Cyber Acoustics Speaker Bar CA-2890BT: Inexpensive Clip-on Speakers and Speakerphone for Small Spaces

Cyber Acoustics Speaker Bar CA-2890BT 

I am reviewing several Cyber Acoustics Essentials products. This review will focus on CA-2890BT, more affectionately known as the USB and Bluetooth Speaker Bar with Integrated Monitor Mount, that is, as it says, a stereo speaker bar that clips to the bottom of a display, or sits on a desk, your choice. Either way, the inexpensive speakers do the job of delivering sound aimed at small spaces. 

What we like

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Clips to monitors or sits on a desktop
• Includes USB-A cable and USB-C adapter
• Acts as a speakerphone

This $29.99 powerhouse cranks audio from any device via USB-C or Bluetooth® 5.0. And it’s pretty tiny at just (L) 3.5 inches by (W) 10.6 inches by (H) 3.0 inches. The speaker weighs just under three-quarters of a pound, making it a good portable option.

But why take up desktop space at all when you can just clip the speaker to the top or bottom of a monitor and keep it off the desk completely. The clip doubles as the CA-2890BT’s stand.

A single button switches between inputs, while clear controls cover play/pause, volume and microphone mute.

Yes, a microphone mute button. This speaker is also a speakerphone. No fancy AI or sound suppression, but it gets the job done in a pinch. If connected to a phone, however, it will auto-switch to an incoming call. A tap on the multi-function switch returns the speaker to the USB connection following the call.

Sound

Loud enough for a home office—probably too loud for a cubicle. If you have to keep it down, then it’s probably loud enough. That said, the 1.5” speakers won’t meet audiophile standards with their poor soundstage and lack of audio enthusiasm, but be honest, audiophiles in offices wear headphones.

The speakers require no drivers; just select them as the primary output in Windows, macOS or Chrome.

What could be improved

Cons

• Doesn’t support clipping to curved monitors
• No auxiliary input for wired devices
• Poor volume range

At $29.99 I’m not going to complain about much. The big items are listed in the “Cons.” 

The speaker works best with flat monitors that have some bezel so the clip doesn’t obscure the display.

And if you want just one speaker, and that requirement includes an auxiliary input for a wired laptop or another device, then the CA-2890BT will not meet your needs.

I will take issue with the lack of volume levels. Turning down the volume, the sound fades into inaudibility after just a couple of clicks down. Loud fading quickly to nothing. CA needs to engineer more subtlety into the volume levels. If you own a high-end laptop, keep in mind the built-in speakers will prove superior to the CA-2890BT. That is certainly the case with the MacBook Pro and the HP Dragonfly.

Other than that, these are 1.5-inch, bus-powered speakers, running at 1W. They aren’t designed to craft highest or mids or isolate the base. They are designed to offer an alternative to poor internal or monitor speakers, or speakers that have stopped working.  Not a complaint, just an observation—in this case if the requirement calls for louder speakers with more bass, then the “needs to improve” recommendation goes to the buyer to acquire a different speaker, not complain about the Cyber Acoustics Speaker Bar CA-2890BT. Cyber Acoustics offers a wide range of other speakers that offer a much richer experience.

Cyber Acoustics Speaker Bar CA-2890BT: The bottom line

The Cyber Acoustics Speaker Bar CA-2890BT will not become your primary speaker for rich, in-depth listening. It may, however, prove perfectly adequate as a speaker/speakerphone combination in a home office, cubicle, or backpack or bag when you travel.

Cyber Acoustics provided the CA-2890BT for review. Images courtesy of Cyber Acoustics unless otherwise noted.

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