VAVA VOOM 22 True Wireless Bluetooth Speaker review

I have bought and currently still own a lot of Bluetooth speakers.  For some reason every time I see a new design or one that has a slight advancement in functionality, I want it.  Why?…I have no idea.  I don’t go on a lot of outings where I need a speaker, the ones I have are already great for going on the deck or backyard where having some music makes for a more enjoyable time, yet I still find myself drawn to these things.  The VAVA VOOM 22 is the first pair of Bluetooth speakers that I have owned that are portable and offer stereo sound when paired together.

Offered on Amazon for $129.99 for one or $219.99 for a pair, these speakers have quickly become my new favorite and not because they are my latest audio toy, because they offer a rich stereo sound and are more geared for home use.  You could easily take these speakers with you on a car trip but if you are looking for something to drop in a suitcase or backpack for on the go listening, these are probably not for you.  If, however, you are in the market for a speaker or set of speakers that can go from the living room to the patio or something that is more permanently set up in somewhere in your home or office, I highly recommend that you seriously consider these speakers.

Once paired, the wireless connection between the speakers in instant.  There is no volume lag if you reduce the volume on one speaker, they operate in perfect harmony no matter which speaker you choose to control via the onboard buttons.  You have full control of the EQ, track selection, volume control, power and Bluetooth buttons onboard each unit.  You can also connect your music source directly to the speaker using the 3.5mm audio cable connection on the back of the speaker.  There is also a USB power outlet on the back for charging your phone or another device while listening.

Each speaker is equipped with a 4000mAh battery, which VAVA says will provide 4-6 hours of playback after a 3-4 hour full charge from empty.  The speakers can also operate full time if connected to a constant power source.  Each unit is equipped with a 10W driver and a 20W subwoofer, totaling 60W when a pair of them is connected.  There is no lack of power here.  Whether listening in your home/office or filling an outdoor space, you will not be left wanting more power.  Each speaker is 5.9″ x 4.33″ x 9.84″, making them ideal to sit on a desk, shelf or table but maybe not so much if trying to pack them in a suitcase or backpack.

The design of the VOOM 22 is very attractive with the fabric mesh wrapping and the rubberized end caps, giving each surface a very satisfying feel.  Each speaker is easily moved using what I assume is the subwoofer output in the back that doubles as a handle.  They look right at home with your home entertainment system or on a shelf or desk.  During a majority of the time, I spent testing the VOOM 22 I was using the pair of speakers.  I did test a single speaker but wasn’t as impressed with the sound as I was when paired with its twin.  This is exactly what I expected as the richness you get from a stereo experience far exceeds that of a mono sound. The experience I got from using just one speaker was similar to other Bluetooth speakers I own, which isn’t a bad thing but where this product shines is when used with its twin.  If you bought the single unit, I don’t think you would have any complaints at all.  In hindsight, I should have tested the single speaker first because now I am hooked on having them in opposite corners of my living room.

One downside to these is the slight delay when using these while watching a movie on your iPad or another device.  The delay isn’t as long as other Bluetooth speakers or headphones that I have but it prevents me from using them for this purpose.  This delay is less than a second but if you don’t want your movie to seem like an old Kun Fu movie with the English dubbed over the top where the sound doesn’t match the moving lips of the actors, I would recommend connecting your device to the speakers using the audio cable.  When plugged into the source while watching a movie, the speakers sound great and there is no delay.

Overall, I am extremely happy with the Voom 22 Wireless Bluetooth Speakers from VAVA and for $219 for a pair, I don’t think you will be disappointed.  If you are in the market for a new sound source, I definitely recommend that you take a serious look at buying a pair of these.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by VAVA. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $129-$219
Manufacturer: VAVA
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Rich stereo sound when paired to another VOOM 22; attractive design; 4-6 hours of 30W playback via the 4000mAh battery on each speaker; instant response of controls via Bluetooth connection (no volume or track lag); great value for $219 considering the quality of sound; onboard USB power output for charging your phone or other devices.
Cons:
  • Larger size makes these less portable if you want to leave the house with them; Bluetooth delay when watching a movie.

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VAVA VOOM 22 True Wireless Bluetooth Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 8, 2017 at 11:29 am.

