REVIEW – I’ve been borrowing my sons Bluetooth speaker from time to time, so I thought reviewing the Tronsmart Mega Bluetooth Speaker would be a good time to get my own.

What is it?

The Tronsmart Mega Bluetooth Speaker is a portable 40W wireless speaker that has a rich feature set and most of all, great sound.

Hardware specs

Model: Mega
Compatible: All Bluetooth enabled devices
Bluetooth version: 4.2
Transmission Range: 20m (Open field)
Output Power: 20W X 2
Battery: 3.7V/2*3300mAh
Power Supply: 5V/2.1A
Frequency Response: 115Hz-13KHz
Distortion: =1.0%
Driver Unit: 4ohms 20W/53mm
Playing Time: Up to 15 hours
Dimensions: 193mm x 57mm x 82mm
Weight: 662.3g

What’s in the box?

• Tronsmart Mega Bluetooth Speaker
• Micro-USB Charging cable
• 3.5mm male-to-male audio aux cable
• User manual
• Warranty card

Design and features

The Tronsmart Mega Bluetooth Speaker features start with a simple rectangular design in a compact form factor, at 7.6″x2.25″x3.22″ (193mm x 57mm x 82mm) the speaker is comfortably carried in one hand and can be placed just about anywhere. The large Bluetooth speaker I was previously using was round, large and had three legs that didn’t always work well for some locations.

The top has a lighted touch panel and controls for mode, volume, play/pause, track forward and track back, as well as an NFC “button” for touch pairing from compatible devices. The volume control took a little bit of playing with to figure out exactly where I could and could not touch to adjust the volume. The controls feature a line between volume + and volume -, but only the ends of the actual line are touch sensitive. I initially thought I could slide my figure along the volume line to adjust the volume, but that was not the case.

On the rear of the unit is an aux audio input jack, on/off switch, TF card slot (micro SD), and the micro USB power charging jack. The bottom of the unit has two rubber non-slip pads.

Let’s talk about what really makes this a great speaker. Dual 20W drivers with a passive radiator and a large 28 core high-fidelity subwoofer deliver a total of 40W output. 3D digital sound integrated with DSP technology that almost eliminates distortion (<1% at full volume) means that you can basically turn this thing all the way up and have great sound – which is quite loud!

The Tronsmart Mega Bluetooth Speaker also has TWS technology that enables syncing two devices for true wireless stereo.

Two 3300mAh batteries provide for up to 15 hours of play time before needing another recharge. I like this feature as I occasionally listen to podcasts while driving, and since my truck doesn’t have an aux input, a Bluetooth speaker is the only safe way to do that. With the built-in battery, I don’t have to mess with micro USB charger cords along with my lighting cord.

I’ve had plenty of speakers for computers and several Bluetooth speakers ranging from the inexpensive to the really expensive and I must say, the sound quality from this speaker is phenomenal. I’m not an audiophile – but I do appreciate clear audio that doesn’t sound like it’s coming from an empty plastic box. If you are an audiophile, you probably already know you’ll want something larger if you really enjoy gut-punching bass sound.

The TF card slot (micro SD) supports cards up to 64GB. It supports MP3, WAV, APE, FLAC. The sampling rate is 44.1k, bit rate is 1411kbps. I really like this feature as I can put all of my music on one micro SD card and leave it in the speaker and I have all of my music with the speaker all the time. By the way, the THX movie intro sounds great at full volume.

There is no battery level indicator on the device, but on devices like the iPhone, you can see the battery level at the top of the iPhone screen and a more detailed battery level if you swipe right to see the battery widget.

The speaker also has a built-in microphone, but it’s nothing to write home about. It works good at close range (1-2ft) but at larger distances, it sounds, well, distant. Basically, it’s better than nothing when your hands are dirty and you don’t want to handle your phone.

What I like

• Physical on/off switch
• It’s loud
• MicroSD card slot
• Aux input

What needs to be improved

• No battery level indicator on the unit
• Volume controls a bit touchy

Final thoughts

I really like this speaker. It’s gotten a lot of use over the last few weeks and will get plenty more in the future. Whether I’m in my office, garage, or gallery it’s plenty loud enough to fill the room with clear audio.

