My family has owned high-fidelity sound systems since the 1980s; therefore, I am well versed in hi-fi sound. I was initially skeptical of Malhar due to its Class D amplification system. In my mind, I was always sure you could not produce high-fidelity sound without Class A or Class AB amplification, but to my surprise, Sonodyne has done a remarkable job in the Class D segment results, Malhar. I have tried and tested several Bluetooth speakers, home theatre speakers, and sound bars manufactured by various well-known rewound brands, but none of them even come close to Malhar. 99% of these brands produce a sound with heavy bass and almost no midrange. Even the bass that they produce is out of control; there is no preciseness in it. Malhar has done an excellent job here, and passive radiators, in particular, add a lot of punch with Sonodyne's usual clear midrange. Malhar is probably the only speaker that has a piano-finish body in this price segment; all the other brands are giving you relatively cheap plastic, and sometimes it's not even ABS. If you really want a classy, premium-quality speaker, go for Malhar.

Went through many high ends, some had extra base some had extra irritating treble sounds, Though wanted to hear first but was not able to do so and gambled with Sonodyne's MALHAAR after going through reviews and it payed me quite well. I was surprised by the soothing sound quality, balanced , subtle sound effects in the compact design ????. Not only for music MALHAAR is going fine with with TV also . Going to buy one more MALHAAR in few days to pair it up with with the current one????????.

Sonodyne is the age old Indian loudspeaker brand of the 80s and 90s that we grew up listening to vinyl and tapes. Known for excellent build quality and exceptional sonic performance, these loudspeakers delivered rich studio-like sound without breaking the bank. In todays era of synthetic bass and tinny treble emanating from plastic loudspeakers, the Malhaar truly stands out! Vintage sound quality with the convenience of playing your favorite streaming service, I was truly blown away by the richness and clarity of sound. Like an excited kid, I played through my favorites and found the same timbre and tonality as expected from a studio monitor! Grab one before it sells out!

Connected it to my Phone in the hall and played the 1st song.. And man I was in Awe. Continuing the legacy of Sonodyne, the speaker didn't fail impress. The highs are sharp, mids are crystal clear and lows are thumping. No distortion at any volume. Plus what I loved about is its simplicity. No complicated process to setup and the speaker knows what to do without your help. I ended up listenening to it the whole day. The Wooden built and premium looks complements the interior of my house AWESOME.

During my School Days I used to listen to a Tape Recorder, After that, didn’t find anything to enjoy music, Having the Sonodyne Malhar, is like that Having my Childhood Back, Thank You Sonodyne.

