Teufel IKONIO Review: Small, pentagonal, with hellishly deep bass

STEREO GUIDE test verdict

93%

93%

The IKONIO manages to combine the comfort of a compact speaker with the power of a full-size floorstanding speaker. In our test, this angular powerhouse impressed us with its deep, precise bass, natural vocals, and enormous dynamic range.

Pros

1. Extremely rich and deep bass from a compact speaker
2. Also suitable for classical music
3. Intuitive app
4. Wireless pairing with a stereo pair is possible

Cons

1. Not suitable for conventional speaker stands

• Tonal balance / transparency

  9.1
• Bass / Dynamics

  9.5
• Usability / Connectivity

  9.2
• Price/Performance

  9.2

Compact streaming speakers are convenient, while full-size floor-standing speakers sound mature—or so the common preconception goes. The Teufel IKONIO aims to bridge this gap with eight drivers, just as many amplifier channels, and 2,500 watts of peak power. To achieve this, it distributes midrange and tweeter drivers across three baffles and has two 20-centimeter woofers working in opposition to one another. In testing, the quirky pentagon actually delivered a punch that seems completely out of proportion to its modest dimensions.

With its streaming offerings to date, Teufel has largely stayed within familiar territory. The IKONIO, on the other hand, doesn’t fit into any of the usual categories. It’s neither a classic wireless speaker nor a stereo system in the traditional sense. And although its two woofers are even meant to rival full-fledged subwoofers, it doesn’t require a separate subwoofer.

However, this high standard is reflected in the price: A single Teufel IKONIO costs 1,200 euros. The wireless stereo set with two speakers costs 2,400 euros.

Teufel IKONIO: A pentagon with three sound barriers

Measuring 30 centimeters wide and deep and 38 centimeters tall, the IKONIO takes up no more floor space than a larger bookshelf speaker. However, its weight of 17.4 kilograms already hints that Teufel didn’t skimp on the internals.

Visually, too, the Berlin-based direct-to-consumer retailer breaks the mold. The pentagonal enclosure features three baffles angled forward and to the sides. Each of these houses a 3.5-inch (just under 9-centimeter) polypropylene midrange driver and a 1-inch fabric dome tweeter for the high-frequency range. Behind the magnetically attached fabric covers, the unusual driver array remains discreetly hidden. Without the covers, however, the IKONIO’s technical character stands out all the more clearly.

The two rear sides are reserved for the connectors and the generously sized heat sinks of the power amplifier modules. Despite its high power output, the system does not require a fan. Passive cooling via the metal surfaces of the amplifier modules—which are equipped with heat sinks—therefore also prevents annoying operating noise even when playing music at low volumes.

The IKONIO makes a striking impression when placed on a lowboard. If you’d like to position it freely in the room, you can opt for the IKONIO stand, which costs around 100 euros. The slim, three-legged stand is secured to the bottom with five screws and ensures a secure hold given the speaker’s heavy weight. Because of its sound port on the bottom for the down-firing woofer, the IKONIO cannot be used with standard speaker stands.

Eight drivers and 2,500 watts of peak power

Teufel describes the IKONIO as a self-contained 3-way active system. A total of eight amplifier channels drive three tweeters, three midrange drivers, and two woofers independently of one another. The manufacturer specifies the continuous output power as 650 watts, with up to 2,500 watts available for short bursts. According to Teufel, a single IKONIO achieves a peak sound level of 118 dB, while a paired stereo system reaches as high as 124 dB.

The real innovation lies in the top and bottom panels. There, two opposing 20-cm woofers operate in a force-balancing—or push-pull—configuration. While one cone radiates sound upward, the other radiates downward. The resulting mechanical reaction forces act in opposite directions and largely cancel each other out. This is designed to keep the comparatively compact enclosure stable even at high volume levels, rather than converting some of the energy into unwanted vibrations.

The sealed design delivers controlled, precise bass. At the same time, it requires significantly more amplifier power than a standard bass-reflex design to achieve deep bass extension and high volume levels. This explains the sophisticated electronics and impressive performance specifications. A DSP coordinates all drivers and amplifier channels. Teufel specifies a remarkable lower cutoff frequency of 19 Hz with a 6 dB roll-off. The upper end of the frequency response is 22 kHz.

Streaming from AirPlay to Tidal Connect

The IKONIO is part of the Teufel HOME series and, as such, offers a wide range of options for direct music playback. On the network, it is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect allow for direct control from their respective apps. TuneIn internet radio is also built in. Bluetooth 5.1 is available for a fast connection that doesn’t rely on your home network.

