Customer Reviews

Grace Digital GDI-AQCSE101 Eco Extreme Waterproof Case with Built-In Speaker for MP3 Players (Black)

5 star:		(110)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Quick overview. Good speaker Just what i was expecting maybe bettter.

Design- Nice hefty design. I got the orange one very pleased with choice. Not bright orange but a nice dark orange. This way i can see it in the grass but it also look cool. The only thing i would change, i knew this going in, I would be to put a bigger D-clip on it with some 550 cord. The plastic loop that the current clip uses is kinda small.

Durability- It feels durable and will take some abuse. I have not tested it's waterpoofness but it has a rubber seal and the latches seem strong. They also has a button lock on them which is nice. I would take care on rocks though because it is plastic on the face and back. Plastic is brittle so it may survive a drop on the ground but not on the rocks.

Sound- As expected it's not earbleeding loud but loud enough. It should be fine for a group of people huddling around a table eating or playing cards. I compared it to my other portable speaker its about the same but with more bass. I got this for its waterproofness, size and durability not for the sound. I like that it only needs 3 AA batteries.

If you want a larger speaker that is also water resistant and durable try Sangean U-1 or U-3. They seem like larger and louder sound systems that are tough. But their line ins are on the outside. If you want a fully enclosed unit try the fatbox. but all three are large. I choose Sangean because unlike other rugged sound systems they run off regular batteries not ones for power tools.

Update- For some reason it sounds louder now. it could be the songs. But now i would recommend it for a large group. For personal listening i hardly go over 1/3 turn Also I have noticed that even at max volume i don't hear any distortion, which i did on other portable speakers.

***end of summer review***
Took it to the beach and camping many times. Words can't describe how perfect this speaker is. I think it's a great compromise between sound (it is still plenty loud, I don't see a great need for anything louder) and size. I just throw it in my pack or clip on and off i go. Also the fact that it use AA batteries is great. When the power goes out you swap out batteries and keep listening and rocking while others need to recharge their internal batteries. Also for the people who don't like wasting batteries you can always buy AA rechargeables.

I wasn't expecting much sound from one little speaker, but I'm impressed. It's no Bose of course, but it will be perfect out on my kayak! I'll take great comfort knowing my Zune is so well protected.
After using it several times out on the water, I still give it 5 stars. When the batteries get low, it sounds like the speaker has blown. Put fresh batteries in and sounding good again. I use rechargable to save money and better performance. I can't tell you how many have stopped me on the river asking how I have tunes on my kayak!

I was quite surprised... I wanted to occasionally listen to CDs outside or in the shower without having to worry about water damage. Couldn't find a CD player that I liked, so I bought this and stuck an old iPod Shuffle in it. Very excellent sound for what it is; I've bought mini 'speakers' before and they are nothing like this. This little box produces a solid sound that allows you to actually enjoy your music.

The design is sturdy, and there is even an air-pressure differential filter that protects the speaker in case you take it on a plane or up a mountain. Plenty of room inside, the device was much bigger than I thought it would be.

I couldn't find anything like this elsewhere; if you need some rugged and waterproof portable-audio, then this is surprisingly well worth the money.

I purchased this speaker to use primarily on backcountry ski trips. On a recent trip, my friend and I were talking about how nice it would be to have a small speaker we could clip onto one of our backpacks while hiking. So I started searching for one and ultimately chose the Grace Eco Extreme. There weren't many options and the Eco Extreme seemed the best suited for my needs, especially given the rugged design and waterproof case.

While I'm not thrilled with the product, I haven't yet found a better solution. It works well enough, so I decided to keep it. The Eco Extreme's primary drawbacks, in my opinion, are:

1. Sound quality is mediocre. At first it was horrible. Then I read another review that suggested ensuring that the iPod volume is no more than 75%-80%. Mine was cranked up all the way, resulting in quite a bit of distortion. When I lowered the iPod volume, the Eco Extreme sounded quite a bit better. Still not loud enough, but much better.

2. The Eco Extreme is heavy and cumbersome. The unit itself is quite large and once loaded with 3AA batteries is quite heavy. Clipped to a pack, it swings from side to side as there's really no good way to secure it.

3. It's impractical. If you're hiking and have the case clipped to your backpack, you have to stop, take off your pack, open the case, and remove your iPod, etc. from the little internal mesh pocket before you can skip a song or start playing something new.

#2 and #3 might not matter to you if you're simply looking for a waterproof speaker/case for the beach, by the pool, etc. The case itself seems well made, if a bit on the large side (not very practical for activities where weight and size matter, ie: backpacking, hiking, etc). I wish the manufacturer included a halfway decent speaker. I suppose one can't expect much from a $39 product. However, I'd gladly pay 2-3x that amount for a high quality, "rugged", portable speaker. The Eco Extreme, unfortunately, leaves a bit to be desired.