Wireless speakers come in all shapes and sizes and some even with smart functionality or voice inputs. The Sonodyne Malhar that we have for review today prefers to keep things simple and almost turns back time by a few years. Despite that, it would be rather unfair to call it just a wireless speaker, and the company rightly prefers to call it a high-fidelity music system. This may not be a product for all but there’s a lot to like about it.  If you have been thinking about a portable Bluetooth speaker, that’s not what we have here. Of course, it is Bluetooth 5.2 compliant and you can move it around; it weighs ’just’ 8 kgs. But a permanent spot in the room would be a better idea, and it needs to be plugged into a power socket at all times. The Malhar is fitted with four active speakers and two passive radiators. To be specific, it has two 5-inch glass-fiber cone woofers, two 1-inch silk-dome tweeters with Neodymium magnets and two 5-inch passive radiators for bass. Collectively they can deliver up to 180 Watts of sound output thanks to a Class D amplifier inside. The stated frequency response ranges between 40 Hz to 20 KHz. With the key specifications out of the way, it’s time to tell you what’s good and what’s not about this wireless speaker or Hi-Fi music system from the 50+ years old renowned Indian audio brand. What we liked about the Sonodyne Malhar The vintage design looks really cool It has a rectangular boxy design like the speakers of yore. A rugged wooden (MDF) cabinet with a glossy finish houses all the drivers and other circuitry. The woofers and tweeters are covered with metal grilles, adding to the vintage look. The uncovered passive radiators on the side also all to the aesthetics. Long story short, we liked the Malhar’s design and it made us a tad nostalgic. We got a black variant for review which looks sober. It comes in three more colour options which I believe would look cooler due to the distinct contrast with the black speaker grilles. Powerful sound output with ample detail as well as bass The Sonodyne Malhar makes good use of its size and components and delivers a powerful sound output. It is loud, punchy, with ample bass and excellent detail in audio as long as you play it loud enough. The soundstage is reasonably broad too. While you can use it for some soft nighttime listening, one can get the best out of it only beyond a particular loudness level where the three major frequency ranges play well collectively and the finer detail is distinctly audible. Soft listening is fine for vocal-heavy tracks or classical music. But for bass-heavy tracks, the bass feels slightly dominant and vocals as well as some instrument sounds seem a bit recessed till you push the volume higher. At the right loudness, it sounds great across various genres of music. It is loud enough and has ample thump for a mid to large sized room and one can easily use it for a house party. Another thing to note is that its performance on wired inputs is a notch or two higher than on Bluetooth. Multiple audio inputs Speaking of inputs, the Sonodyne Malhar has a bunch of options at the back. It has an optical in, a 3.5 mm aux input, Bluetooth 5.2 and one can also play audio through a USB drive. If you still have your old ‘legal’ MP3 collection, you can put it on a drive, plug it into the USB port and enjoy. The performance through USB is quite good, and even if you switch off the speaker, you can resume from the last track you played when you turn it back on.   Do plug it into the right USB port though. There’s a second USB port but that has been provided to charge devices like wireless earphones or smartwatches or even smartphones if you aren’t in a hurry to juice it up briskly.     Easy to use and comes with a full-function remote control One of the best aspects of the Sonodyne Malhar is its simplicity. There’s hardly any setup or a learning curve. Just power it up, choose the input source and you are good to go. There are physical buttons at the top of the speaker with an LED indicator, one for each input and function. It’s hard to go wrong with that. The company bundles a neat looking compact infrared remote control that gives you access to all the inputs and functions from the comfort of your seat. Yes, I may have a small issue with the remote that you will soon discover, but it covers all the key bases. What rains on its parade No sound customisations at all This point may sound somewhat contradictory to the previous one but it is what it is. Yes, sound tweaks or equalisers may feel intimidating for some but it is always great to have the option to finetune the audio to one’s taste. While the Sonodyne Malhar is tuned very well out of the box, something as basic as bass and treble controls would have worked well here and added to its old world charm along with the functionality. I wasn’t even suggesting a full-blown companion app with a multi-band equaliser, but just a couple more buttons on the remote wouldn’t have diminished its ease of use. Scant Bluetooth codec support We did not find the mention of the Bluetooth codec used here and we safely assume it’s SBC. A speaker of this class (and budget) certainly deserves a bit more bandwidth on the wireless front. While the speaker has multiple inputs, it is highly likely that Bluetooth will be the most commonly used option in this age. And its sound quality over Bluetooth is a notch or two lower than the wired options including playing audio from USB. A better codec like aptX or LDAC could have probably got more out of this product.   Could have used a couple of modern features We do understand that the theme is retro but I would have liked to see some modern tech for connectivity, especially given its selling price. And I don’t just mean the aforementioned codec support. Two things that would have benefited the Malhar are HDMI input and a Bluetooth remote instead of IR. The speaker is powerful enough to be used with TVs as a soundbar alternative. While you do have connectivity options like optical and aux inputs and even Bluetooth, HDMI would have yielded best results.   The desire for a Bluetooth or even a RF remote control instead of IR stems from a habit developed due to the use of smart TVs and streamers like the Amazon Fire TV Stick over the past few years. They have Bluetooth remotes that one can point anywhere, and not necessarily at a receiver, before pressing a button. With the Malhar, I had to take that extra effort and at times the input wouldn’t register from sharp angles. I may be nitpicking but a Bluetooth remote would have also allowed one to control the device from an adjacent room within the wireless range. Sonodyne Malhar: Price and verdict The Sonodyne Malhar is priced at Rs 31,999 and comes with a 2-year warranty. It does miss out on a few modern features like support for high throughput Bluetooth codec, Bluetooth remote or HDMI ARC input but it hits the bullseye with its sound quality. It is certainly not an alternative for a portable Bluetooth speaker or a party boombox, however, it can play both those roles well and with a touch of class.   If you are just looking for either of those things, you can get a lot of options for less than half its selling price. But if you are someone who appreciates the finer detail in music and looking for a high fidelity speaker with a fairly balanced sound output and a handful of connectivity options, the Sonodyne Malhar is something you should strongly consider.

