Category: bluetooth speakers

Bose SoundLink III Review

Ronnie Bulaong Leave a comment

Along with the SoundTouch 20, we also received the Bose SoundLink III a couple of weeks back for review. And after using it as our daily driver, we’re ready to share with you guys our full review of this portable wireless speaker.

Design and Construction

Design-wise, the Bose Soundlink III is as basic as it comes. Truth be told, there’s nothing about this speaker that will immediately catch your attention, other than maybe the small “Bose” logo on the front.

Bose SoundLink III Philippines

We assume that the young and hip crowd will not give this speaker a second-look, and would rather go for the flashy, light-emitting JBL Pulse which we’ve reviewed just recently. However, the more laid-back consumers will certainly appreciate its no-frill design which is complemented by the SoundLink III’s grey paintjob with a touch of white paint at the top.

The same minimalist approach is applied to the speakers control panel which is situated at the top portion of the device. The left portion of the panel comprises of the Power, Bluetooth and Aux buttons, while the other half is reserved for the keys that controls the sound output of the device (Mute, Power Up/Down).

SoundLink III Philippines

The SoundLink III’s front section is mainly occupied by the speaker grilles which hide the quartet of drivers from plain sight. The only other components worth noting here in this area are the four LED lights on the front of the speaker which corresponds to the speakers Bluetooth and Aux functions, as well as the Mute and Battery/Charging state.

Apart from the Micro-USB port and two other ports for charging and Aux-In, the back portion of the speaker looks pretty much like the front end; uncluttered but rather uninteresting.

Other features (or the lack of it)

If you’re planning to shell out almost twenty grand for a wireless speaker, you’re most likely to expect a little some extra on the side than what the competition is offering. Well, we hate to disappoint, but that’s not the case with the SoundLink III.

SoundLink 3 philippines

Although it pretty much have most of the basic things covered (the inclusion of a Play/Pause, Previous and Next buttons would’ve been nicer), this wireless speaker doesn’t have NFC or Bluetooth aptX support which are slowly becoming a staple for mid-tier to high-end wireless speakers.

That said, the SoundLink III, in our opinion, is just a straightforward Bluetooth speakers that functions the same way as a normal wireless speaker would, but costs two times more than what the competitions are offering. But then again, it’s made by Bose so what can you expect.

Sound Performance

A good portion of what you’ll be paying for the SoundLink III goes into the four neodymium tranducers inside of it which, by the way, are also partly the reason why the speaker weighs so heavy despite of its deceivingly lightweight form factor.

Needless to say, these drivers are fine tuned to deliver above-average sound quality that you’d expect from a speaker of this caliber. And although we have to admit that its sound performance alone wouldn’t suffice to cover the whole price of the admission, it certainly helped in making its SRP a little easier to swallow.

Test parameters:
(24 hours of burn-in was done prior to the actual test)
Device: iPhone 4S
Volume: 90%
Equalizer: Off
File format: Combination of MP3 and ALAC
Track bitrate: 256Kbps and above
Tracks:
• Back to You – John Mayer (Good)
• King of anything – Sarah Bareilles (Best)
• Headlights – Eminem ft. Nate Ruess (Best)
• Mrs. Fely Nimfa – Itchyworms (Good)
• 19-2000 – Gorillaz (Best)
• She wants to move – NERD (Best)
• Basket Case – Greenday (Good)
• Perfect – Pink (Best)
• Love Song – 311 (Good)
• Sunset Daze – Selfish (Best)

Let’s talk about its sound signature. Right from the get go, we noticed that there’s plenty of bass to go around with. Perhaps a little bit too much as it tend to somewhat overpower the treble, resulting into a rather veiled output, particularly in the highs and upper mids.

Not only were the highs are slightly attenuated, the chimes (and other similar-sounding instruments) lacked vibrance to point that it sounded flat. The vocals, on the other hand, don’t seem to be affected that much by the SoundLink III’s powerful bass. It sounded very clear and blended well with the speaker’s deep bass.

