I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy being able to take my music with me anywhere I go. While cell phone manufacturers have developed better and better speakers for the phone, it just doesn’t match the quality of a dedicated speaker. My previous portable speaker had been stolen, so I was in luck when EcoXGear sent their Ecodrift Bluetooth speaker to review. It is waterproof, which was an upgrade from the one I used before.

What is it?

The EcoXGear EcoDrift is a waterproof, rugged Bluetooth speaker. It is portable and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Hardware specs

• IP67 Waterproof/Shock resistant
• 15 hours playtime
• Bluetooth 4.2
• 2600 mAh rechargable battery
• LxWxH: 5.5″ x 5.5″ x 2.3″
• Weight: 17 oz

What’s in the box?

In the box you’ll find the EcoDrift speaker, charging cable, instructions, and a carabiner attached to a screw that mounts to the bottom of the speaker.

Design and features

This speaker is simple in design, with all the buttons you’ll need on the top, charging port on the side, and there is an added bonus of a screw mount point on the bottom for mounting to a tripod or some other type of mount.

The ‘feet’ that are located on all four corners of the speaker are rubber and keeps it from sliding around. It also gives a good bit of padding in case it gets tossed around. I tossed it into my backpack for tennis practice and there’s not a scratch on it, and I feel quite confident that when I take it out camping or kayaking that it will hold up to being dumped on the ground.

As I mentioned above, all the buttons are conveniently located in one area. They were a bit difficult to press down, which most likely has to do with them being waterproof. You need to make sure to press directly in the center of the button firmly, else it won’t register. I liked that pressing the play/pause button started the music without having to even touch the phone, which is convenient when dealing with water. The microphone button will activate Siri on your iPhone, and there is a slight delay, but it worked well. The microphone on the speaker picked up my voice well, so I could use it for phone calls or to use Siri with no problem at all. The power indicator and battery level indicator lights are green, while the Bluetooth indicator light is blue. One thing I noticed was when the speaker ran out of power, there was no warning, it just shut off.

Setup

It was very easy to pair the speaker with my phone, and after the initial pairing, it connected automatically whenever I turned the speaker on. There is an on and off power switch located near the charging port, but I have left it on all the time and it does not seem to drain the battery much. It took several hours for it to charge fully, which means I will just leave it to charge overnight when needed. The battery life once charged was pretty close to the 15-hour mark advertised.

Performance

I was impressed with the overall sound quality. The bass is nothing to write home about, but the mids and highs are nice and clear, which makes up for it. When I used it in a gym for background music, it was just loud enough at full volume to work perfectly. Also, when at full volume, it did not crackle or distort the sound like some speakers do. In a small room, you definitely do not need it turned up high to fill the room with sound.

The thing I was most surprised with was how well it kept the audio synced with the video when watching YouTube on my phone. I can’t stand it when the audio is out of sync, and this speaker was only off by a tiny bit. I was definitely very happy with that.

What I like

• Portable and durable
• Waterproof
• Nice and clear mids and highs
• Audio syncs well to video played on the phone

What needs to be improved

• Could use a little more bass
• Buttons are hard to push

Final thoughts

Overall, I really liked the EcoXGear Ecodrift speaker. I am looking forward to warm weather so that I may go out, relax on my kayak, and listen to some music. In the meantime, I will toss this in my backpack for tennis and use it to jam to tunes in the shower. I especially like the 15-hour battery life, so I can listen to my music for a good long time without worrying about charging it up.

Price: $89.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by EcoXGear.

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EcoXGear EcoDrift Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 2, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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I *may* have gone overboard in my testing on this one. With great sound and a shockproof design, the Tsumbay Mini Portable Speaker is a nice little runabout for playing your tunes on the go. But I found out the hard way that there are limits to its water resistance. It’s a tragic tale. Let’s dive in!

What is it?

It’s a tiny portable Bluetooth-enabled speaker that’s water- and shock-resistant for indoor and outdoor use.

Hardware specs

• Bluetooth 4.2 with 10 meter range
• IP65 waterproof and splashproof rating
• Rubberized shockproof housing
• 2000 mAh rechargeable battery with 20 hours a play time between charges
• 5W speaker with passive subwoofer
• 2.9” by 2.9” by 1.5”
• 9 ounces total weight
• Can be paired with an additional unit for true wireless stereo.

What’s in the box?

• 1 Tsumbay A106S speaker
• 1 Aux cable
• 1 USB to micro-USB charging cable
• 1 User manual

Design and features

The Tsumbay Mini Portable Bluetooth speaker is a great traveling companion. It’s an ideal size and weight for packing, and the rubberized shock-proof and dust-proof housing ensures that you don’t have to baby it. It’s also got a nice rubber strap with a screw-on grommet so you can tether it to your bag, a beach chair, or the handlebars of your bike. These are all great features for playing your tunes on the go.