Wired audio sources can be connected via an analog stereo RCA input and an optical digital input on the back panel. This allows you to connect devices such as CD players, TVs, or turntables with their own phono preamplifiers. An Ethernet port enables stable network connectivity. Teufel does not include HDMI or HDMI eARC, so TV audio must be fed digitally via the optical connection.

Two IKONIO speakers can be wirelessly paired to form a full-fledged stereo pair. One speaker handles the left channel and the other the right. This is not only beneficial for more precise spatial imaging, but also for listeners who want to reproduce classic stereo recordings as faithfully as possible.

Instructions: Please swipe once in a circle

The control panel on top is one of those details that brings more joy to everyday life than you might initially expect. A proximity sensor detects your hand and automatically turns on the touch panel’s backlight. You can control play, pause, track skipping, and source selection right on the speaker.

Teufel came up with a particularly elegant solution for volume control: it’s operated by making a circular swiping motion around the inner keypad. LEDs that light up as you swipe immediately indicate the current volume level. It’s a nice touch and feels much more high-end than two ordinary plus and minus buttons.

The Teufel Home app for iOS and Android handles all advanced settings. Even with the beta version provided in advance, the installation and setup went extremely smoothly. The menus are logically organized, and the controls are intuitive. What I particularly liked was connecting to the Wi-Fi without having to enter a password.

A practical room positioning adjustment takes into account whether the IKONIO is placed freestanding, near a wall, in a corner, or on the separately available three-legged tripod. Additionally, the “Neutral,” “Bass Boost,” and “Voice” sound presets are available. Those who prefer to fine-tune the settings themselves can adjust the bass, midrange, and treble separately.

The switchable AUX gain is also well thought out. With the “High” and “Low” settings, you can adjust the input sensitivity to accommodate analog sources of varying volume—such as a relatively quiet laptop output or a CD player with a high line level.

However, the IKONIO can also be integrated into smart homes using the Google Home app and then controlled by voice—for example, via Google Assistant.

Dynamore Ultra: Immersive, Surround, or Off

Dynamore Ultra plays a key role. For the IKONIO, Teufel adapted its proprietary surround sound algorithm to the driver array, which emits sound from three sides. The app offers three operating modes.

“Immersive” is designed to broaden the soundstage of a single speaker and create the impression of two speakers. In “Surround” mode, the IKONIO distributes the music as evenly as possible across its three sound panels. This setting is ideal when the speaker is placed freely in the room and listeners are not sitting in a fixed location at all times.

In the “Off” setting, the sound remains deliberately direct and unadorned. This mode is ideal for classic stereo and mono recordings. When you pair two IKONIO units as a stereo pair in the app, the Dynamore Ultra menu disappears and the spatial sound enhancement is automatically deactivated. Each speaker then focuses on its assigned left or right channel and forgoes artificial effects. Why do I know this? It’s simple: For the 11/26 issue of AUDIO/stereoplay, I had the opportunity to listen to a pair of IKONIOs in the editorial office’s listening room. However, I don’t want to get ahead of the magazine’s coverage here, so I’ll focus exclusively on the sound you can expect from one of these exceptional hi-fi speakers in standalone mode.

Teufel IKONIO Audio Review: This Quirky Device Packs a Punch

This quirky contraption really packs a punch. Anyone who has seen the three baffles with their respective 2-way configurations, the two push-pull bass drivers, and the large heat sinks on the amplifier modules is prepared for a certain acoustic punch. Based purely on the size of the enclosure, however, you wouldn’t expect anything even remotely close to such a storm.

The IKONIO goes all out and makes a distinctly dynamic impression right from the first beat. Yet it by no means relies solely on superficial effects. The midrange and treble remain balanced, clean, and natural. It is precisely this well-achieved tonal balance that makes the Teufel an astonishingly versatile speaker. Singer-songwriter recordings sound just as compelling as rock, pop, and jazz. Even with classical music, the sound is harmonious and refined.

The natural timbres are particularly noticeable in vocal performances. On Tori Amos’s “Winter,” the IKONIO renders the singer’s voice with sensitivity and physicality. Her voice stands out clearly from the speaker, while the piano is sharply defined and rendered with a believable touch. The speaker preserves the intimacy of the recording without smoothing out its dynamic peaks.

Anette Askvik’s “Liberty” also sounds great on the IKONIO. The vocals sound approachable and richly nuanced, while the deep synthesizer bass lines powerfully weave their way into the arrangement. The saxophone sounds smooth, authentic, and free of any unpleasant harshness. Male voices also possess the necessary volume and a credible timbre. In short: tonally, everything here just fits.