Battery Life

Apart from its respectable sound output, battery life is another strong suit of the SoundLink III. Bose claims that it can last up to 14 hours of continuous music playback (wirelessly) on a single full charge and based on our test, the speaker, or should we say the battery, works as advertised and sometimes even surpassing the claimed mileage depending on the usage.

soundlink 3

Of course, we didn’t have the luxury of playing tracks for 14 or more hours straight. So what we did was we ran a timer whenever we’re using the speaker, and stopped it whenever we’re out in the field. On average, we got around 16-18 hours’ worth of juice before we reached out for its proprietary charger.

Conclusion

It was back in 2011 when Bose introduced the first SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker. The competition in the wireless speaker arena was not as fierce as compared to today, and all the company needed to do to win the crowd was apply their signature sound and slap it on to a portable speaker that can be synced wirelessly to the audio source.

Three years and two iterations later, the company still decided to use the same principle on the SoundLink III. And while it’s true that the battery life is significantly better than the two previous models combined, not to mention the current version has a more refined sound quality than its predecessors, we think that Bose could’ve done more with the SoundLink III given the technology available today.

With everything taken in to consideration, we still feel that the Bose SoundLink III is a decent wireless speaker that offers superb sound quality for its size and long battery life to last you for hours on end. Yes, it doesn’t have the fancy add-on features that other wireless speakers in the market have, but if you’re just in the market for a Bluetooth speaker from a reputable brand and money is not an issue, then the SoundLink III should definitely be on your list.

What we liked about it:

* Above-average sound quality
* Vocals and Bass are well-pronounced
* Loud enough to easily fill a mid-sized room
* Decent build with a minimalist design
* Long battery life
* Optional Cover (sold separately, comes in 5 color options)

What we didn’t like about it:

* PRICEY
* Highs are a bit recessed and lacked vibrance
* Lacks Bluetooth aptX and NFC
* Proprietary charger
* Doesn’t charge via Micro-USB port (only for service and future software updates)
* Doesn’t come with a remote

The Bose SoundLink III is available locally for Php19,000.

The post Bose SoundLink III Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

DECK by SOL REPUBLIC and Motorola Review

Kevin Bruce Francisco Leave a comment

SOL REPUBLIC, a speaker manufacturer known for their hip designs, and Motorola joined forces and came up with the DECK — a Bluetooth and NFC-enabled speaker with eye-catching physique and a pack full of features. Is it impressive? Read on.

DECK specs and features:

R2 Sound Engine
40mm low profile speakers with 360-degree natural sound
60Hz – 20kHz frequency response
Bluetooth V4.0 and NFC
Wireless up to 300 feet
Outdoor Boost
Heist Mode
96 x 185 x 29mm
325 g

DECK 1

Design

SOL REPUBLIC has always been creative with their designs and DECK is a testament to this. Upon first glance you’d notice the grid-like texture on the face of its all-plastic body that looks like it came straight out of an iTunes visualizer. SOL’s logo is slapped flat on the device which changes color depending on who’s currently playing (I’ll get to that more later on). In addition, we have volume controls situated comfortably on opposite sides, and a Motorola logo that can play/pause the song, among other things.

Located at the back of this wireless speaker, we find all the ports and switches. There is a power button and switch that toggles between single user and multi-user, the IN port for wired connectivity, and the OUT port for connecting it to a bigger speaker (making the DECK just a Bluetooth receiver). The OUT port also functions in a way that you can daisy-chain it with other DECKs for a bigger sound.

Underneath, you have a rubber strip with the same textured design to keep the speaker still while music is playing. A bass diaphragm on one side of the DECK is placed to let its 40mm low profile speakers breathe.

DECK 3

Wireless connectivity

DECK has been equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC for wireless pairing. One feature, the Heist Mode, lets up to 5 devices be connected to the speaker all at the same time. Because of this, the next user can play his song right after the previous one (and keep the party going) to avoid dull times while pairing the next device. The entire “SOL” logo changes color to indicate which device among the 5 is currently playing.

This department is actually where DECK has an edge over its fellow wireless speakers. With other Bluetooth speakers limiting you to stay inside its 30-foot range, DECK lets you go further to a maximum of 300 feet. But as I’ve experienced, the 300 feet should be clear since obstruction interferes with the signal and halts the stream. On the other hand, playing wirelessly nearby works well even if there’s no line of sight between the two devices.