The layout and controls are super simple. You have four buttons: power on/off, next track, previous track, and accept/end calls (volume is managed from your paired device). A little rubber tab on the side opens to reveal the aux-in and micro-USB charging port, with a tiny indicator light that lets you know when Bluetooth is connected or when you are charging. It’s all well-organized and straightforward, with no mystery buttons or complicated functions to sort out.

Bluetooth pairing is also managed through your paired device. The speaker goes into search mode when turned on for the first time, and automatically pairs with the last known device on future power-ups. To switch devices, you’ll need to disconnect the active paired device and connect the new one. This works fairly well for the most part, but I did find occasions when I needed to restart the speaker a couple of times to make it discoverable if I was switching devices. 

Audio is powered by a 5W speaker and passive subwoofer and sounds surprisingly good considering the size of this little guy. It’s got well-rounded stereo sound, with great quality and range. It’s on par with other larger portable speakers I’ve tested in this class and does the job when you’re looking to play your tunes on-the-go. I didn’t notice any significant difference in sound quality when using the aux cable, either. You can also pair multiple speakers to get true stereo sound, but that was not something I explored in this test. 

The 200 mAh battery provides 20 hours of continuous play at 50% volume, with a 3-4 hour recharge time. I’ve been using it as a travel speaker for the home or the office and found that the lower end of the volume range is more than comfortable enough to get good sound without annoying my neighbors. I’d say I’ve gotten a solid 2-3 days of periodic use between charges, so it delivers as advertised.

Now let’s talk about water resistance.

The Tsumbay Mini Portable Bluetooth speaker carries an IP65 waterproof and splashproof rating. In their literature, Tsumbay claims that the speaker is great for using in the shower. Sounds good. I like music in the shower! 

So I did this:

I ran the speaker under the faucet for about 60 seconds, and it continued to play. Dried the sucker off, and it played the rest of the afternoon. And then, somewhere in the night, it died. By morning, it was completely non-functional.

Here’s the thing: a waterproof rating of IP65 qualifies for resistance against water from a nozzle. That means you could get it wet in the rain, or an accidental hose splash (which I have tested on other speakers). The steady soaking under a faucet? Not good. Water leeched into its precious innards, and a great little speaker made it’s way to Davey Jone’s Locker.

(If you’re wondering… IP66 provides protection against strong water jets & heavy splashes. IP67 provides protection against brief water submersion. IP68 provides protection against full water submersion. Forewarned is forearmed.)

The lesson, my friends, is to pay attention to the label. I’m pretty sure the Tsumbay Mini Portable Bluetooth speaker will hold up to the occasional splash or surprise rain event. It could even sit in proximity to your shower. Just don’t put it under the faucet. That’s bad.

What I like

• Compact size fits easily in your bag
• Excellent sound, especially for its size
• Water, dust, and shock resistant
• Simple control layout

What needs to be improved

• Some Bluetooth pairing issues (required multiple restarts to change devices)
• Won’t withstand heavy soaking provided by overly enthusiastic product testers

Final thoughts

I don’t want to short-sell the quality of the Tsumbay Mini Portable Bluetooth speaker. It’s a tough portable speaker with great sound in a tiny package. It’s ideal if you’re on the move and looking for something that can handle some outdoor adventures. Just be careful around water. Water resistant doesn’t equal waterproof. 

Price: $24.89
Where to buy: You can buy it on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tsumbay.

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Tsumbay Mini Portable Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 31, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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It’s no secret that Master & Dynamic make some of my favorite headphones. Not only do the MH40, MW50 and MW60 sound great, they are also quite comfortable and have a retro look that’s simply stunning. Even so, M&D continue to innovate, both aesthetically and sonically with earphones and now a desktop speaker. I use the word desktop carefully because the MA770 Wireless Speaker is a 36.4 lb. concrete monster—in a good way.

What is it?

The Master & Dynamic MA770 Wireless is a concrete (yes, concrete) Bluetooth speaker with a built-in pedigree that sets it apart from almost any other speaker, Bluetooth or not.