Price: $47.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tronsmart.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Tronsmart Mega Bluetooth 4.2 40W speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 22, 2018 at 9:04 am.

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REVIEW – Over the past few years, portable Bluetooth speakers have taken the market by storm and there is a flood of new devices that readily available with various features and many at reasonable prices. The Scosche Boombottle speaker is another device fighting for a niche. Let’s see how it does.

What is it?

The Scosche Boombottle speaker is a waterproof wireless Bluetooth speaker with a magnetic mount to secure your mobile device and a tripod mount or magnetic mount that allows it to be mounted to a metal surface or on a tripod or a stand with a 1/4-20″ stud. It is available in black and gray camouflage.

What’s in the box

1 x Boombottle Speaker
1 x USB Type Charging Cable
1 x Large Mounting Metal Plate
1 x Extra Large Circular Mounting Metal Plate
1 x Carabiner Clip
1 x Protective Film Sticker
1 x User Manual

Design and features

Features
• Magnetically mount your device to the Boombottle MM Mobile Speaker while also magnetically mounting the Boombottle to most metal surfaces
• Built-in Bottle Opener
• Built-in Microphone for Hands-free Calling
• Unique Bottle Design Fits Into Water Bottle Cages and Cup Holders
• Rechargeable Battery for up to 12 Hours of Music Playback
• Dual-Pairing for True Stereo Sound
• IP67 Rated Waterproof / Dustproof Construction

The front of the speaker has the carry handle that can be used as is or with the Carabiner, and there is also a bottle opener at the top. In the middle, there is the rubber sealing door with embedded external buttons that from top to bottom are the volume up button, the multi-function button, and the volume down button. Below the control buttons, there is the LED Battery Level Indicator and the Bluetooth LED Status Indicator.

When you open the rubber sealing door, underneath there are the actual buttons that correspond with those embedded in the rubber cover along with the charging and auxiliary ports below the buttons.

Under the handle of the speaker, there is a bottle opener.

On the front of the speaker, there is a nice matte black speaker grille, with the brand name engraved below.

At the bottom of the speaker, there is as 1/4-20″ female mount that allows it to be mounted to a tripod or stand or any surface with a matching stud. The extra large round magnet mount can be attached to the bottom if you choose to mount the speaker magnetically.

Performance

Specifications

• Bluetooth®: BT 4.2 AWRCP, A2DP
• 30ft. Wireless Range
• 2 x 45mm Speakers
• Freq. Range: 80Hz – 18 KHz
• 12W Power Output
• 4000mAh Internal Battery
• Size: 185mm (H) x 72mm (D)
• Weight: 1.25lbs

This Bluetooth speaker looks and sounds great, and the build quality is second to none. It is easy to pair and operate and seems like it can take a beating. The magnetic base mount or the tripod mount are great options for versatility when choosing where and how to place the speaker. I am not a fan of the upper magnetic mount that is used to mount your phone, because you need to attach the magnetic mounting plate to your phone or phone case in order to safely secure the phone. I was able to get my phone to stay in place without the metal plate, but any amount of vibration caused it to start to slide off. The battery charge lasts a long time and more time than I would ever use this speaker for at any one time.

Pairing the speaker is very easy and the Bluetooth and charge level indicators are very visible.

The manufacturer includes the following short but helpful video on their website, showing how to pair one or two speakers:

What I like

• That it is waterproof
• The sound
• The ability to carry it or mount it
• The solid Bluetooth connection
• The design
• The battery life

What can be improved

• The manual is small with fine print and hard to read (Larger print .pdf manual is available online here)

Final thoughts

After testing quite a few Bluetooth speakers, I have become quite “picky” about what I like and what I classify as a desirable and usable feature versus a useless gimmick. I really like this Bluetooth speaker because of the build quality, the sound, the features, and the style. And, the fact that it is waterproof means that I have so much less to worry about when I am using it, especially outdoors. I really like it, and I think that many people looking for this type of device will like it as well. I definitely give it two thumbs up!!