When connected, this speaker can also be used as a loudspeaker for calls using its built-in microphone. Answering a call may also be done by pressing the Motorola logo on the speaker.

DECK 4

Sound performance

So I popped in Daft Punk’s latest album and played ‘Lose Yourself to Dance’ to test out the overall sound reproduction of the DECK. Initially, sound clarity was noticed. The discotheque-sounding guitars were delivered as if live, as Pharrell’s falsetto voice rose above the instruments with good distinction. Bass joins in on the fun with juicy thumps and kicks, but somehow I find the chimes and all the other highs being drowned out and a bit dirty. This performance still proved consistent after playing couple more tracks.

Music sounds equal in different locations around the speaker thanks to the 360° Full Sound technology and its flat build that throws the sound upwards. Although I believe it’s because of this vertical direction that the lows and mids of the sound are the ones easily heard, while the highs get overpowered by a little. This is one tradeoff I personally couldn’t sacrifice since I want my sound equal.

You probably thought the function of the Motorola button ends at answering calls, but its function still continues. Pressing and holding it enables the Outdoor Mode that boosts the sound so you could use it even…well, outdoors. Be ready for it to chug down serious battery juice, though.

Battery life

The DECK promises that it can last up to 10 hours of continuous playing, but of course it all depends on varying factors. I used it on an out of town trip and started at full battery, played songs every time I was in my hotel room for about a total of 2-3 hours per day and it only lasted me two days since I like my music a little loud.

So if you’re using it as party speakers (which almost all features point to it being used as so), I suggest you use it near a power source. If not, it makes sure you know the time when to charge since there is a JARVIS-like voice prompt that reports  the battery’s status once in a while.

Conclusion

DECK 2

DECK by SOL REPUBLIC and Motorola is truly a feature-packed speaker, no doubt about that. Some of the features, like the increased Bluetooth range and speakerphone are nice to have, but I’ve proven that they don’t work as flawless and as important — at least for me. Having two of these at home just so you can use its daisy-chain function isn’t totally wise, in my honest opinion.

At Php13,000, I find it expensive. It would attract me more and maybe even make me buy one if it’s around Php8,000. Yes, it is impressive, but with its asking price DECK is something that you’d probably want, but not totally need.

What I liked about it:
- Funky design
- Lightweight and easy to bring around
- Good lows and mids
- Can pair with up to 5 people simultaneously

What I didn’t like about it:
- Lacks treble
- Too pricey

The unit is available at Pismo Digital Shop at the East Wing of the EDSA Shangri-la Mall.

The post DECK by SOL REPUBLIC and Motorola Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

DECK by SOL REPUBLIC and Motorola Review

Kevin Bruce Francisco Leave a comment

SOL REPUBLIC, a speaker manufacturer known for their hip designs, and Motorola joined forces and came up with the DECK — a Bluetooth and NFC-enabled speaker with eye-catching physique and a pack full of features. Is it impressive? Read on.

DECK specs and features:

R2 Sound Engine
40mm low profile speakers with 360-degree natural sound
60Hz – 20kHz frequency response
Bluetooth V4.0 and NFC
Wireless up to 300 feet
Outdoor Boost
Heist Mode
96 x 185 x 29mm
325 g

DECK 1

Design

SOL REPUBLIC has always been creative with their designs and DECK is a testament to this. Upon first glance you’d notice the grid-like texture on the face of its all-plastic body that looks like it came straight out of an iTunes visualizer. SOL’s logo is slapped flat on the device which changes color depending on who’s currently playing (I’ll get to that more later on). In addition, we have volume controls situated comfortably on opposite sides, and a Motorola logo that can play/pause the song, among other things.

Located at the back of this wireless speaker, we find all the ports and switches. There is a power button and switch that toggles between single user and multi-user, the IN port for wired connectivity, and the OUT port for connecting it to a bigger speaker (making the DECK just a Bluetooth receiver). The OUT port also functions in a way that you can daisy-chain it with other DECKs for a bigger sound.

Underneath, you have a rubber strip with the same textured design to keep the speaker still while music is playing. A bass diaphragm on one side of the DECK is placed to let its 40mm low profile speakers breathe.