Sonodyne Malhar - The wireless speaker with a thump Pranav Dixit, Business Today Powerful Audio Output - Delivers 180 watts of high fidelity sound ensuring immersive listening across various genres Precision drivers - Equipped with dual 5" glass fibre cone woofers and 1" neodymium magnet silk dome tweeters for deep bass and clear highs Dual Passive radiators - features two side mounted passive radiators that enhance low frequency response providing rich and detailed bass Multiple connectivity Options - Offers Bluetooth 5.0, USB Audio, Optical and Analogue stereo inputs, allowing seamless integration with various devices Duet mode for expanded soundstage - Link two Malhar speakers to create a wider soundstage, perfect for large spaces or enhanced stereo separation Elegant wooden cabinet - Crafted with a rigid MDF enclosure, and available in multiple finishes, it combines aesthetic appeal with acoustic performance User-friendly controls - Comes with an intuitive control panel and a full featured infra red remote for convenient operation Built-in limiter for distortion free sound - Incorporates a built-in limiter to prevent distortion, ensuring fatigue-free listening even at higher volumes Price & availablity - Sonodyne Malhar is available at www.sonodyne.com and is priced at Rs 37500   

While audio is a personal choice, at times buyers find them struggling to find that perfect speaker for home entertainment. Many fall short in terms of design, sound performance, or affordability, leaving enthusiasts searching for the speaker that ticks all the boxes. Made-in-India Sonodyne Malhar speaker aims to bridge the gap between classic aesthetics and modern functionality. Priced at Rs 37,500, the speaker features a wooden cabinet with two front- facing woofers and tweeters paired with side-faced dual passive radiators. In this review, we’ll explore whether the Malhar can indeed meet the high expectations of audio lovers looking for a reliable speaker or is it just another contender in the market.  Sonodyne Malhar design The Sonodyne Malhar 180-watt speaker features a ‘timeless design’ with a modern twist. It has an old-school, vintage-inspired look – a rectangular-shaped cabinet made from MDF wood with a glossy finish. This material choice gives the speaker both classic design and durability. Edges are sharp that give it a bold profile and adds to its vintage aesthetics. On top of the Sonodyne Malhar speaker, there’s a sleek control panel with physical buttons that offer direct access to essential functions like volume control, power on/off, play/pause, track forward/rewind, and mode selection between USB, optical, or Bluetooth. While the layout is intuitive, the buttons themselves are quite small, which adds to the speaker's minimalist aesthetic. Having said that we like to add that it may require a bit more precision during use. Despite their compact size, these buttons give the speaker a tactile, hands-on feel, complementing its blend of retro design. The speaker’s IR sensor on the front allowed us to control the device wirelessly via a remote that came bundled inside the box. Using the remote - which we must say is sleek and stylish – gets all the controls that are available in the control panel on the speaker that we just mentioned above. The Sonodyne Malhar speaker comes with two passive radiators placed on the sides to enhance the bass response. These radiators work by responding to the air pressure generated inside the speaker, delivering deeper and more powerful low frequencies. The woofer and tweeter units are placed on the front behind a metallic grille, enhancing the speaker’s vintage appeal as well as protecting the drivers. The company’s branding can be seen at the front bottom. The speaker’s rear side is home to inputs for AUX, Optical, USB along with the power input. A manual switch is also located on the back, allowing you to control the speaker's power while it remains plugged in. Now do note that the device weighs 8kg and you will be finding it tied to one place Overall, the speaker's design combines elegance, durability, and accessibility features, making it a worthy addition in your living room. Sonodyne Malhar audio performance Top-notch! The Sonodyne Malhar bluetooth speaker delivers an exceptional audio experience that truly stands out. Let’s quickly run through the technical info. The speaker is equipped with two 5-inch glass-cone fiber woofers, two 1-inch polycone tweeters, and dual 5-inch passive radiators. It has a D Class high power amplifier that goes up to 180 watt, producing loud sound that can fill even a big room. With its powerful woofer and precision tweeter, the speaker offers a remarkable balance of deep, resonant bass and crystal-clear highs, ensuring that every note is rendered with stunning clarity. The speaker's 5-inch dual passive radiators enhance the low-end response, providing a rich and immersive soundstage that fills the room. The Sonodyne Malhar speaker does true justice to its name by delivering exceptional performance. And of course, we started the audio test with Hindi classical music. We chose a Hindi classical playlist in the Spotify app and that is when we came across musical gems like Gaud Sarang and Dhani by Shruti Sadolikar, Ahir Bhairav by Buddhadev DasGupta and Muskurahte-Reprise by Shail Handa. These intricate melodies and rich nuances of ragas come alive with the Malhar speaker, making it an ideal choice for music admirers of this genre. For example, when listening to 'Gaud Sarang Dhani' by Shruti Sadolikar, the speaker's ability to render the delicate notes and subtle expressions is truly impressive. Similarly, 'Ahir Bhairav' by Buddhadev DasGupta showcases the Malhar's capacity to deliver depth and warmth in its sound, creating an immersive listening experience. Tracks like 'Jaa Kaga' and 'Muskurahte-Reprise' by Shail Handa highlight how the Malhar captures the emotional essence of each piece, making every song feel engaging. We also tested the speaker for other genre songs like Olivia Rodrigo's 'Good 4 U', and Therefore I Am by Billie Ellish. The Sonodyne Malhar speaker handled the energetic pop of 'Good 4 U' impressively, delivering punchy bass and crisp vocals. Meanwhile, 'Therefore I Am' showcased the speaker's ability to reproduce Billie Eilish's signature sound, with the subtle nuances coming through clearly. Sonodyne Malhar speaker will not disappoint you if you are an admirer of songs like Softly by Karan Aujla, Pasoori by Ali Sethi x ShaeGill or Hass Hass by Diljit Dosanjh. We also watched a couple of movies like the Do Patti on Netflix and the speaker surely added to the experience. Whether you're enjoying your favorite music or watching movies, the Malhar captures the full spectrum of sound, making every moment engaging and enjoyable. Verdict Sonodyne Malhar debuted with a price tag of Rs 37,500. But you can easily buy it below Rs 32,000 on Amazon and other platforms. At this price point, Malhar offers remarkable value for its combination of classic design, robust audio performance, and modern features. Its impressive bass response and clarity make it suitable for a variety of genres. Overall, the Sonodyne Malhar speaker is a worthy investment. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/reviews/sonodyne-malhar-review-classic-style-powerful-audio/articleshow/114878978.cms

