Cyruslink LinkMini Two review

For less than £80 the Cyruslink (tuned by the hi-fi specialist Cyrus) speaker system provides a superb Tested at £80.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

It’s not the best-looking dock out there, but it’s a great buy if you’re above that kind of thing and only interested in the sound quality

Pros

  • +

    A bargain for the quality of sound it offers

Cons

  • -

    A tad on the ugly side

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Appearances can be deceptive, so when the slightly brutish-looking Link-Mini Two arrived in our office, we were pleasantly surprised by its sound quality.

The LinkMini Two is an accommodating sort, welcoming iPods from third-generation upwards. Your 'Pod then sits comfortably on a dock that's attached to an active subwoofer with treble, bass and volume controls. Also included is a pair of deceptively powerful but small satellite speakers.

A remote gives you full control over your iPod as well as the sub controls. The LinkMini Two also supplies you with an S-Video out, so you can view images on your TV.

Strong sonic performance
The sound that emanates from the LinkMini Two belies its looks. The volume, bass and treble don't have the widest range, but the integration between the sub and the speakers is excellent. The dock provides great detail and separation, while handling the midrange and bass admirably.

We listened to Metric's Monster Hospital through the LinkMini Two, and it provided a great sonic response, delivering timing good enough to complement a rock song that constantly drives forward. Try it with Edith Piaf, and the LinkMini Two will handle her warbling French vocals with aplomb. For an £80 system, there isn't much that this can't do.

Not all roses
The downsides are a remote that's far too flimsy, plus the subwoofer controls don't have any markings to show levels, and are also too close together, which is a real pain for those of us with fatter-than-average fingers.

If you're in the market for a dock and speakers, the LinkMini Two is a superb buy, offering great sound at an affordable price.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test