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Enhancing workplace meeting rooms with an all-in-one solution for docking up a laptop to a larger conferencing screen, expanding ports, adding virtual meeting controls, a higher-quality microphone, and a dedicated speaker system with a subwoofer for rich audio is one of the goals that the new PC dock from Microsoft aims to accomplish.
Because it is a genuine all-in-one solution that also contains a rather strong audio setup, this is the distinctive advantage that the Microsoft Audio Dock offers over competing products. However, at a price of $249, this kind of peripheral makes the most sense in the conference room setting.
Microsoft Audio Dock Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth |
| Audio Output | 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Weight | Varies by model |
Design and Ports
One of the more modern and sleek PC docks available is the Microsoft Audio Dock. The Audio Dock is not like the standard square plastic or metal dock; instead, it is shaped like a pill and covered in a modern mesh fabric that conceals its built-in speaker drivers.
Your volume and microphone controls are located along the top, and if you have a scheduled meeting, you can use the Teams icon to quickly open the app. When a meeting has begun, you’ll get a flashing notification on the Teams button. The Teams and microphone controls are round, tactile buttons. Because they are carved into the soft rubber fabric that runs along the top of the dock, the media and volume control buttons are slightly less tactile. You can visit its official website
Microsoft Audio Dock: Audio Quality
The fact that the Audio Dock contains both a tweeter and a subwoofer contributes to a high-quality listening experience. Those that use it for conferencing won’t be able to find anything wrong with it because it was designed specifically for that use. However, if the primary purpose for which you intend to use this gadget is to listen to music, there are other, more effective ways to accomplish this task.
To ensure that the sound quality is satisfactory. The bass is surprisingly strong for such a compact speaker given how crisp the sound is. If you turn it up to more than 70%, it will absolutely shake your desk, but you can find many better audio solutions in this price range that will let you listen to music better. If you set it up to 100%, it will definitely shake your desk. This is an excellent answer if you are looking for something to provide a little bit more clarity and bass in a conference space that is anywhere between small and medium in size.
Performance
To start with the good news, the sound quality of the Microsoft Audio Dock exceeds my expectations. Although the Audio Dock is primarily, if not solely, intended for video chatting and simple conversation, we found that we preferred it to the native speakers on the gaming laptop we were using for the majority of my time with the dock, and would switch to it as my audio playback device for music when we couldn’t use headphones.
The 15-watt woofer provides unexpectedly enjoyable bass, and the overall range is more varied than that of the vast majority of conference speakers we have heard. The microphones are also excellent, picking up my occasionally mumbled voice with far greater clarity than they did with Microsoft’s own Modern Webcam, which we also used at the time.
Price and availability
The price of a Microsoft Audio Dock is a whopping £244.99 (or $249.99). Even if the speaker is excellent quality, that’s a lot to spend on a tiny dock and speaker. Microsoft’s apparent willingness to negotiate a lower price for the console at the time of this review’s publication in the United States indicates that it will be regularly discounted.
Final Words
The Microsoft Audio Dock is designed to work with Surface tablets, laptops, and computers. Those with MacBook Pros or other laptops that have a serious dearth of USB ports will be uninterested, and the surprisingly good speaker won’t be enough to justify the high price tag of £200 or more. However, the Microsoft Audio Dock is a stylish and functional addition to any Surface user’s setup.
Microsoft Audio Dock review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Can connect two monitors
- Looks very nice
The Bad
- Only four ports
FAQS
A sound dock is a container for an iPod, iPhone, or other portable music player. When the player is “docked,” they can recharge their energy.
Connect your Surface to larger displays, an Ethernet network, external speakers, and more with the Surface Dock. It can also keep your Surface charged. The page Identify your Surface Dock and features might help you figure out which dock you have.