IN HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL music, rang Malhar is associated with torrential rains. Some say that singing this collection of pitches can bring rain to the area. Sonodyne's Malhar might not possess that ability, but this high fidelity stereo wireless music system is disarmingly detailed and powerful, and does justice to an artist's musical creation by its ability to produce impressive sound. In particular, its soft and warm tone when played at a low volume is most soothing. At Rs 31,999, its high price tag might cause some people to shy away from it, however, take my word - the Malhar has a premium look and feel, and the sound quality is what makes this speaker special.    Sonodyne was started in the summer of 1970 by Ashoke Mukherjee, a bright young engineer from IIT Roorkee. Starting from a makeshift office in south Kolkata, the homegrown venture has since grown to be a well-known player in the high fidelity audio space. Its sound systems are installed in some of the leading retail chains, such as, Reliance, Future Group, Aditya Birla Group and H&M. Some of its popular speakers include Alaap and Bandish.  The Malhar is a handmade wooden speaker in semi-gloss white/black/red paint. Ideally located on a tabletop or the sideboard, it has a metal mesh for woofer and tweeter. It is somewhat heavy at around 8kg, but comes loaded with features. To begin with, it has output power of 180 watt and plays music from Bluetooth, USB, Optical and Aux inputs. It is compatible with a mobile phone and there are remote and on-speaker controls. The remote control features either side. These passive radiators assist the woofer in reproducing deep bass notes. I feel this is also an ingenious way to get a whole lot of extra oomph out of the sound system. The woofers are driven by a high power 2 channel Class-D amplifier. There are two separate 1-inch dome tweeters with neodymium magnet which ensure smooth, wide and extended high frequency response.   In actual usage, I connected the Malhar to my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and streamed music from the Spotify app. Without a doubt, the sound quality is impressive. There is a lot of depth and openness and a crystal clear sound. The speaker certainly offers much more stereo experience than many Bluetooth speakers from brands such as Sonos, Marshall or JBL Harman. However, I personally feel it's still not quite the same as listening to a pair of separate speakers that many people are more comfortable with. Both in terms of volume and bass performance, the Malhar is good. I also liked the fact that it sounded clearer and more natural, with a wider soundstage. It isn't as sleek or compact as a Bose system, but it still manages to produce good sound. Highly recommended.     KEY FEATURES - Hi-Fi stereo wireless music system - 180 watt output power - Optical, Aux, USB, Bluetooth connectivity - 12 × 5" woofer, 2 x 1” dome tweeter, 2x passive radiators - Wide stereo soundstage - Estimated street price: Rs 31,999

