It’s summertime again, and that means pool parties, camping, canoe trips, picnics, and barbecues. But what’s a great summer get-together without a killer soundtrack? There’s just one problem… how are you going to get everyone to actually hear that bangin’ playlist you spent all day making?

Ditch the awkward phone-in-a-cup sound hack and stop worrying about getting that Bluetooth speaker ruined by a spilled beer… the JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth speaker has got you covered.

What is it?

The Flip 4 by JBL is a small external Bluetooth speaker with a waterproof case and sound to spare. It features Bluetooth 4.2 streaming with speakerphone and voice assistance (OK Google/Siri) capability, a 3000mAh battery that purportedly lasts up to 12 hours of playtime, and a waterproof rubber and fabric casing that can even be fully submerged in water with no ill effects. Additionally, it’s JBL Connect+ enabled, which allows for linking of over 100 supported speakers, if you, um, happen to have a few dozen of these laying around.

Their packaging is indeed lovely.

Actually, it would be pretty cool to have several scattered around your back deck or party area. I was not able to test this function, but can imagine the results.

Let’s Get Physical

The Flip 4 is roughly the size of a 16oz. energy drink (think can of Monster or Rockstar) and just a tad heavier.

The form factor of a giant can of Red Bull.

It’s wrapped in a waterproof fabric material, flanked on both ends with rubber. There is a weighted, flat rubber strip running the length of the unit that serves as a rest on a flat surface, preventing it from rolling away. The power button, Connect+ button and charging/aux ports (with waterproof cover) are located on that strip, with the control buttons just above it on the fabric material. There is also a handy wrist strap looped onto the unit, allowing it to be hung up or tied to a pack or wrist.

Both ends consist of the bass radiators, which reverberate and vibrate with the beat. It’s pretty neat to watch, but if something comes into contact or leans into them, it will cause some buzzing. Likewise, a towel or shirt pressed against either end will cause some muffling.

There’s a waterproof plug insulating the ports.

The waterproof housing is one of the main selling points, I took the liberty of running the speaker under the tap for about 30 seconds to no ill effect. It just felt a bit damp when I shook off the excess water and was nearly dry with a quick towel wipe. Really impressive stuff. One wouldn’t have to fear getting sand, dirt or ocean or pool water on it, allowing for high versatility of applications. This speaker would be right at home on a beach towel, backpack, pool deck, boat or campground. It could even survive a lengthy dunk in the pool, which is tough to say of many electronics.

(PSA: Don’t be that camper or beachgoer who is blaring their music for everyone in a square mile to hear, just because you can. Be considerate, people.)

How’s It Sound?

No matter how many neat little features you can cram onto a speaker, it’s all going to come down to what sort of sound it can crank out. The Flip 4 is no slouch. I put it through its paces, throwing everything from Mozart to Daft Punk to Frank Ocean. It definitely prefers bass-heavy, what I’d consider “party” music. It’s definitely LOUD enough. At half volume, streaming through my iPad, it’s definitely loud enough to be heard in a large room, and any louder would be enough to obscure normal conversation levels.

Keep your shirt away from these woofers!

Turning it up louder than 50% resulted in the expected sacrifice of bass and treble for more volume. At around 75% volume, which, again, is probably much louder than you’d typically want to go in most settings, the bass and treble diminish and you’re left with mostly the mid-range. I’d guess the only times you’d want to turn it up to that level is in an already loud setting, like moving at a fast clip on a speedboat, or if you were blaring it from a window pointed out toward your backyard party.

All in all, at the sound levels that someone would most likely be using this at, it sounds great. Hands-down better than anything you’d get out of your phone or tablet, but that’s a pretty low bar to clear.

Final Thoughts

I really like this little speaker. It’s small, super easy to pair and use, is plenty loud and dismisses the common “what if I get it wet or dirty” worries. There are better sounding speakers of similar size, but they’re most certainly not as rugged or as affordable.

The Flip 4 is available from JBL for $99.95.

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

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 17, 2017 at 7:00 am.

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It’s summertime again, and that means pool parties, camping, canoe trips, picnics, and barbecues. But what’s a great summer get-together without a killer soundtrack? There’s just one problem… how are you going to get everyone to actually hear that bangin’ playlist you spent all day making?

Ditch the awkward phone-in-a-cup sound hack and stop worrying about getting that Bluetooth speaker ruined by a spilled beer… the JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth speaker has got you covered.

What is it?

The Flip 4 by JBL is a small external Bluetooth speaker with a waterproof case and sound to spare. It features Bluetooth 4.2 streaming with speakerphone and voice assistance (OK Google/Siri) capability, a 3000mAh battery that purportedly lasts up to 12 hours of playtime, and a waterproof rubber and fabric casing that can even be fully submerged in water with no ill effects. Additionally, it’s JBL Connect+ enabled, which allows for linking of over 100 supported speakers, if you, um, happen to have a few dozen of these laying around.

Their packaging is indeed lovely.

Actually, it would be pretty cool to have several scattered around your back deck or party area. I was not able to test this function, but can imagine the results.

