Grace Digital ECOXGEAR ECOXBT Rugged and Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Orange)

 

If you enjoy your music wherever you go then Grace Digital's ECOXGEAR line of products is the choice for you. Looking for a wireless Bluetooth speaker system then the ECOXBT is your perfect portable solution. The ECOXBT wirelessly connects to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop providing a rugged and waterproof mobile Bluetooth speaker and speakerphone solution. The ECOXBT is not just water resistant but actually 100% waterproof. So don't worry if it gets knocked in the pool, falls off the boat, drops into the river, lake or ocean. It even floats! An Aux-in jack on the back of the unit provides the option to physically connect any iPhone, smartphone, mp3 player or any audio source with an audio out jack.

There is really no place that the ECOXBT speaker will not go. Take it to the beach, hiking and backpacking, or on your camping or boating trip. If you can get there, the ECOXBT will be there with you. The ECOXBT features Bluetooth EDR 2.1 that delivers audio wirelessly to the two built-in full-range stereo speakers and microphone, allowing you to listen to your favorite tunes or take a phone call, wherever you are.

Take the ECOXBT anywhere: the beach, hiking, backpacking, camping or boating. View larger

The ECOXBT will additionally play music from non-Bluetooth-enabled portable devices via the 1/8" (3.5mm) auxiliary in jack located on the rear of the ECOXBT. The Aux-in jack connects your audio source to the full-range stereo speakers. (Note: the ECOXBT's phone function is not active when your device is only connected via the Aux-in jack.)

The rugged industrial design protects the built-in speakers from the elements when you're outdoors. The polycarbonate outer shell and rubber over mold make the ECOXBT waterproof and shock resistant while the black stainless steel speaker grill cover protects the speaker cones from damage.

The ECOXBT comes with a carabineer to clip on to your backpack to keep your hands free. Clip the case to the top of your tent, to a tree while sitting by the camp fire, or basically wherever you can click it.

The ECOXBT runs on a built-in rechargeable Lithium 1800mAh battery, as well as on the included USB to AC power adapter. The rechargeable battery provides over 10 hours of listening at average volume, and fully recharges in only 2 hours. Top panel LED indicators share information about power status, Bluetooth pairing, and charging status.

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Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black)

I've owned the Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker for two months (paid $78.47). I'm very pleased. The sound quality is excellent for this type of speaker. The volume is loud enough to completely fill a room or a small outdoor area (e.g., patio). I've enjoyed it on the beach and found quality does not suffer much at high volumes.
Like with any small speaker, if you crank it to max volume, there is some distortion on bass-heavy songs. But the distortion is slight, and the bass sounds great if you have the volume appropriately set for the type of audio you are streaming.
On that note, there is no remote. The only way to control the volume is the `volume up' and `volume down' buttons on the front of the speaker or directly from streaming device ONLY IF it allows it. That is, my iPhone (3G - iOS 3.1.3) CANNOT change the speaker's volume while streaming, but my laptop can. In my use, I have not needed a remote. Usually I directly set the speaker's volume for the environment (e.g., bathroom, patio) and forget it. No remote also means you must control the streaming media from your device. There are no media control buttons on the speaker.
There is an auxiliary input on the back of the speaker, if you want to hook up a non-bluetooth device, or maybe just to save battery by not using Bluetooth.
Pairing with Bluetooth-capable devices (in my case, iPhone 3G and HP laptop) is simple and quick.
Battery life (four AA) is excellent. It is so long I cannot even put an estimate in terms of hours. It also came with an AC adapter, but I have never used it. The battery compartment is underneath the speaker.
The speaker is fairly small and very light. I actually carry it from room-to-room to enjoy while I am doing chores.
My only concern with the speaker is the build quality. The plastic casing is sturdy, but the front face of the speaker (surrounding the name plate and volume controls) is made of cloth. The cloth is spongy, but I am worried that it will inevitably tear with my heavy use of the speaker. There is no travel case included with the speaker.
Looking for a portable Bluetooth wireless speaker, I also considered the Logitech Z515 ($90, smaller and cloth-free). I've never used that Logitech speaker, but I ultimately chose the Creative D100 based on superior reviews for sound quality and bass quality. Look into both. There are good reviews for them and a comparison on CNET, if you want more information.
On the front of the speaker:
Volume up button
Volume down button
Bluetooth connect button
On the back of the speaker:
Power (on/off) switch
Aux input
5V AC adapter input
Underneath the speaker:
Battery compartment (four AA)

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HMDX Audio HX-P230BL JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker (Blueberry)