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Braven takes it all in Stryde for the holidays

During the holidays, portable Bluetooth speakers are almost the perfect gift for your favorite audio gadget geek and Braven has come out with two new Stryde models for 2017: the Braven Stryde and Stryde XL. These two Stryde speakers compliment the Stryde 360—made for outdoor use and an active lifestyle.

New materials and color scheme for the new, flat Stryde matches the circular Stryde 360. This Stryde is an update to the discontinued Braven Balance speaker, but with some important improvements. It comes with dual full range drivers for clean highs and bass from two opposing passive radiators optimized with tuned EQ for 22 hours of playtime. It’s shockproof housing is sealed against dust and water and has an IP67 waterproof rating,  protecting it from a dip in the pool or beach salt and sand.

Bluetooth Smart technology allows pairing with the new Stryde Active Speaker App to remotely power the speaker from up to 33 feet away and you can choose a personalized EQ setting. You can also use the two-way, high-definition integrated speakerphone and charge your mobile device from a built-in 4400mAh battery.

The new Stryde is now compatible with Siri and Google Voice allowing you to send messages, make calls and look up the nearest place to grab a bite.

The larger Stryde XL will create massive sound to take your playground where ever you are. Its portable frame is also shock-resistant with an IP67 waterproof rating, meaning it can be submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes. The Stryde XL is engineered with two extended range drivers with dual opposing passive radiators for a balanced experience indoors or out. Like the Stryde, the Stryde XL is also compatible with Siri and Google Voice.

Both new Stryde speakers are available now for this holiday season. The Stryde sells for $149.99 US and the Stryde XL sells for $199.99 US. Visit Braven for more information and Amazon to order.

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Braven takes it all in Stryde for the holidays originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 19, 2017 at 8:40 am.

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Pandora can now be controlled directly from within the Sonos App

Back in October, alongside the launch of the Sonos One, Sonos told us about several forth coming software updates which would include the ability to control Sonos directly from additional partner apps. Making true to that promise, today Sonos announced that you can now control your Sonos system directly through the Pandora app. And for those of you who own a Sonos One, you can now command Alexa to play Pandora stations. All three of Pandora’s services are supported by this new update – that includes Pandora, Pandora Plus, and now Pandora Premium. The Pandora app update is being rolled out to both iOS and Android versions and they are available to download today. 

Sonos says that a similar update for Tidal is on its way soon and that direct control and Alexa support will roll out to Audible, iHeartRadio and Kuke Music apps in 2018.

You can check out our review of the Sonos One here.

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Pandora can now be controlled directly from within the Sonos App originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 15, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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FABRIQ Chorus Portable Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa review

Give me a speaker, a Bluetooth or wifi connection, throw in a dollop of Amazon Alexa’s brains and witty personality and top that off with a pinch of Spotify or Amazon Music and it looks like a recipe for sheer gadget bliss.  The great thing about this recipe is that all the ingredients are accessible through the Fabriq Chorus Smart Speaker. Let’s have a look-see. 

In the Box (See pic below)

1 Chorus speaker
1 Charging dock
1 Cable for charging with USB to wall adapter

Set up

The set up was pretty simple for both wifi and Bluetooth. After you plug in the unit (it does come precharged, but why not charge it more?) and download the app from either the Apple Store or Google Play, you’ll go through the setup process which is guided by the Fabriq app.

One thing to keep in mind is that you need to make sure you are connecting to the same network that your phone is connected to.  I know that seems painfully obvious, but you could run into problems if you have two networks in your home like I do.

After the device is powered on, the ring around the bottom lights up like the pic below and blinks white and plays a little tune. This white light lets you know it’s either connected to wifi, or it’s ready to be connected (the device is pictured here off the charging dock). After the initial setup, whenever it is turned on, it will still blink, but after a couple of seconds, it says, “connected” so you know you are ready to rock.

The next step is locating the “pair” button that is hidden under the secret plastic door on the back of the device (see photo below). This is the button you will use to connect to Bluetooth or a wifi connection. If your phone is connected to a wifi network, the speaker will try and connect to it, so if you want to use Bluetooth, you need to turn off the wifi connection on your phone and press the pair button again. Note: If you use the speaker with a Bluetooth connection and you arrive home again and wish to use it on the wifi network, you must repair the device using the app. Don’t worry, it’s a very quick process, but it’s good to know.  I didn’t realize this and I just kept pressing the pair button over and over and it wouldn’t pair.  It tells you to see the app for help though (here’s your sign!), and when you do, the app walks you through connection again.

