Peachtree Audio deepblueSKY

Since the release of the original deepblue speaker, Peachtree Audio has been one of the more popular choices when it comes to large Bluetooth speakers. With the third iteration of the deepblue series came two models, the deepblue3 and deepblueSKY. Both these speakers are identical, except the deepblueSKY works only with WiFi while the deepblue3 works only with Bluetooth.

At a Glance

The deepblueSKY is a 3-way speaker with 1 x 6½-inch woofer, 2 x 3” mid-range drivers and a single 1” tweeter delivering an impressive 440W of sound. This is more than double competitor Aiwa Exos-9 which only delivers with the same amount of drivers!

With a 3-way speaker system, the deepblueSKY sounds incredible! The 6½-inch woofer is able to produce big bass without interfering with the rest of the frequency spectrum. The mid-range is clean and clear with the tweeters delivering excellent intelligibility and clarity.

Smart Volume

The deepblueSKY features Smart Volume which automatically adjusts the equalization depending on the volume of the speaker. Have you ever noticed that when your speaker plays at lower volumes the bass is really low while at higher volumes the bass is too overpowering and, in some cases distorts? Peachtree Smart Volume tweaks the internal processing so you get a balanced audio image no matter what volume you play the speaker at. Even at high volumes, the deepblueSKY delivers clear audio without any break-up or distortion.

Inputs

The speaker allows for three inputs ⅛-inch AUX, optical and WiFi. The ⅛-inch AUX and optical inputs are located on the rear of the deepblueSKY which keeps the visible parts of the speaker clean and uncluttered. I have mentioned this already, but it’s important you are well aware that the deepblueSKY does NOT have Bluetooth. It only has WiFi. The deepblue3 is the Bluetooth version of the same speaker. There is also a micro USB port next to the input connections but this is for servicing the deepblueSKY only. It is not an audio input.

The deepblueSKY features a small 5-button capacitive touch control panel on top of the speaker. Buttons include WiFi connection, input selection, power on/off, volume up and volume down. The buttons are neatly recessed so nothing sticks out adding to the minimal aesthetic of the speaker. LEDs located in front of the buttons indicate when settings are being initiated and then confirmed so you know exactly what is the deepblueSKY is doing.

It also comes with a remote control which allows you to operate all aspects of the speaker system. Standard audio buttons include play/pause, track skip next/previous, volume up/down, mute and individual buttons for each input. There are separate tone controls for bass and treble which allow you to fine tune the EQ. If you want to reset the EQ settings, there is a convenient FLAT button which sets the bass and treble back to zero. Lastly, you have six preset buttons allowing you to switch between the programmed presets.

The deepblueSKY allows you to program up to six audio presets via the MUZO Player app. The app is available in both Android and iOS app stores. The MUZO Player app enables you to control the functions as the remote with the ability to connect to and play your favorite streaming services on the deepblueSKY. You can also program up to six presets which may be a song, artist, album, playlist or internet radio station. These are programmed to numbers 1-6 which can then be accessed using the remote or MUZO Player application.

deepblueSKY vs deepblue3, Which Should You Choose?

While the deepblueSKY and deepblue3 are identical, the differences between WiFi and Bluetooth for streaming music are immense. In this section, we take a look at these differences and why you would want to choose the deepblueSKY over the deepblue3 or vice versa.

Range

Device to speaker range is one of the biggest limitations of Bluetooth. Even with the recent release of Bluetooth 5, you are still limited by range within your home. Building materials, electricity and a host of other factors could also interrupt the Bluetooth connection between your device and your Bluetooth speaker.

WiFi is different. Each device is connecting to the same network and therefore as long as you’re connected to the network, your device will still stream to the deepblueSKY. You can be at the top of a 100 story building with your deepblueSKY on the ground floor and, as long as you’re connected to the same WiFi network, you will still be able to play music from your mobile to the deepblueSKY.
So the deepblue3 is limited by Bluetooth range where the deepblueSKY is not.

Sound Quality

WiFi has a much wider bandwidth when compared with Bluetooth. This gives the deepblueSKY the ability to stream lossless audio where the deepblue3 streams a highly compressed Bluetooth signal. The result is WiFi streaming delivers far superior audio quality when compared to Bluetooth. So, the deepblueSKY is going to sound better than the deepblue3 when streaming wirelessly.

Cost

Now typically, WiFi speakers cost more than Bluetooth speakers. But, in the case of the deepblue series, the deepblueSKY ($320) is cheaper than the deepblue3 ($399). I have no idea why this is the case other than there is greater demand for a Bluetooth speaker over WiFi. So, where the deepblue3 should have won on price, the deepblueSKY gets another point!

What’s in the Box?

Included with the Peachtree Audio deepblueSKY Wireless Multiroom Speaker:

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a semi-portable WiFi speaker for the home, then the deepblueSKY is one of the most affordable premium options on the market. I say semi-portablebecause even though the deepblueSKY requires power from a socket to work, it’s easy to pick up and move around the house. There is even a handle on the rear to pick the speaker up with one hand.

The only thing missing from the deepblueSKY is the ability to pair the speaker with Alexa. Will this be a minor sticking point, many people purchase WiFi speakers for this reason. Still, at $399 Canadian, the deepblueSKY is one of the more affordable Hi performance WiFi speakers on the market.