Price: $129.99
Where to buy: Scosche website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Scosche.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Scosche Boombottle MM Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 3, 2018 at 11:17 am.

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REVIEW – Each day, my life always seems to be very hectic, and I have to be very proactive and create a moment to rest and relax and to unwind. Music is “the medicine for my soul” and if I cannot use earbuds, a Bluetooth speaker is often the perfect alternative. Each night, I like to fall asleep to my favorite music on Pandora, but I find it very uncomfortable to sleep with headphones or earbuds. A Bluetooth speaker on the nightstand is my solution.

What is it?

The Douni A5 Bluetooth speaker is a 25-watt Bluetooth speaker that also supports hands-free 2-way phone conversations including the ability to answer and hang up. It also supports its use as a wired speaker via its auxiliary port.

What’s in the box?

1 x Douni A5 Bluetooth Speaker
1 x AC Power Adapter
1 x Audio cable
1 x User Manual

Design and features

This Douni A5 speaker has a nice rich and clear sound with nice rounded bass. The well-rounded sound is produced via two 12.5 Watt speakers and sounds much like surround sound style speakers and without any distortion. The built-in 6600mAh battery not only makes it portable but allows it to play music for up to 12 hours depending on the level of the volume. It has a good wireless range of up to 66 feet and pairing is simple and automatic, including the initial pairing process. If you have a NFC compatible device, you can tap the check-in area at the top right of the controls to connect your phone, after you have performed the initial pairing function. The built-in microphone produces clear calls for both parties on the phone, and as a bonus, Siri is supported for iPhone users. If you are using the speaker at night and in the dark like I do, there is a thermal sensor across the top of the speaker that activates the buttons backlights when it detects the heat from your hands. Douni stands behind this product by including a one year warranty.

Layout

On the side of the speaker where the ports are located, from left to right there is an Aux-in port, and Aux out port, the DC in port, the USB jack for charging from the power bank, and the reset button.

On the top of the speaker from left to right are the following buttons: power, Bluetooth, call answer/hangup, track backward, play and pause, track forward, volume decrease, volume increase.

When the speaker is powered on there are indicator lights on the top left that show power, charge level,  and Bluetooth on/off. The Aux LED only lights when a device is plugged into the auxiliary port. In the top right corner, there is the NFC icon that indicates the NFC area to tap for connecting NFC enables phones/devices.

At the bottom of the speaker, there are 2 holes and 2 contacts that are used for mounting to the optional wireless charging base and connecting to it.

Performance

As soon as I took this Bluetooth speaker out of the box, I had a good feeling about it. It has a hefty and sturdy feel to it and overall it just feels like quality. I plugged it in to charge with the AC adapter, and when I returned in a couple of hours I pressed the power button and it turned on and all of the buttons lit up. The green power LED, and the 3 orange charge level indicated that it ready to go. I pressed the Bluetooth button and it lit up blue and when I checked my Bluetooth settings on my phone, the A5 was available and ready for pairing. It connected with ease, and the speaker confirmed the connection status with a voice command. I then navigated on my phone to the Pandora app and hit play. I am truly impressed with the sound of this speaker, and even more so at night when there is little or no ambient sound and I get to really appreciate the quality of the sound that this speaker provides. I also tested the phone function for answering, hanging up and conversing, and all worked well. I use the Douni A5 every night when I go to bed, and I just simply plug my iPhone USB charging cable into the USB jack on the speaker and when I get up in the morning, I have a fully charged phone. The Aux in feature works well for non-Bluetooth audio devices. I have not yet found any use for the Aux out feature.