After pairing, you can begin to explore the wonderfulness of the speaker. I haven’t personally tried, but the directions say that you can pair up to 10 Fabriq speakers and use them together, or control them individually….that would be some pretty cool surround sound.

A great thing about this speaker, in my opinion, is once you set it up to use on wifi, you don’t have to keep referring to the app to control it. The lighted ring around the bottom can tell you what you need to know and there are volume control buttons on the back.  I already discussed the white light, the blue light (above pic) is when you’ve enabled the Bluetooth setting…go figure! There is a red light also and that is what tells you the battery is about to die. This happens typically after about 5-6 hours after being off the charger, depending on what the speaker is being used for. I feel like my face is in my phone enough and being able to use this speaker easily, by just speaking to it and observing what color the rings are has been great!

What can it do?

If you already have an Amazon Alexa app on your phone, you simply need to connect Fabriq to the account. If you don’t have it, you need to get it in order to use the Amazon Alexa functions.  Once you do that, you can say the wake word, “Alexa” and then any command that you would tell your Amazon Echo.  The one problem that I have found with this device is that she doesn’t “hear” as well as my Echo, and I find myself having to raise my voice, or my other devices in other rooms will pick up my command first. In order to combat this, I changed the wake word on my Echo to “Amazon” and my Echo Dot is now called “Echo”.  The Fabriq speaker gets to have the name “Alexa” because I went into the Alexa app and the option to change the wake word was not available…but it’s okay with me because I think she looks more like an Alexa anyway. So now, just like with my children, I end up saying all of their names before I get to the one I want. It’s pretty comical actually…Alexa, Echo…. Amazon!

The above pic allows you see how the unit sets on the charger and what the connectors look like on the bottom. It doesn’t have to click, lock, or be set down in any certain way in order to charge or to be removed from the dock.

The sound quality of this little speaker is actually comparable to the Amazon Echo, and much better sounding than the Dot. I was hoping to add this speaker to my group I named “Everywhere” so that I could have my Amazon Music play from all three devices simultaneously instead of just the two, however, that option is not available.  So, if you want to connect this speaker to others to play together for a multi-room effect, you’ll just have to get more Fabriq speakers!

Final Thoughts

I’ve been pretty impressed by this speaker and it’s sound quality, it’s portability and frankly, I think its got a pretty cool look.  I have enjoyed being able to take it to the tennis court for some motivational hype music while my daughter and I hit the ball around and to the beach for some relaxing music as we sunbathe.  I found the setup to be simple, and once I renamed my other Alexa devices, there was harmony in the house once again, and everyone was able to “listen” without interrupting each other.  I don’t think that this Fabriq Smart Speaker hears as well as the Amazon Echo speakers, but that is a pretty high bar because Echo speakers hear it all! Lastly, it looks as if Elsa the cat has accepted the Fabriq speaker into our home….and that is not something you see every day!

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Fabriq. Please visit www.thefabriq.com for more information and go to Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $99.99
Manufacturer: Fabriq
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • A smartphone
  • An electrical outlet or USB port for charging
  • The Amazon Alexa app (or you won't be able to use those features)
  • Wifi or Bluetooth connection
Pros:
  • Portable, can be used away from wifi connection with Bluetooth
  • Can be used to control smart home features and most other skills that Alexa uses
  • Has great sound quality
  • Can pair up to 10 Fabriq speakers
  • After pairing, heavy App usage is not needed
Cons:
  • Charge only lasts 5-6 hours
  • Doesn't "hear" quite as well as the Amazon Echo products
  • Does not pair with other Echo Speakers to play Amazon Music simultaneously

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FABRIQ Chorus Portable Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 14, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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SmartOmi ANT Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker review

Sometimes one portable audio is a bit more portable than other portable audio. What the heck am I talking about? I’m talking about little speakers, people. Really little. I’ve reviewed a few other portable speakers here at The Gadgeteer, and I’d had varying degrees of satisfaction with them, so I hadn’t really been looking to review another one. But when the SmartOmi ANT Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker arrived at my door, in its itty-bitty little box, I became much more interested. Let’s check it out. Gadget on!