Have had it for a few weeks. I use it kayaking and even around the put-ins and beach or shore areas when ashore.
This item works great. Ample loudness/volume . in fact, in the kayak, the sound is deeper, fuller and it adds bass. I would definitely recommend this for kayaking or canoeing. I suffer from hearing loss and its absolutely loud enough for my uses. The batteries even last a while. More than a long day trip at volume(get rechargables!). If there is a volume limit setting on your mp3 player, set it to less than 100% as recommended. It's necessary to avoid distortion when you raise the volume on the speaker. Mine has gotten VERY wet. Not quite underwater, but more than splashed on. Let it dry and its as good as new, but it won't stop working. And don't be afaid for your iPod/iTouch/mp3 player. It can get shaken up in this case and will stay bone dry. Just shake the excess water off and you're back in business!

I purchased this case to take on a river tube float. I followed all the directions on sealing it properly but water still got in the case. It was never submerged but did get heavily splashed a few times (it was on a flat tube - one without a hole in the middle so it wouldn't get dunked). It stopped playing and as I was investigating why, I noticed water seeping from one corner. I immediately opened the case and the interior was wet to the touch. It wasn't waterlogged by any means, but my iPod and extra camera battery did get wet. Fortunately my iPod still works (although I haven't tried attaching the dock connector to sync/recharge it). Once the speaker dried out it worked again. This case would probably be fine for use in a canoe/kayak or on a boat/pontoon where the likelihood of heavy water splashing is minimal, but I won't be using it on any more float trips!

I received this item on 8/1/10 and have used it several times since. 2 extended trips down the Lower Salmon River in Idaho and a couple of day trips on another river. On the Salmon it hung from a a hook inside a mesh drop bag under the seat of my cataraft. We hit class III and IV rapids and needless to say the Eco Extreme got plenty wet. It performed GREAT! After rafting I played it back in camp for most of the night. The 3 AA's kept my iTouch running for several days. Just a Pelican case the same size with no MP3 playing capability will run you $30, so this really is a good buy. The only draw back is that at high volume it does distort some, but turn it down slightly and it sounds very good for only one speaker. I give it two oars up!

I purchased this item for a float trip down the Illinois River in Oklahoma. It was the best purchase ever. It worked as stated and kept my Ipod safe from the elements. There is only two things that I wish it did better. I wish it could charge the Ipod as it played or something. And I wish it could be just a little louder. The speaker got wet and the sound was muffled until it dried out. But it still was the best purchase ever. I am thinking about purchasing another for our next lake trip, so everyone can experience tunes in case we get seperated. Most Awesome purchase ever. Thanks!

After a summer of being on the river 2 or more times a week and wishing I had my ipod, I finally found this little gem now that summer is over. It's not extremely loud, and if you are going through rapids frequently, you might not hear it well. However for typical floating it's great, and puts out enough sound for the whole canoe, and certainly enough for the kayak. I let it play for about 6 hours on one set of batteries and it goes full strength the whole time. It's also great for beaching when you want to hang on the banks for a while and chill.

The only problem I had that is when I put in my ipod and a pack of batteries, I busted my ipod screen. That was my fault though since I wasn't careful about the ipod placement. Make sure you put your ipod in the little netting (and don't put anything between your ipod and the speaker) inside or risk ending up with a busted screen. It was okay b/c the day before I had ordered a new ipod. Anyway, I highly suggest this water-resistant speaker!

I received it on June 8, 2011 and today is June 28, 2011. Battery life is Unbelievable, 100% water proof and the sound is Great! The reviews that said water seeped in or that is was not completely waterproof - they got a defected one. I love that it floats but it's Not meant to float while you are listening to it because the sound gets really muffled (perfect for On a raft or floatie). When it does get Really wet (like you drop it in the water), just blow the water off the speaker and it's back to perfect sound. The sound quality is really freaking great for how little it is. I listen to it Every day, in the shower, while I'm getting ready, in the kitchen while I'm cooking, working in the yard, it's the best. I used it all weekend when I went camping on June 09th and get this - I have Not changed the batteries yet, they are still going strong! The case is also big enough to fit back up batteries in it which is really nice but so far not needed. It is not small enough for running or walking but prefect for clipping to your kayak or backpack for a hike and really great for clipping to the beach bag. I have recommended it to everyone I know and everyone who has seen it in person went out and bought their own or tried to steal mine. I might buy another one just to keep in the shower so everyone can use it because like I said, I use it every day and take it everywhere with me. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!! FYI - Make sure your iPod or whatever it is does Not have the sound All the way up, turn the vloume a little down on your device and the speaker is Much more clear! Oh and I have the Green speaker box if it matters.