Let’s Get Physical

The Flip 4 is roughly the size of a 16oz. energy drink (think can of Monster or Rockstar) and just a tad heavier.

The form factor of a giant can of Red Bull.

It’s wrapped in a waterproof fabric material, flanked on both ends with rubber. There is a weighted, flat rubber strip running the length of the unit that serves as a rest on a flat surface, preventing it from rolling away. The power button, Connect+ button and charging/aux ports (with waterproof cover) are located on that strip, with the control buttons just above it on the fabric material. There is also a handy wrist strap looped onto the unit, allowing it to be hung up or tied to a pack or wrist.

Both ends consist of the bass radiators, which reverberate and vibrate with the beat. It’s pretty neat to watch, but if something comes into contact or leans into them, it will cause some buzzing. Likewise, a towel or shirt pressed against either end will cause some muffling.

There’s a waterproof plug insulating the ports.

The waterproof housing is one of the main selling points, I took the liberty of running the speaker under the tap for about 30 seconds to no ill effect. It just felt a bit damp when I shook off the excess water and was nearly dry with a quick towel wipe. Really impressive stuff. One wouldn’t have to fear getting sand, dirt or ocean or pool water on it, allowing for high versatility of applications. This speaker would be right at home on a beach towel, backpack, pool deck, boat or campground. It could even survive a lengthy dunk in the pool, which is tough to say of many electronics.

(PSA: Don’t be that camper or beachgoer who is blaring their music for everyone in a square mile to hear, just because you can. Be considerate, people.)

How’s It Sound?

No matter how many neat little features you can cram onto a speaker, it’s all going to come down to what sort of sound it can crank out. The Flip 4 is no slouch. I put it through its paces, throwing everything from Mozart to Daft Punk to Frank Ocean. It definitely prefers bass-heavy, what I’d consider “party” music. It’s definitely LOUD enough. At half volume, streaming through my iPad, it’s definitely loud enough to be heard in a large room, and any louder would be enough to obscure normal conversation levels.

Keep your shirt away from these woofers!

Turning it up louder than 50% resulted in the expected sacrifice of bass and treble for more volume. At around 75% volume, which, again, is probably much louder than you’d typically want to go in most settings, the bass and treble diminish and you’re left with mostly the mid-range. I’d guess the only times you’d want to turn it up to that level is in an already loud setting, like moving at a fast clip on a speedboat, or if you were blaring it from a window pointed out toward your backyard party.

All in all, at the sound levels that someone would most likely be using this at, it sounds great. Hands-down better than anything you’d get out of your phone or tablet, but that’s a pretty low bar to clear.

Final Thoughts

I really like this little speaker. It’s small, super easy to pair and use, is plenty loud and dismisses the common “what if I get it wet or dirty” worries. There are better sounding speakers of similar size, but they’re most certainly not as rugged or as affordable.

The Flip 4 is available from JBL for $99.95.

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

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 17, 2017 at 7:00 am.

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Here we go again, another season, another Fugoo speaker. Fugoo is a wireless Bluetooth speaker maker that has always been just outside  the heavily advertised mainstream of Beats, JBL or Bose. That’s too bad, because Fugoo consistently makes some of the best wireless speakers available. For this long, hot summer of 2017, Fugoo has improved on their original Style speaker with the larger and much more powerful Style S speaker—but not without some trade-offs.

It’s been fun to watch Fugoo evolve from dedicated individuals with a single (but incredible) idea for a speaker that was unlike any other at the time to a company intent on broadening their market. Fugoo now makes four different models—three based on that first speaker. First was the original Fugoo speaker which consisted of a single speaker that could be housed in three differently styled shells. That was followed up by a twice as big XL version of that same idea. And it worked—loudly. Then came the Go speaker—a more affordable departure from the form and function of the previous speakers. The Go has it’s plusses and minuses, but it’s the least expensive speaker Fugoo makes and still sounds great for its size and purpose.

However, Fugoo’s speaker lineup had a gap between the original and much larger XL models. Which is where the Style S fits. The Style S sits between the Style and Style XL in both price and size. Visually, it looks just like the other Style designed speakers, but there are some important differences under the hood. More on that later.

Like all the other Fugoo speakers The style S is IP67 waterproof rated, which means the speaker can be 3 ft. under water for 30 minutes and come up sounding just as good—pretty impressive. Plus, it will float if it falls into the water—always a good thing.

The Style S weighs only 1.7 lbs., so it’s easy to tote around. It’s wrapped in a light brown burlap-type cloth that grips easily. If I know Fugoo, other colors will follow. The top of the speaker has the usual volume and play/pause buttons that are shaped like a + and —. Rubberized end caps hold discrete on/off and Bluetooth pairing buttons on one end with AUX and mini USB charging ports at the other end. The ports are protected from the elements by a thick, rubberized cover. The speaker can be tethered to either bicycle handlebars or a tree or pole with an optional mounting kit that attaches to the speaker’s base.