DECK 3

Wireless connectivity

DECK has been equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC for wireless pairing. One feature, the Heist Mode, lets up to 5 devices be connected to the speaker all at the same time. Because of this, the next user can play his song right after the previous one (and keep the party going) to avoid dull times while pairing the next device. The entire “SOL” logo changes color to indicate which device among the 5 is currently playing.

This department is actually where DECK has an edge over its fellow wireless speakers. With other Bluetooth speakers limiting you to stay inside its 30-foot range, DECK lets you go further to a maximum of 300 feet. But as I’ve experienced, the 300 feet should be clear since obstruction interferes with the signal and halts the stream. On the other hand, playing wirelessly nearby works well even if there’s no line of sight between the two devices.

When connected, this speaker can also be used as a loudspeaker for calls using its built-in microphone. Answering a call may also be done by pressing the Motorola logo on the speaker.

DECK 4

Sound performance

So I popped in Daft Punk’s latest album and played ‘Lose Yourself to Dance’ to test out the overall sound reproduction of the DECK. Initially, sound clarity was noticed. The discotheque-sounding guitars were delivered as if live, as Pharrell’s falsetto voice rose above the instruments with good distinction. Bass joins in on the fun with juicy thumps and kicks, but somehow I find the chimes and all the other highs being drowned out and a bit dirty. This performance still proved consistent after playing couple more tracks.

Music sounds equal in different locations around the speaker thanks to the 360° Full Sound technology and its flat build that throws the sound upwards. Although I believe it’s because of this vertical direction that the lows and mids of the sound are the ones easily heard, while the highs get overpowered by a little. This is one tradeoff I personally couldn’t sacrifice since I want my sound equal.

You probably thought the function of the Motorola button ends at answering calls, but its function still continues. Pressing and holding it enables the Outdoor Mode that boosts the sound so you could use it even…well, outdoors. Be ready for it to chug down serious battery juice, though.

Battery life

The DECK promises that it can last up to 10 hours of continuous playing, but of course it all depends on varying factors. I used it on an out of town trip and started at full battery, played songs every time I was in my hotel room for about a total of 2-3 hours per day and it only lasted me two days since I like my music a little loud.

So if you’re using it as party speakers (which almost all features point to it being used as so), I suggest you use it near a power source. If not, it makes sure you know the time when to charge since there is a JARVIS-like voice prompt that reports  the battery’s status once in a while.

Conclusion

DECK 2

DECK by SOL REPUBLIC and Motorola is truly a feature-packed speaker, no doubt about that. Some of the features, like the increased Bluetooth range and speakerphone are nice to have, but I’ve proven that they don’t work as flawless and as important — at least for me. Having two of these at home just so you can use its daisy-chain function isn’t totally wise, in my honest opinion.

At Php13,000, I find it expensive. It would attract me more and maybe even make me buy one if it’s around Php8,000. Yes, it is impressive, but with its asking price DECK is something that you’d probably want, but not totally need.

What I liked about it:
- Funky design
- Lightweight and easy to bring around
- Good lows and mids
- Can pair with up to 5 people simultaneously

What I didn’t like about it:
- Lacks treble
- Too pricey

The unit is available at Pismo Digital Shop at the East Wing of the EDSA Shangri-la Mall.

The post DECK by SOL REPUBLIC and Motorola Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Top 5 Wireless Speakers of CES 2014

Ronnie Bulaong Leave a comment

Most of the gears we’ve covered so far in this year’s CES have been laptops, smartphones and cameras. That’s not to say though that there’s no room for new speakers. And for that, we’ve compiled a list of the coolest audio boxes we’ve seen in CES 2014.

Well since our CES coverage primarily consists of Android devices, why don’t we start our list with a speaker that has one built-in to it. Enter the Vizio Portable Smart Audio Player, a wireless speaker and quad-core Android device all rolled in to one shiny piece of audio equipment.

vizio

Vizio’s revolutionary“Smart-Speaker” runs on Android KitKat and is powered by an undisclosed quad-core processor. Furthermore, it’s equipped with a USB port and wireless chips for Bluetooth and WiFi, allowing users to stream contents from an external device.

The company has yet to announce the pricing and availability of their new device.