What I like

• The build quality
• The auxiliary jack option
• The USB charging option
• The really nice sound
• The built-in long-lasting battery

What can be improved

• The wireless charging dock should be included
• Built-in QI wireless charging would make this speaker perfect

Final thoughts

The Douni A5 Bluetooth speaker is one of the best of its kind that I have tested. It is really well built and has a feel of quality. The sound quality is great and it is loud enough for use indoors in any room. Being able to move around the room and have a clear phone conversation is a plus and the ability to have your phone being charged via the speaker while doing so, is very convenient. While I continue to stress that sound and convenience are all individually subjective dynamics, I do believe that most will like this speaker. I give it a big thumbs up!!

Price: $64.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was supplied by Douni.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Douni A5 Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 12, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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REVIEW – You gotta hand it to Shinola. This hometown Detroit company has shaken up the watch industry with their genuine American-made timepieces. They’ve also developed a slew of other products, from bicycles to leather goods. But it’s Shinola’s new Bookshelf Speakers that have attracted attention since their entrance into the extremely competitive audio arena. To get the sound they wanted, Shinola joined with one of the most respected names in the professional audio market—Barefoot Sound. But can a partnership between a lifestyle brand and a pro audio company produce a consumer speaker you would want to listen to every day?

What is it?

The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are a pair of self-powered (no amplifier needed) Bluetooth and USB compatible speakers made in partnership with Barefoot Sound. They come in either a black or natural wood cabinet. They’re built by Barefoot Sound in Portland, Oregon.

Specs

• Enclosure: Hand finished oak composite cabinet
• Power output: 100W RMS per channel (300 watts peak)
• Inputs: 3.5mm Stereo Jack, RCA L/R, S/PDIF, USB Type-C, Bluetooth
• Outputs: S/PDIF
• Soft Dome Tweeter: 1 in.
• Woofer: 6.5 in.
• Impedance: 4ohms
• Frequency Response: 48Hz – 22kHz
• Amplifier: Class D
• Dimensions: 8 in. x 9 in. x 12 in. 
• Weight” 17.55 lbs (active); 16.35 lbs (passive)

What’s in the box

• Two speakers
• Power cable
• Banana plug speaker cables
• USB-C cable

Design and features

The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are solid in both weight and build. The cabinet is made of an oak composite braced by medium-density fiberboard (MDF). This construction makes the speakers resistant to unwanted vibrations. The corners are rounded giving them a smooth, modern look. Magnetic speaker grills can be easily attached or left off—your choice. The heavy-duty “banana plug” cable and woven fabric covered power cord are a step up in quality one usually gets with speakers.  

Each speaker has a 6.5 in. woofer and a 1 in. soft-dome dual ring radiator tweeter. This unusual tweeter design helps reduce distortion and is the same tweeter used in Barefoot Audio’s own studio monitors costing thousands of dollars. The woofer was co-designed by Barefoot and Shinola. There’s a bass port at the rear of each speaker which adds to the impact of lower frequency notes and allows air-movement for the woofer to operate freely within the cabinet.

The speakers are powered by a 300 watt built-in amplifier—no receiver is needed. Music can be played from any source—from a turntable to a digital or analog computer connection to a smart device via Bluetooth. The rear panel on the left (powered) speaker has a variety of inputs and selections depending on what your music source is. Because of the button layout, input choices can be confusing at first and a bit annoying if you like to constantly switch from this to that source. 

My favored setup is a digital line from my iMac to the speakers. This way, I can rely on Shinola speaker’s internal digital audio converter (DAC) which is better than my iMac’s DAC. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the cleanest of digital paths. Some computers (like my iMac) have what is called an optical digital connection (S/PDIF) which uses a fiber-optic cable that’s compatible with standard 3.5mm audio jacks. In other words, I have digital coming out of the headphone port. However, the digital input on the Shinola speakers is not compatible with fiber optic cable. My workaround was a headphone amp (an extra expense) that unites the two incompatible digital methods. Confused? Me, too. I got it to work, but I shouldn’t have had to go to this kind of trouble for what should have been a simple connection. (Note that Apple has removed the headphone port/optical digital connection on newer iMacs—thanks a lot, Apple)

Because of the digital connection issue, I could have said forget it and just used Bluetooth, headphone port to AUX, standard RCA cable or USB. However, Bluetooth doesn’t sound quite as good as direct digital (but it does come close) and using the AUX route means that the iMac’s DAC is used for converting audio to analog—not an option if I wanted the speakers to sound the best they could. It became a good news/bad news issue. The bad news is that I had to figure out how to make it work. The good news is that Shinola has built in many ways to connect the Bookshelf Speakers to various sources—and I’ll take that over a limited selection any day.