The Malhar isn't sold outside India, but if you're in the country and need a great Bluetooth speaker, it is the obvious choice.  https://www.androidcentral.com/accessories/audio/sonodyne-malhar-review

https://news.hybriques.com/review-of-sonodyne-malhar/ Over time, it seems most of us have lost the context of pure sound. What we are used to these days via our headphones, televisions, and Bluetooth speakers is a cacophony of amped-up bass and synthetic sounds. Yes, audio has to be a very personal choice, but it has to be a choice where a user decides this is exactly how they want to listen to their music. Every once in a while, an audio device comes along trying to underline the beauty of pure sound, which is more natural and live. The Sonodyne Malhar is clearly in that range of products.  The Malhar, manufactured by Sonodyne in Kolkata, is immediately noticeable when you take it out of the packaging. This one has a substantial 8 kg wooden cabinet that exudes a beatbox-like vibe and gives off the impression that it means business. Additionally, there’s a certain simplicity that makes people like me, who have been around for a while, feel a little nostalgic. Malhar boasts a wide soundstage with excellent fidelity, thanks to its two front-facing drivers and tweeters, which are surrounded by two side-facing radiators. The top of the cabinet has a number of buttons that allow you to change songs and volume in addition to input modes. Even the remote control is designed to prevent users from tinkering with the bass or treble levels on the Malhar. Easily switch between multiple sources that you can connect, including USB, optical, and auxiliary, based on what you have. Some audio devices give off vibes that make one want to listen to certain types of music on them. The Malhar clearly gave me Carnatic, Hindustani, and Leonard Cohen vibes, not just because of its name. And I was not wrong. The first playlist I went to was a Spotify Hindustani Classical playlist with many renditions of Ragas I had not even heard of, clearly a good sign for music discovery. Not one to be intimidated, I settled for Nirali Kartik’s familiar voice and a less familiar Gurjari Todi. Soon her voice was filling the living room and overpowering this year’s subdued December chill. But on the Malhar, her voice, the Tanpura in the backdrop, gets centre stage so that gets into a meditative state with the Todi, just as intended. The audio profile also has a warmth radiating from it, almost mellow, perfect for this time of the year. With a richer composition like Manasa Sancharare by Bombay Jayashree, the mrudangam comes into the mix, activating the radiators and telling us the speaker can handle deep lows really well too. But I could not help but feel I was enjoying her silken voice. That is how the soundstage of the Malhar stands out. And the Malhar is not content with just classical. When you listen to a live performance of Fever or Chantal Chamberlain’s Besame Mucho in HiFi, you can experience Malhar’s rich sound profile. This speaker excels at isolating the vocals from the rest of the sound. With the vocals slightly ahead of the instruments, the song appears to be projected in three dimensions. Interestingly, Apple Music and Spotify were being streamed over Bluetooth for all of this. To push the boundaries a little further, I downloaded Apple’s Classical Music app and looked up the London Philharmonic, who is once again up for Orchestra of the Year. Even though the volume was not at maximum, the Bach Concerto for Oboe, Strings, and Continuo was audibly powerful, filling the room even though it took a few seconds to load. The Vienna Philharmonic’s rendition of Mozart’s overture also produced a stereo effect that was striking, something that very few one-piece speakers could match. My house started to feel like Christmas all of a sudden. I continued so as not to leave my fifth-floor window’s neighbors wondering why there were reindeer outside. I loved the Malhar for its ability to stay true with renditions that switch from highs to lows, like with most of the orchestra compositions. And even at high volumes, the speaker does not struggle. There is a fullness to whatever the Malhar does so you will not be disappointed. My only complaint is that power lights are on top and often you can’t tell whether the speaker is on. And this means it stays connected to the phone without you realising it. The LEDs would be more useful on the front. Also, I would like to see a Wi-Fi version of this so that I can start streaming to the Malhar without the irritations of a hyperactive smartphone like mine. The Malhar, which retails for Rs 37,500, is the kind of speaker that appeals to people who value purity in music and who share that appreciation. I would spend money on a speaker like this for my weekend morning sessions, where I discover new music and revisit my favorite songs. The Malhar is the kind of speaker that could easily be mistaken for a European audio masterpiece. And the fact that this is coming from an Indian business that is speaking out and telling the world that it’s time to listen to us makes me proud.  