Specs

• Dimensions: 14.5”(H) x 18”(W) x 9.5”(D)
• Speakers:
  1.5” Titanium dome tweeter
  Dual 4″ Woven Kevlar Long Throw Woofers
• 100W Class D 3 Discrete Channel amplifier
• Weight: 36.4lbs
• Ported cabinet materials:
• Proprietary grey concrete composite, stainless steel and anodized aluminum
• Wireless Connectivity:
  Dual band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE
  Chromecast built-in, Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE, 3.5mm Auxiliary Analog, TOSLINK Optical Audio
• Streaming Services:
  Chromecast enabled applications including: Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, Soundcloud, Deezer and more

Design and features

A lot of work went into the design of the MA770. Master & Dynamic had an architect design the speaker—and not just any architect. Tanzania born Sir David Adjaye is the architect of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington D.C. His eye for unusual design is plainly evident in the MA770 speaker. He formed its unusual triangular-themed shape from concrete. He said, “This speaker is not about the traditional idea of making boxes, but about a directional form. We created a new geometry for this speaker.” Whether this geometry benefits the audio or not, I can’t say—it certainly doesn’t hurt it.

The MA770 is a singular speaker with no stereo separation. For that matter, there’s hardly any stereo in other Bluetooth speakers large or small, so it’s hard to fault the MA770 for that. However, you can pair two of them for true left/right stereo—if you have the money.

The front panel on the MA770 consists of four buttons, but it looks like five: Volume down, Volume up, Pause and Source buttons. The Source button handles 4 modes that are listed on what looks just like a fifth button: Cast (Chromecast), BT (Bluetooth), AUX and OPT (optical). These buttons are an example of design over function. First, the small, white letters against brushed aluminum are hard to see unless the lighting is just right. Secondly, the Source button must be pressed to switch between the four sources listed on the fifth button that isn’t a button. I found myself pressing this “button” wondering why it wouldn’t work. It’s not intuitive.

The MA770 Wireless Speaker is heavy in both weight and sound. One of the reasons that concrete—mixed with M&D developed polymers—was used is to increase damping and reduce resonance—their words. What this means is more detailed audio with less unwanted vibrations that can cause distortion. It has dual 4 in. kevlar long throw woofers with a single 1.5 in. titanium tweeter that sits slightly above and between them. Lift off its magnetically held aluminum grill and it doesn’t look like an impressive array of speakers. Don’t let it fool you. Due to its 100-watt class D amplifier, the MA770 can rock loud and shake things with its low end.

Besides wireless Bluetooth and built-in Chromecast, there are two wired methods for connecting the MA770 to a music source: Standard AUX and optical (Toslink). Optical is good for any PC that has an optical out port (like an earlier iMac) or stereo receiver. Optical (and Bluetooth) make use of the built-in digital audio converter (DAC) which can handle any digital music file up to 24bit/96kHz—a higher resolution than most people will ever use. M&D did not pack AUX and optical cords with the MA770. In this price range, they should have been included.

Speaking of Chromecast—in previous reviews, I’ve had my issues with this wireless protocol but many people use it and like it, so the more speakers that incorporate alternatives to Bluetooth, the better. Chromecast also supports enabled applications such as Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, Soundcloud and more.

The MA770’s unique shape directs lower frequency air out the back through an open port while the woofers handle the bass notes with ease. Robert Palmer’s song, “Johnny and Mary” has super low bass notes thrown into the middle of the song. They appear out of nowhere and can easily buzz lesser speakers. Not these. If anything, the bass was tamed a bit too much for my taste, but what the MA770 played was tight without a hint of muddiness. The same is true of Brian Eno’s “Written, Forgotten” with its pulsing, relentless bass rhythm. Note that I had both of these songs turned up all the way—maxing out both the iMac and the MA770. No distortion at all—and that’s using Bluetooth.

It’s not just bassy songs that the MA770 handles well. The speaker sounds musical, meaning that it sounds great whether being played loudly or at low volume for background music.

The MA770 is not a portable speaker. Once set in place, you’ll want to leave it there. I had to move it around for photos and became paranoid that I would accidentally drop it. Not only is it heavy, but its unusual shape makes it difficult to grasp. It’s highly recommended that two people move it when necessary. Sending the speaker back after this review will not be an easy task.

Even though the MA770 sounds good for serious listening—especially if it can be paired with another—it excels at setting the mood while playing in the background. There is probably no better music made to be aural wallpaper than albums by Steve Roach and Brian Eno. Roach’s 28-minute opus, “Structures from Silence” sounds perfect when played at low volume during dinner and conversation. Many speakers stop sounding substantial when played low—the bass drops off—but the MA770 still can command an audience whether you’re paying attention or not.

Does the MA770 sound better than other less expensive speakers? Sometimes, but not always. I’ve reviewed less expensive speakers that sound better. But that’s not the purpose of the MA770 speaker. The MA770 makes a statement about design, art and sound and how they can relate to each other. Few people will appreciate that or even be able to afford it (me included). But some will and have the means to act on it.