SRS-X9

If Vizio’s Android-powered speaker doesn’t appeal to you that much, or if you’re looking for a more serious wireless speaker, then you might fancy Sony’s new high-end speaker called the SRS-X9.

The SRS-X9 is imbued with Sony’s proprietary Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) which allows it to produce high-resolution sound output. In addition, it offers a wide range of connection including NFC, WiFi for DLNA and Apple Airplay and Bluetooth with aptX support.

Sony hasn’t announced the SRP of the SRS-X9, but it’s expected to hit the shelves starting on the second quarter of the year.

AirWave Box

Now if you’re looking for a more portable speaker that you can bring during your hiking trip, then Cobra Electronic’s AirWave Box might just do the trick.

Don’t let that colorful exterior fool you now, ‘cause the AirWave Box is as rugged as it gets. It can survive being submerged for up to about 30 minutes in a meter-deep water and has a rubber skin to protect against minor bumps.

The AirWave Box and its little brother, AirWave Mini, will be available this quarter and will retail for USD39.99 and USD79.99 respectively.

pocket kick

Soundfreaq also got a chance to showcase their new line of speakers in CES 2014. But among the speaker’s they’ve unveiled this year, the new Pocket Kick was the one that got our attention.

This wireless speaker looks like a pocket-size version of the Sound Kick which we’ve reviewed in the past. But despite of its 30mm thick body, the Pocket Kick was still able to deliver quite a punch thanks to a pair of 2.5-watt drivers.

You can pair up your device to the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick either through an audio jack or Bluetooth connection. Furthermore, the company claims that it can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. It’s slated to arrive in the second quarter of the year and will be retailed for USD99.

AR for Her

Now here’s something for the tech-savvy ladies in the house. Acoustic Research has released set of chic wireless speakers called “AR for Her”. The collection includes speaker that looks like a lipstick (which BTW is called Zipstick) and another one that looks like a small handbag.

Users can choose to go subtle with the White and Pink Polka variants or go wild by opting for the one leopard paintjob. Both fashionable and purposeful, this AR for Her speaker is equipped with a microphone for hands-free call and provides 8 hours of mileage in a single charge.

The pricing for the AR for Her lineup is yet to be announced, but it’s expected to go on sale in Spring.

The post Top 5 Wireless Speakers of CES 2014 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Hands On: Doss Asimom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Daniel Morial Leave a comment

We’ve been checking out quite a number of Bluetooth-enabled audio devices lately, and here comes another. The Doss Asimom 3, a “talking” wireless portable Bluetooth speaker.


The Doss Asimom 3 is a can-like speaker that features Bluetooth and NFC (Near Field Communication) for wireless connectivity. It’s quite hefty due to its incredible build quality. It’s made out of metal with a combination of polycarbonate. The top features the usual controls like Play/Pause, Next & Previous and an answer key. The middle ring that lights up when powered is also the volume control enabled by touch, same as the others.

NFC one-touch pairing is present, so using this with an NFC-enabled device will only require a single tap.

What is nice about the Asimom 3 is in its features, like wireless charging and voice-prompt. It comes with a base charging plate that also acts as a powerbank with a capacity of 1020mAh. Just place the speaker on top of the plate and voila. A micro-USB to USB (female port) is included out of the box but the micro-USB cable doesn’t seemed to be properly crafted because it just won’t fit in, or maybe it’s a unit specific issue. The voice-prompt is nifty and surprisingly entertaining. Instead of relying on light indicators, the Asimom 3 will speak out its current status.

The battery built in to the speaker itself is rated up to 8 hours of usage. As to save battery life or at times when Bluetooth doesn’t seem to cooperate, a 3.5mm cable is included out of the box for wired connection. Maximum distance of the speaker from its host is up to 10 meters, so keep it near for uninterrupted playback.

It offers 360-degrees of sound thanks to its cylindrical design. While this may sound fantastic, the audio quality of the portable speaker is something left to be desired. The volume is loud and the bass is really there but the overall output doesn’t feel as whole as compared to others.

If you want a portable speaker that is nicely built and did I mention “talking”, then this is just the right thing for you. The Doss Asimom 3 is available at Widget City. (See posting here)

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