Long before vocal for local became part of the political discourse, Kolkata-based audio brand Sonodyne has been making its presence felt in professional studios, concert venues, and the living rooms of audio connoisseurs across the country for over 50 years. The brand has a loyal following among listeners who prefer their music just 'as the artist intended' with no added flavouring

Sonodyne is an Indian brand many of us (and some of our parents) grew up with, and my earliest memories of the brand date back to the late ’80s/ early ’90s, when I used to regularly visit an uncle in Kolkata who was a big fan of the brand and its single-minded focus on recreating music “as the artist intended”. Fast forward to 2024, and while the brand continues to serve the serious audiophile and pro-studio markets, it’s their Bluetooth wireless speaker range that caught my eye, specifically the most powerful in their range, the aptly named Malhar (after the raga, Malhar which, as the myth goes, has the power to induce thunder and rain). Not one for slimline aesthetics, the Malhar resembles a cajón (or a clapbox as many may know it), an immediate throwback to when audio equipment was engineered for producing clean sound, first and foremost. With its wooden cabinet, classic aesthetics and all, the 8-kilogram Malhar is pleasing on the eye, but it demands pride of place — it’s not one to disappear into the décor. Around the front are two 5” glass-fiber cone drivers accompanied by two 1” tweeters, and the sides have two 5” passive radiators. Inputs are all clustered towards the rear, with optical, aux, USB ports along with a handy 5V DC USB port to charge a phone while it’s connected to the speaker. Controls to switch between these inputs and change tracks/volume are all on the top and are mirrored on the supplied remote. No buttons to fiddle around with bass/treble settings (intentionally so to retain the original feel of the track), and I would have preferred the indicator LEDs to be more visible, so you know the speaker is on or which input is selected. No app or Wi-Fi connectivity, which one starts expecting at this price point. Any reservations you may have had subside the moment you start playing music on the Malhar. Irrespective of genre, the speaker stands up and delivers, with a balanced sonic signature that accurately renders the highs, mids and lows without colouring the audio, so to speak. Streaming tracks as varied as Simon and Garfunkel to the Beach Boys to some of AR Rahman’s classics, Malhar reproduces the tracks damn near flawlessly across its wide 40Hz – 20kHz frequency range. Throw in some punchier tracks and bump up the volume, and you really have to wake up the neighbours before the speaker starts showing the slightest hint of distortion at the top end. Worth noting as well is the expansive soundstage and the open quality to the playback. At its price, Malhar is likely to appeal to audio purists, and despite its name, this truly is a speaker for all seasons. The ‘Made in India since 1970’ is bonus appeal. Rating: 8/10 Price: INR 37,500

I am really really satisfied with the soulful sound. Good value for money I spent.

Very soulful sound. I am quite satisfied with its performance.

Have grown up always envying of owning a Sonodyne.Bose was not so widely available in the 70/80's and used to be frightfully expensive. But now after so many years I had the opportunity to own one ....a dream fulfilled. Like an excited teenager I listened to it till 12.30 pm yesterday forcing some of my neighbours to sleepless night... marvelous experience , just what I was wanting. Thanks

Simply brilliant. Outstandingly clear and outsmarts many famous foreign brands in its catagory. I am extremely happy that I chose Malhar.

The speaker make and feel is classy. The name plate looks simple and cheap like a monogram stuck on the cabinet. Better the name would have been embossed in golden shade would have given it still better look. The punch or thump is less than what I expected from a 35000 only speaker. Long back I use to own the Sonodyne stereo system which had a stereo amplifier with equilizer, cassette layer which use to sound mind blowing. What I wanted to say was that 35000 is big price am paying for a Bluetooth speaker only. A stereo amplifier with two speakers cost nearly the same but will sound bigger. Sorry if I have hurt someone. Tried to be as Frank as possible.

Audio quality of Malhar is outstanding and fantastic.

Sonodyne just launched its latest speakers - the Sonodyne Malhar. The name Malhar is based on Raga Malhar, believed to have the power to evoke thunder and rain. Sonodyne speakers are used by some of the world's most respected studios and concert venues. What makes them so unique and globally appealing? We find out.

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