Specs

Per the SmartOmi site and the included User Guide booklet:

  • Inputs
    • Bluetooth 4.1
    • 3.5mm Auxiliary port input
  • Battery:
    • 800 mAh battery for up to 12-hour play time on 1.5 hour charge time
    • Charge voltage: 5V DC
    • Charge time: 1.5 hours
    • Playback time: 12 hours
    • Standby time: 310 hours
  • 5-Watt speaker power
  • Frequency Range: 100Hz-20KHz
  • Operating Distance: 33 ft
  • IPX7 Waterproofing & 1.5m drop resistant
  • Built-in microphone

Options

  • Black (reviewed here)
  • Red, which it turns out is virtually identical to Black, but with a red port cover

Packaging

The SmartOmi ANT arrived in a very sturdy, stout cardboard box with a top lid/bottom tray configuration.  Internally, there was a foam block with a cutout to hold the SmartOmi ANT.

The only complaint I had about the packaging would be that the lib and base were very conforming, meaning they fit very tightly together.  To the point where I had to actually use a couple of screwdrivers to pry them apart.  Though this was probably user error, I doubt it.  Maybe a couple of small ribbon loops or tabs attached to the bottom of the package would have assisted with this.

Contents

  • SmartOmi Ant speaker
  • Micro USB charging cable
  • 3.5mm Auxiliary input cable
  • User Guide booklet
  • Promotional booklet

Features, Functions and Performance

First impressions: This little dude looks cool and is way small.  It has almost a tactical (“tacti-cool”?) look and feel to it.  I liked its appearance right out of the box.

With its all matte black color and its faux leather texture on one side it also seemed somewhat industrial looking.

The faux screws around the perimeter of both sides were a nice touch that added to the overall aesthetic as well.

There are three buttons on the top of the ANT: from left to right they are the power/play/pause, volume up/next track and volume down/previous track buttons.  All of these buttons are covered by a single silicone strip which protects them from bumps as well as contributing to the speaker’s IPX7 water-resistance rating. The body of the ANT is also made from ABS plastic, which contributes to its shock-resistance, which Smartomi reports as having been tested to a 3-meter drop height.

On the bottom of the ANT, on the side opposed the control buttons, is another silicone strip with the words “OPEN CHARGER” and an arrow on it.This silicone strip covers the micro USB charging port as well as the 3.5mm audio in auxiliary port.  The silicone cover helps seal these ports against moisture and there is a tether to keep it from falling out and getting lost.  The cover’s thickness helps it stays seated down into the body of the ANT, but it is fairly easy to remove it by gently prying it up with a fingernail.
In the above photo, I’ve plugged in both of the cables included with the ANT, the micro USB charging cable (left) and the 3.5mm audio in auxiliary cable (right).
As mentioned above, one side of the ANT features a faux leather texture that is actually molded into the body, along with the SMARTOMI logo.
Another useful feature of the ANT is a leather strap that can be used to attach the speaker to a bag or even hung up in the shower other places with a carabiner, or to help give you a better grip it when holding it.  Note that although it appears that is secured with a snap, it is actually a rivet that cannot be removed.
For a speaker of its compact size and shape, it puts out some decent sound.  Good enough for my teenage daughter to have commandeered the ANT within a day of it arriving at my house and using it constantly.  My daughter reported that she had the ANT paired with her iPhone in just a few seconds, and she was rocking and rolling (literally, since I’ve managed to get my children into some classic rock—parenting win!).

As mentioned above, the ANT is very small and compact.  Like, it could easily fit into a purse or backpack small (or possibly even in a pants pocket).

The ANT also has a tiny microphone hole on the side which enables it be used for hands-free phone calls.

Conclusion

I really like the Smartomi ANT speaker.  It is very small and compact, puts out good sound for its size, and looks cool. To me it seems to live up to its namesake, an ant: tiny, black and strong for its size (in sound, anyway).  It’s definitely my favorite portable, water-resistant speaker that I’ve tried thus far.  Now if I can just get my daughter to let me use it once in a while…

Source: The sample for this review was provided by SmartOmi. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $99.99
Manufacturer: SmartOmi
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • A device with a Bluetooth connection
  • A USB port for charing
Pros:
  • Very small and lightweight
  • High waterproof rating
  • Good sound for such a small device
  • Looks tacti-cool
Cons:
  • None

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SmartOmi ANT Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 21, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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