There are four speakers inside the Style S—two full range drivers and two bass radiators. The original (and cheaper) Fugoo speaker has six speakers and the Style XL has eight speakers. However, it’s not the number of speakers that’s important here, it’s the quality of sound the speakers make. The Style S has a 20-watt amp versus the original Fugoo’s 6 watts, which makes a big volume difference whether used indoors or out. The Style S can be cranked up to 93 decibels—pretty loud for a small speaker. All this power comes at a price though. Battery life in the original Fugoo speaker is an insane 40 hours vs. the Style S’s battery life of 15 hours. That’s still long enough for any outdoor party, but it will need recharging more often. Also, unlike the original or XL speakers, the Style S does not have matching speakers on both sides for true 360° audio. The front of the Style S has both drivers with one of the bass speakers. The rear has only the other bass speaker. I don’t think whether the audio is 360° or not is that big of a deal, but it is worth noting.

The cloth covering on the Style S didn’t feel like there was as much cushioning underneath as on the original Style speaker. It made me wonder if the covering will wear out with repeated use over time, especially in spots where fingers are placed when gripping. Only time will tell. The original Fugoo speaker’s cover just feels better to hold—and two years later, it still looks and feels new. Note that the Style S shell is not removable as on the original or XL speakers.

Bluetooth pairing is quick and simple whether it’s a smartphone or a computer. But here’s what makes the Fugoo Style S so cool—stereo Bluetooth. Sure, most single Bluetooth speakers are technically stereo, but you can’t really hear the separation. But pair two speakers together for true left and right speaker Bluetooth and that makes all the difference! Granted, this requires buying two Style S speakers (Fugoo offers a second speaker discount when purchased together).

When I reviewed the Fugoo Go speaker with its stereo Bluetooth, I marveled at how there seemed to be an invisible middle speaker when listening to music. The same holds true here, but it’s much better sounding—mainly due to the better sounding speakers inside the Style S and more powerful amp. As I said in the other review, I don’t even get this invisible speaker sensation with my regular desktop speakers and those are excellent sounding!

Pairing in Stereo Bluetooth is not as easy as standard Bluetooth pairing. There’s a step-by-step process involving pressing certain buttons in a certain order, but I still had issues with it either not connecting properly or one of the speakers periodically dropping the signal. Sometimes, it could get frustrating. However, once the connections were successfully made, it worked flawlessly. Once again, I cannot state how much of a difference there is in the audio between using only one speaker or using two working in stereo tandem. It’s positively addicting, especially when seated between them at my desk. Wow.

The tonal characteristics of my music was quite pleasing with the Style S. Whether I was listening to classic rock (my favorite genre) or more modern tracks, the Style S didn’t play any harsh notes. In fact, it handled some brighter sounding treble-happy songs with ease. For instance, some early Byrds recordings from the mid-60s can be harsh sounding with some speakers. The Style S exhibited none of that unpleasantness. Their songs sounded smooth with a decent amount of bass without being muddy or too bright sounding.

Frank Sinatra is a standard bearer of quality music and quality recordings—there’s a difference. He had impeccable taste in material but also, his recordings have held up as benchmarks of how to do it right. That’s why his music is often used to test audio equipment. On the Style S, Sinatra’s voice sounds both intimate and expansive, especially in stereo mode.

An obscure song that’s been a favorite of mine is “A Miner and His Music” by Mohave. It’s an eclectic mix of styles and almost scatological stream-of-conscienceness singing that plays well on the Style S. The song makes you feel like you’re on stage with the group as the instruments play around you in space. This song shows off a wide soundstage when in stereo mode.

Fugoo has another winner with the Style S. Even though it works and sounds great as a stand-alone speaker—when paired for stereo, both speakers are much more than the sum of their parts. So if you get two, they can be independently carried around the house and paired together when the music demands some serious listening.

The Fugoo Style S sells for $139.99 and is available now. Visit Fugoo for more information and Amazon to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Fugoo Style S portable Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on on June 27, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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It really wouldn’t be summer without Braven dropping a new speaker on us. And 2017 is no different. True to form, Braven has gone 360° full circle with their new STRYDE 360 portable Bluetooth speaker.

Braven has crafted a soda can shaped speaker to fit into any active lifestyle where water, salt, sand, and snow are as plentiful as air.

The STRYDE 360 is a speaker made to take on the elements with a full IPX7 waterproof rating and with a shockproof exterior for truly roughing it outdoors. Its cylindrical shape will deliver 360-degree sound from dual passive radiators with custom, in-house tuning—all on a 12 hour single charge from its built-in 2500mAh rechargeable battery. The lightweight and vertically shaped STRYDE 360 easily fits in cup holders and water bottle cages as well as backpacks, sport bags or purses. There’s also built-in voice control that works with a smartphone to give a command or make and take calls hands-free.

“Our BRAVEN team believes that you should be able to listen to your favorite music everywhere you go, rain or shine,” says Kristin Archer, Marketing Director BRAVEN Audio. “With the STRYDE 360, our customers are finally able to have a speaker that is compact and portable enough to bring anywhere with sound loud enough for all of your indoor and outdoor summer activities.”

The STRYDE 360 is available now in Silver/Electric or Slate/Crimson for $99.99 US at BRAVEN.com and Amazon.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Braven performs a 360 with the new STRYDE portable speaker originally appeared on on June 23, 2017 at 7:25 am.

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