First off, I would like to explain that this may be an ongoing review. I just bought this item last night, and being a person who understands electronics, I usually wait for my reviews. This time, I figured I would start the review, and then I can come back and edit. Therefore, you may see some updates or changes below.
Second, don't let my initial 4-star rating fool you. I was torn on how to rate this product for the value of what you pay, or vs. other speakers. I decided to put this up against much larger bluetooth speakers, and I think it speaks volumes that a $40 item is 4-stars compared to $150 bluetooth portable speakers.
I'm going to start with what most peopls call "cons", but I'm just going to note them as minor nuisances
-The cord is only about 6 inches long....BUT...its your standard android type charger. Since I'm a Samsung Galaxy boy, myself, I have a ton of these cables. It is currently charging with an old LG cable I found
-Some have mentioned a slight hum in the speaker. This is pretty common with most Bluetooth devices. This goes away when you start playing music. There have been some that said, "once you hear the hum, you always hear the hum". I purposely turned the music all the way down just to hear the hum. I listened to it at my desk for 5 minutes, and then played music again. I don't notice any hum, and I am TRYING to hear it. So, although there is, in fact, a hum, I'm not noticing it when in use.
-Its not a great bass machine, but again, is this really a con? Do people buy a prius to drag-race? Cannot really hold that against this machine, so again...that is why I said a "minor nuisance" (and that is a stretch)
-The power switch is on the bottom
-There is an extreeeeeemly loud series of beeps every time you turn it on. You know its coming, so you can try to shield it. Its still somewhat annoying, and not good for starting up in quiet places. There may be a way around this, I just haven not figured it out.
-The controls on the speaker itself are a little slow to respond, but honestly, who is going to use this? It is only a minor delay anyway. I just tested them to see what they were. I control everything from my phone.
I tried this thing out approximately 10 times in Bed Bath and Beyond. I kept messing with their display and was rather disappointed that I couldn not try my own music on their display. So, that kept me from trying it at first. Plus, I am always concerned that the display model is set up differently and it just won't sound as good at home in larger rooms...which takes me to my pros, and what I love about this (so far)
-The sound fills a room. Its not that massive BOSE sound, but its pretty close in how it fills a room. I listen to a lot of 90's acoustic rock and that stuff sounds incredible. Now, if you get to some of the newer club-rap type of music, there is not a lot of power, but it doesn't sound distorted either. Still sounds good, it just is not going to blow your hair back and rattle windows
-I had the phone about 15 feet away from the device and it played beautifully. What is funny is Pandora played clearer than my recorded music...here is why that is a pro. Because, I realized a lot of my recorded music is garbage from the internet and typically poor recordings, which leads me to believe that this device really picks out the clarity of songs. Much like a good set of headphones might actually make some of my bad recording actually sound bad because the headphones are so clear.
-The construction is very sturdy
- (pending a battery test)
- any standard charger that comes with most android phones can charge this.
-line in that will work with non-USB devices
-packaging is actually very nice. I will keep this for storage.
If you are skeptical about buying this, just buy it from a place that has easy returns. Thus far, I have no desire to return it. As far as performance goes, it is a solid 5-star product for the price. Again, I gave it four stars only because its slightly not as powerful as some bigger, more expensive speakers. I realize that may not be a fair assessment, but, again, I think it speaks more to the product that I give it 4 stars in comparing it to the larger portable Bluetooth speakers. I think the only way I would have a problem with this speaker in the future, is if for some reason performance decreases, or I find that the battery lasts a very short amount of time. I will update this, if needed, in the future. If you don't hear from me, that means its still doing well :)

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HMDX Audio HX-P230RD JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker (Strawberry)