Deep, powerful bass with punch and precision

With the Teufel IKONIO, however, the balanced mids and highs are just the basics. The bass is where it really shines—and how! It reaches down to abyssal depths and combines its depth with precision, punch, and remarkable detail.

This is all the more surprising given that the listening room does not artificially boost the low-frequency range. The large living area of the penthouse has sloped ceilings and numerous drywall surfaces. Such lightweight walls tend to sap energy from the room in the low-bass range, while parallel, solid concrete walls can promote pronounced standing waves. Nevertheless, things really got wild with the IKONIO.

You look at the comparatively small speaker and can hardly believe your eyes. In terms of depth, impact, and definition, you’d swear you were listening to a full-size floor-standing speaker. The bass doesn’t sound like an afterthought added just for effect; instead, it blends seamlessly into the overall sound.

With “INFERNO” and “Ratchets” by HEDEGAARD, the IKONIO demonstrates exactly what the two 20-centimeter woofers and the enormous amplifier power are designed for. The deep electronic bass pulses hit the room with brutal force, tight precision, and high volume. Yet the sound remains clean. Neither distortion nor an audibly intervening limiter dampens the fun. This bass chases the devil right out of hell.

Toto’s “Africa,” as heard in the live version from the album “XX,” demonstrates that the IKONIO is capable of more than just electronically generated deep bass hits. The bass drum has an authentic, full-bodied sound, hits the mark with precision, and delivers a punch that far exceeds what one would expect from a speaker of this size. At the same time, the multi-layered percussion textures remain clearly distinguishable from one another.

Even at high volumes, the tonal balance remains stable. The IKONIO can play really loud without the DSP noticeably cutting the bass or making the mids and highs sound harsh. It maintains its composure and still sounds controlled even when normal living conditions would long since have prompted you to turn down the volume.

How does the Dynamore Ultra perform in a listening test?

The three Dynamore settings significantly alter the character of the IKONIO. In “Immersive” mode, the soundstage detaches sharply from the enclosure and creates an astonishingly wide sound field. The speaker sounds larger than it actually is. Music is no longer confined to the small enclosure but spreads far beyond its outer boundaries.

The “Off” setting provides the greatest contrast. In this mode, the IKONIO sounds more direct, dry, and focused. This setting is recommended for purists, for intentionally produced mono recordings, and especially when using a second IKONIO as a wireless stereo pair.

“Rundum” has a different goal and achieves it exceptionally well. The sound is distributed more evenly throughout the room and remains balanced even when you’re standing to the side of the speaker or in different parts of the room. This makes it a very practical solution for filling a larger living area with sound using just one speaker.

Conclusion and Alternatives: Teufel IKONIO

The Teufel IKONIO is far more than just an ordinary streaming speaker in an extravagant enclosure. Its unusual design—featuring three sound panels, eight individually controlled drivers, and two opposing 20-centimeter woofers—works not just on paper. This compact active speaker combines astonishingly natural mids and highs with a depth, precision, and dynamic range that you’d more likely expect from a full-sized floorstanding speaker with a powerful subwoofer.

Dynamore Ultra makes a single IKONIO flexible enough for focused listening, a wide, immersive soundstage, or even sound distribution throughout an entire room. The Teufel Home app is intuitive, the streaming capabilities are extensive, and the circular volume control on the top is a detail that’s as practical as it is charming.

1,200 euros is a hefty price tag for a single wireless speaker. However, the IKONIO delivers a level of performance that would otherwise require multiple components, more cables, and significantly more space. Only those who require a classic stereo image with clearly separated left and right channels will necessarily need a second unit. An HDMI port would also have made using it with a TV more convenient.

On the other hand, if you want to fill the room with just one speaker, listen at really high volumes, and still enjoy genuine deep bass, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything comparable right now. You don’t have to love its unconventional design. But as soon as the IKONIO kicks into gear, that quirky pentagon transforms into an acoustic force of nature. The most obvious alternative comes not only from the same manufacturer but also from the same series: The Teufel Motiv XL uses the same app and, in terms of sound, also relies on a blend of dynamic range and rich bass. With a suggested retail price of 900 euros, it’s quite a bit more affordable and is also suitable for portable use with a rechargeable battery. However, in every respect, its sound quality falls well short of the exceptional IKONIO.

You can find more alternatives in our HiFi best list

Technical Specifications: Teufel IKONIO

• Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 1,200
  Dimensions (W x H x D): 30 x 38 x 30 cm
• Weight: 17.4 kg
• Features: 2 x RCA stereo, 1 x S/PDIF (optical), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LAN (RJ45), 3 magnetically secured covers
• More at: teufel.de

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• Teufel: Reviews, News, and Buying Guides | STEREO GUIDE
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