There are two slightly annoying anomalies regarding the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers: When powered on, they emit a loud and low bass thump. I’m told that Shinola has fixed this, but it’s present on the speakers I have, so I point it out. Also, the speakers will go to sleep if quiet for a while and the only way to wake them is by pressing the small Source button on the rear panel. There is no remote or on/off button at the front of the speaker, so having to feel for the button at the rear of the speaker is not user friendly. Plus, the Source button is close to the Bluetooth Pairing button, making is easy to press the Pairing button by accident. 

Speaking of the Source button, it has to be pressed each time to switch among the five sources: AUX, S/PDIF (digital), Bluetooth, USB and RCA. Again, there is no remote, so you have to reach behind to select the source. Each choice has a matching indicator light, but the lights are also on the rear panel making it more difficult than it needs to be.

Bluetooth pairing with my iPhone was easy and straightforward. And boy, does Bluetooth from my overpriced Apple device sound good! After listening for some time, I can say that the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers offer the best sounding Bluetooth connection I’ve heard yet. In fact, Bluetooth coming from my iPhone sounds better than Bluetooth from my older iMac.

Many speakers may sound their best at either lower or louder volume, but the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers sound great at all volume levels. That unusual tweeter mentioned earlier produces all the necessary higher frequencies without being overly bright or harsh. There’s no need for a subwoofer with these speakers. Bass produced is deep and impactful, giving music a fuller, more rounded sound. 

The Bookshelf Speakers have a relaxed sound quality and reproduce music with ease. Here’s what this means: When you’re sitting in front of the speakers, close your eyes and try to let the music take you places. If a speaker can do that, then it has achieved its goal. That may seem like a weird comment, but it’s true. Music from some speakers will move me and (for whatever reason) music from other speakers is just sound. My music heard through the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers emotionally affects me in a very good way.

The human voice is always a good test of a speaker and when you combine many voices, it’s better. Do you hear a wall of vocals or can you pick out distinct voices among the crowd?  Alan Parson’s song, “Breakdown” ends with a choir contrasting the lead singer’s urgent wailing. The effect—especially at higher volume—is spine tingling. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are able to pinpoint individual voices among the many. The same can be said for “Bless the Lord, O My Soul” by the Chamber Choir Kiev. This Rachmaninov masterpiece will make your hairs stand up. Once again, Shinola’s speakers let you hear individuals from within the massive choir.

Johnny Cash released some of his most raw and uncompromising work shortly before he died. “The Man Comes Around” is delivered with the urgency of a country preacher backed by some excellent acoustic guitar and deep piano playing. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers handle the low piano notes while also delivering higher frequencies from the guitar—all distinct but blended beautifully.

The sad Elton John classic, “Indian Sunset” from “Madman Across the Water” features elements of John singing alone, followed by a thunderous backing band fronted by violin and cello. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers deliver all the power and pathos wrapped up together in this one song. The cellos go quite low but retain clarity with no hint of distortion.

What I like

Solidly built. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are that rare speaker that lets you get lost in your music. I could enjoy them all day.  

What needs to be improved

They’re priced out of reach of many people. The back panel buttons are not user-friendly. Creating a remote would be helpful. 

Final Thoughts

The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are most definitely expensive. But if you have the means and are looking for a pair of self-powered, wireless speakers that can blend into any decor and will help your music take you places, don’t overlook them. 

Price: $1,500 US
Where to buy: www.shinola.com
Source: The review sample of this product was provided by Shinola. Visit www.shinola.com for more info.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Shinola Bookshelf Speakers review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 10, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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