Full Breakdown
Ikea Tests Its Claim: 150 Bluetooth Speakers Linked in a Wall of Sound
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Linking 150 Kallsup Speakers
Wired built a literal “wall of sound” by stacking 150 IKEA Kallsup Bluetooth speakers in its London office and attempting to play audio from a single smartphone. The experiment resulted in 149 speakers successfully chaining together; one unit arrived damaged and failed to join the network.
Background & Context – Launch and the 150-Speaker Claim
IKEA introduced the $10 Kallsup speaker in April, offering a compact 2.75-inch design in bright white, green, and pink colors. Marketing materials highlighted the ability to link up to 100 units, a feature that sparked curiosity about larger configurations. When Wired inquired, IKEA’s headquarters in Älmhult confirmed the possibility of linking as many as 150 speakers without breaking the Bluetooth connection and supplied that exact number for testing.
Official Statements & Responses – IKEA’s Position
Nonetheless, the spokesperson affirmed the company’s belief that a 150-speaker chain should remain functional, prompting the provision of the full set for the experiment.
Data & Statistics – Results of the Test
- Speakers shipped for the test: 150
- Units that functioned in the chain: 149 (99 % success rate)
- Faulty unit: 1, which produced a rattling sound and failed to play audio
- Audio playback: continuous across the 149-speaker array when controlled from a single smartphone
Why It Matters – Consumer Claims and Real-World Viability
The test demonstrates that IKEA’s advertised linking capability is largely achievable, though the single failure underscores the potential for hardware defects to disrupt large-scale setups. For consumers, the findings suggest that while massive speaker walls are technically feasible, reliability may hinge on the quality of each individual unit. The experiment also highlights the value of third-party verification for bold product claims that rarely receive real-world testing.