What I like

The unique shape of the MA770 can be polarizing, but the more I used it, the more I like its unusual shape. The sound is commanding, but the MA770 works even better as a room background speaker, while not losing any presence.

What needs to be improved

For some reason, the volume-up key does not work on my Apple keyboard when used with the MA770 speaker. I have to get up and turn up the volume on the speaker itself—there is no remote. This has never happened with other speakers. It takes two paired speakers to become serious about listening in true stereo—which doubles the price.

Final Thoughts

To say the Master & Dynamic MA770 Wireless Speaker is unique is an understatement. It manages to make the equally unusual Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin speaker look tame by comparison. The MA770 is breathtakingly expensive. But if you are a rare individual who can afford such luxuries, go for it. The MA770 will please you in both sight and sound.

Price: $1,800 US
Where to buy: Master & Dynamic
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Master & Dynamic and will be returned after the review is posted.

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Master & Dynamic MA770 Wireless Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 25, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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These days I really don’t pay attention to bluetooth speakers, unless there’s something really unique about it. The BenQ treVolo S stood out due to it’s unusual “folding” configuration… and electrostatic speakers?

What is it?

I know BenQ from their video products (I have two of their 4K displays at work), but not Bluetooth speakers. BenQ claims the treVolo S is the world’s smallest electrostatic Bluetooth speaker. It features dual woofers and dual amplifiers, plus electrostatic speakers that unfold from the sides.

Hardware specs

Frequency Response:  60 Hz – 20 kHz‎
Bluetooth:  Bluetooth 4.2
aptX Support: No
NFC:  Yes
Input Types: 3.5 mm stereo input; USB audio‎ (DAC)
Duo Mode:  Yes (Stereo / Party mode)‎
Sound Mode:  Pure/3D
Playing Time: 18 hours (Dependence on user scenario)‎
Keys:  Power Key, BT Pairing Key, Volume Key (+-), 3D Mode Key, Play / Pause‎
LED Indicator: Power key : Red LED x1; Green LED x1 ; BT Pairing Key : Blue LED x1‎
Microphone: No
Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery‎
IO Port: Micro USB x1 ; Line-in x1‎
Input Power Rating:  DC 5V 2A‎
Temperature Range for Use‎:  0~40º C‎
Dimension‎: 63.2×157.5×96.3 mm (Closed)‎
Weight: 1kg

What’s in the box?

Speaker, mini USB charger with mains plug, instructions and drawstring bag.

Design and features

The treVolo S stands upright with a non-skid rubbery pad at the base.  All controls are located at the top along two LED lights indicating charging, bluetooth status and 3D mode.The white model is pretty hard to read and photograph.  There are no markings on the rear for micro USB and the aux input.  That micro USB is used for charging and for USB audio (DAC).
Here’s the treVolo S with it’s two electrostatic panels unfolded.  Note the perforated sides for the dual woofers inside the main body.

Setup

A companion app is available for the speaker, but is not necessary unless you have two treVolo speakers.  If so, you can pair two in “Duo mode” for a stereo pair, or as synchronized sets.

The only other control on the app is the “3D Sound”, which can also be done from one of the six buttons on the speaker’s top panel.

BenQ describes 3D sound as a form of “spatial enhancement”.  The difference is subtle, but it did make music sound “wider”.  I think it’s a matter of personal preference.

Performance

For better or for worse, many people wonder if speakers “sound like Bose”.  I put the two side by side and took a listen.  (No, not like the photo above, positioned for artistic taste!)

As can be expected, the Bose Soundlink Mini II, which is roughly the same size (small) sounded stronger at the low end, which is what Bose is famous for.  The treVolo S couldn’t keep up with the low end until I placed it in a corner.  Placing speakers in a corner exaggerates the bass, and the treVolo S really came alive.

If you’re looking for raw power, the treVolo S couldn’t keep up with the Bose Soundlink Mini II.  The Bose was louder at maximum “can you please turn that down?” volume.

What I like

The treVolo S oozes with built quality. The speakers unfold smoothly, and there’s a confident heft to the whole thing that inspires confidence.  According to BenQ, the built-in DAC provides the cleanest listening experience, which is something the Bose Soundlink Mini just doesn’t have as an option. Audio sounded crisp and clean from the electrostatic speakers regardless of mode (3D or not).

What needs to be improved

If you’re a bass head, stick the treVolo S in a corner- otherwise, get the Bose.  The treVolo’s maximum volume could be a little higher.

Final thoughts

If you’re a fan of electrostatic speakers, look no further!  Solid build and clean looks make for a nice all-around package unless you demand ground-shaking bass.

Price: $199.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by BenQ.

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BenQ treVolo S electrostatic bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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