As a tech reviewer, I’ve seen my fair share of Bluetooth speakers but most of them end up looking like rugged bricks or generic fabric cylinders. When I saw some first promo pictures of the MorningBlues SonicGlass A1, I was immediately impressed because it looks more like a futuristic decorative piece than a wireless speaker.
Disclosure: We received the speaker as a courtesy for review purposes. However, the review is intended to provide honest, unbiased insights about the product, based on personal experiences and observations.
A Futuristic Design
This is easily the most unique speaker I have ever used. The entire front panel is made of glass, and you can actually see the two glass drivers integrated into the design. Behind the glass sits a display that gives the speaker a futuristic, almost sci-fi look. It feels like something that belongs on a modern office desk or a contemporary living room.
A button and rotary control wheel are located on the right side, making it easy to navigate settings and adjust volume without disrupting the clean design. The entire rear panel is illuminated with backlighting. I often leave the backlight enabled because it makes the front display appear more vibrant and eye-catching, especially in a dimly lit room.
One thing that disappointed me slightly was the transparency of the display. Some promo images made it appear as if the display was completely see-through but it isn’t fully transparent. It appears that MorningBlues uses a frosted glass layer on the rear panel to improve display visibility and contrast. While it doesn’t create the transparent effect, the result still looks fantastic in person.
Unfortunately, my review unit arrived with a defect. There is a vertical stripe running through the middle of the display. Since the display is one of the main selling points of the SonicGlass A1, this issue was impossible to ignore.
Setup
Getting started with the SonicGlass A1 is quite straightforward. You can set it up through the MorningBlues app, and the process took only a few minutes. After pairing my phone with the speaker, I simply connected it to my Wi-Fi network and completed the setup process. The app itself is easy to navigate and provides access to the various display modes and settings.
However, every time I power on the speaker, I often have to reconnect Bluetooth manually. Besides, the app keeps warning me to connect the speaker to the same Wi-Fi network as my phone, of course, I already did because there is only one network in my house. I updated the device to the latest firmware hoping the issues would be resolved, but it continues to happen.
4 Display Modes
One of the most unique aspects of the SonicGlass A1 is its collection of display modes. The speaker offers 4 primary modes: Lyric Lab, Studio Lab, Serene Lab, and Clock.
My personal favorite is Lyric Lab as it displays synchronized song lyrics directly on the screen while music is playing from my phone. When it works, the effect is beautiful. I tested it with Spotify and Youtube music, the lyrics animate with stylish transitions and visual effects that remind me of professionally produced lyric videos on YouTube.
There is a small drawback, though. At the beginning of each song, there is usually a short delay before the lyrics appear. The first few lines may pass before the synchronization fully kicks in. Besides, I would prefer the lyrics to appear slightly earlier because it would make singing along much easier. I appreciate that the lyric effects rotate from song to song, keeping the experience fresh instead of showing the same animation repeatedly.
Studio Lab takes a different approach by focusing on music visualization. It displays dynamic graphics and animations that react to the audio being played. While I don’t use this mode as often, it is a nice visualizer apart from the Lyric mode.
Serene Lab is another interesting addition. This mode focuses on relaxation and wellness content, offering Ambient Sound, Meditation, and ASMR experiences. If you enjoy calming background sounds while working, reading, or preparing for bed, Serene Lab adds extra functionality beyond standard music playback.
Finally, there is Clock mode, which turns the device into a stylish desk or bedside clock when you don’t play music.
Audio Quality
Unlike the visual experience, the audio performance left me wanting more. The sound quality isn’t bad, but the overall sound signature feels somewhat flat, and the bass lacks the punch and depth I expected. Vocals remain clear enough, and casual listening is perfectly enjoyable, but the speaker doesn’t deliver the energetic or immersive sound I expected.
In fact, I have several Bluetooth speakers that cost less than $100 that sound noticeably better. That’s perhaps the biggest challenge facing the SonicGlass A1. If you are an audiophile looking for deep acoustic immersion, this will disappoint you.
Conclusion
Overall, the MorningBlues SonicGlass A1 is a digital art piece that focuses heavily on the visual side and leaves much to desire in terms of audio. Buy it if you want a futuristic centerpiece for your room decor, just don’t expect it to replace your primary sound system. If you’re interested in the project, you can back it on Kickstarter with the early bird price of $599.
