We’ve reviewed a handful of portable Bluetooth speakers in the past, but this one from Pioneer is a bit different. It is clad in genuine leather, features a 360° sound circle, NFC, supports hands-free calling, and works with Pioneer’s Wireless Streaming app. Is the Pioneer FREEme posing to be your next portable Bluetooth speaker? Find out by reading our quick review.
The FREEme doesn’t look like the type that you would not see in an environment where young people are partying. Instead you would picture it inside a boardroom with sharply dressed business executives, or in a living room where someone is casually enjoying a morning coffee and newspaper. Leather-coated and simple but classy, the FREEme is obviously aimed at adults who exude the same qualities.
Pioneer is true to their words when they described the FREEme as portable. It is flat-looking with a rounded body and corners which make it easy to fit inside a small bag or briefcase. The top part is covered in smooth leather (which smells nice, by the way), and has the Pioneer logo embossed on the left which is also the location of the NFC chip. Found at the bottom is the rubber base which is surrounded by leather.
Sandwiched in the middle are two 40mm Full-Range speakers with passive radiator that provide 360° sound. It is then enclosed in a metal mesh with punched holes and bordered by a pair of chrome strips.
The front houses an LED light which acts as an indicator for power and Bluetooth connectivity status. Found at the rear is a rubber strip for the buttons and ports: (Left to right) Power, Bluetooth, Volume Down, Volume Up, Answer/End call, Reset, Aux, and microUSB.
To use the FREEme, just press the power button for two seconds and the LED light will start to pulse slowly. Press the Bluetooth button for two seconds and the LED light will pulse more quickly letting you know that it is ready for pairing. Just turn on the Bluetooth on your smartphone and connect to it just like any normal Bluetooth-enabled device. Once paired the LED light will stop pulsing indicating that the pair is successful. If your mobile device has NFC you can just pair it right away without having to go through the steps above.
The FREEme’s sound quality is good for its size. As mentioned earlier, the FREEme boasts a 360° sound circle meaning you can hear equal sound regardless of where the speaker is facing. The bass is not that powerful but it is punchy and clean. The mids and highs are decent but sounds tinny and suffers from distortion as you increase the volume.
Handsfree calls are good on the FREEme. When receiving an incoming call the FREEme will play pleasant beeping sounds. So far we didn’t experience any problems when it comes to voice quality as we can be heard loud and clear. As for battery life, the FREEme is equipped with a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery that promises up to 7 hours of playback which is good.
To conclude, the Pioneer FREEme is a good portable Bluetooth speaker with a classy design and appeal with decent sound quality. However, if you’re looking for something worthy to play your tracks for a small party this is not it. It’s great for boardrooms and offices thanks to its hands-free voice call feature. It’s also a good addition to your home office or living room for some casual music listening. And due to its portable size, you can easily bring it with you during trips.
Pioneer FREEme Bluetooth Speaker specs:
2 x 40mm Full-Range speakers
Passive Radiator
Wireless Audio via Bluetooth (A2DP)
Hands-Free Calling
NFC Bluetooth Pairing
1 x 3.5mm Aux-in
1 x Micro USB port for battery charging
LED indicator
Rechargeable battery (7h)
151 x 45.5 x 82.5 mm
0.345 kg
Black, Brown leather
$199.99 U.S. price
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