I was looking for a Bluetooth wireless speaker for my Motorola Xoom but I didn't really want to spend a lot either. (This review focuses on the Bluetooth aspect rather than the USB wireless audio the speaker is also capable of.) This product not only meets those expectations but exceeds them.
Once I saw this for $54.99 from Amazon, I had to pick it up because typically it retails for about $100 at your local brick and mortar store. (You may not be so lucky as of this review since Amazon seems to have "caught up" to what the other online vendors are charging, which is around $75.)
The speaker itself is solidly built and feels somewhat hefty. It's about 10 inches across, 4 1/2 inches high and about 2 1/2 inches deep. (About 4 inches deep with the flip-out kickstand in the back out.) The speaker cones are protected by a stiff, solid mesh in the front and surrounded by dense plastic that looks somewhat stylish in its simplicity. The right side (as the speaker grille faces you) contains the power LED and wireless activity LED as well as a 1/8" stereo minijack and an AC power/recharging jack.
On the back, you'll find a fold-out kickstand that also houses the USB dongle for your desktop or laptop computer. You'll also find the power button (in the center), a concave "volume down" button on the left (again, as the speaker grille faces you) and a convex "volume up" button on the right. It's very easy to find these controls as a result.
The speaker comes with "getting started" instructions for everything you needed to know about the speaker's functions (like what the various states of the charging LED indicate), an AC adapter/charger as well as a convenient storage pouch to carry both the speaker to keep the dust off when not in use. (The pouch also can house the charger in a separate pouch separate from the speaker...I hope I said that right. lol
There are also separate instructions for pairing the speaker with your iPod or iPad, but as all know by now, this product can pretty much pair up with any Bluetooth-capable devices like those using the Android OS.
I don't claim to be an audiophile (I'm a musician, does that count? :D but this speaker sounds fantastic. Others have complained of less-than-stellar audio but, honestly, this is a wireless mobile speaker, not a $10,000 home theater system. One shouldn't even bother making comparisons. Others have also noted that Bluetooth audio doesn't sound as good as hardwired (i.e., hooked up via the 1/8" stereo minijack). I've tried to make comparisons but I've come up with the same conclusion: These people are on something as I cannot tell a discernible difference between the two. I've tried different audio sources at the same volume both Bluetooth and hardwired and don't hear much difference. Everything sounds nice and clean. (I've tried everything from metal to early music to movie soundtracks. Movie soundtracks and other modern music sources with deep bass are the weakest but that's not exactly bad because they still sound great nonetheless. You can still hear the bass but won't exactly feel it gut-punching you. As I said earlier, I wouldn't expect it to.)
Yes, it's not THX-quality but it's very, very nice for what it is and how much is asked for in this price range. It can be quite loud (it fills your average-sized room quite nicely) and it's much better than the built-in speakers on the Xoom.
The range, being a Bluetooth device, is not too bad. I was able to walk down my house's hallway (filled with plaster walls and mesh) from my bedroom (which is at one end of the hallway) and got the signal to start breaking at the end of the hallway, all in all about 20 or so feet. Regardless, I plan on keeping the Xoom and speaker together as I just wanted to listen to my music collection with a better set of speakers.
I am able to control the volume with both the Xoom and the speakers. (This may create some confusion because if you set the volume on the device low, you won't get much volume out of the speakers.) It might be better to "set and forget" on the device and control the volume on the speakers in my case but it might be the reverse on yours.
I have not tested the durability of a full charge just yet. It took about 3 hours from a half charge to completely full. I've maybe run it for about an hour but if anything changes I'll update my review. (You can use the speakers while they are charging.)
In summary, if you're sick of the built-in speakers of your mobile device, give this a shot. For what they are, Logitech scored a home run on this one. Fantastic audio at an affordable price.
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