First off, I would like to explain that this may be an ongoing review. I just bought this item last night, and being a person who understands electronics, I usually wait for my reviews. This time, I figured I would start the review, and then I can come back and edit. Therefore, you may see some updates or changes below.
Second, don't let my initial 4-star rating fool you. I was torn on how to rate this product for the value of what you pay, or vs. other speakers. I decided to put this up against much larger bluetooth speakers, and I think it speaks volumes that a $40 item is 4-stars compared to $150 bluetooth portable speakers.
I'm going to start with what most peopls call "cons", but I'm just going to note them as minor nuisances
-The cord is only about 6 inches long....BUT...its your standard android type charger. Since I'm a Samsung Galaxy boy, myself, I have a ton of these cables. It is currently charging with an old LG cable I found
-Some have mentioned a slight hum in the speaker. This is pretty common with most Bluetooth devices. This goes away when you start playing music. There have been some that said, "once you hear the hum, you always hear the hum". I purposely turned the music all the way down just to hear the hum. I listened to it at my desk for 5 minutes, and then played music again. I don't notice any hum, and I am TRYING to hear it. So, although there is, in fact, a hum, I'm not noticing it when in use.
-Its not a great bass machine, but again, is this really a con? Do people buy a prius to drag-race? Cannot really hold that against this machine, so again...that is why I said a "minor nuisance" (and that is a stretch)
-The power switch is on the bottom
-There is an extreeeeeemly loud series of beeps every time you turn it on. You know its coming, so you can try to shield it. Its still somewhat annoying, and not good for starting up in quiet places. There may be a way around this, I just haven not figured it out.
-The controls on the speaker itself are a little slow to respond, but honestly, who is going to use this? It is only a minor delay anyway. I just tested them to see what they were. I control everything from my phone.
I tried this thing out approximately 10 times in Bed Bath and Beyond. I kept messing with their display and was rather disappointed that I couldn not try my own music on their display. So, that kept me from trying it at first. Plus, I am always concerned that the display model is set up differently and it just won't sound as good at home in larger rooms...which takes me to my pros, and what I love about this (so far)
-The sound fills a room. Its not that massive BOSE sound, but its pretty close in how it fills a room. I listen to a lot of 90's acoustic rock and that stuff sounds incredible. Now, if you get to some of the newer club-rap type of music, there is not a lot of power, but it doesn't sound distorted either. Still sounds good, it just is not going to blow your hair back and rattle windows
-I had the phone about 15 feet away from the device and it played beautifully. What is funny is Pandora played clearer than my recorded music...here is why that is a pro. Because, I realized a lot of my recorded music is garbage from the internet and typically poor recordings, which leads me to believe that this device really picks out the clarity of songs. Much like a good set of headphones might actually make some of my bad recording actually sound bad because the headphones are so clear.
-The construction is very sturdy
- (pending a battery test)
- any standard charger that comes with most android phones can charge this.
-line in that will work with non-USB devices
-packaging is actually very nice. I will keep this for storage.
If you are skeptical about buying this, just buy it from a place that has easy returns. Thus far, I have no desire to return it. As far as performance goes, it is a solid 5-star product for the price. Again, I gave it four stars only because its slightly not as powerful as some bigger, more expensive speakers. I realize that may not be a fair assessment, but, again, I think it speaks more to the product that I give it 4 stars in comparing it to the larger portable Bluetooth speakers. I think the only way I would have a problem with this speaker in the future, is if for some reason performance decreases, or I find that the battery lasts a very short amount of time. I will update this, if needed, in the future. If you don't hear from me, that means its still doing well :)

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Bose® SoundLink® Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II - Nylon

I'm tempted to do a video review of a side-by-side comparison between the SoundLink I and the Soundlink II, but, when all is said and done, it's the sound that matters and there's no way to convey that unless you yourself preview the sound difference live. That said, here's my assessment in comparing the two:
Yes, the sound is quite a bit fuller, yet better balanced with improvement on the mids and highs -- w/ crisper sound on the top end without beginning tinny, hissy or overly blaring. Another reviewer stated the treble was diminished on the SL II, but I'm hearing differently. From the big brassy sounds of 60s era Sinatra to the Edge's (from U2) guitar -- you actually get more of that nice shimmering mid-range and treble. The bass is solid and expansive without being exaggerated. There are times when it sounds and feels like I've got a dedicated floor standing subwoofer, and then I look over and I'm reminded that all that sound comes from something no bigger than a hardcover book. Some reviewers have said that they hear little or no difference between the Soundlinks I and II. So I'll add to points here:
--You will probably hear the difference in sound quality between Soundlink I and II if you play a wide variety different musical genres. I did.
--If you read the hundreds of Soundlink I reviews on Amazon, you will hear one consistent theme, the mid-range and highs on the Soundlink I sound muddy or muffled, especially compared with Big Jambox. While I hear the difference, the Soundlink I still provides me with a pleasant listening experience. If the Soundlink II did not exist, I'd be very happy with the Soundlink I. At the same time, the improvement in sound quality in the Sounndlink II will, I believe, address the concerns of those who did voice this concern.
I like the bi-fold cover, which now allows me to more easily carry the unit around the house while playing it. With the SL I, that the cover would be hanging awkwardly if you wanted to walk across the living room playing your music.
Battery indicator light now provides more information about battery status...going from green to yellow to red.
By the way, here's an important tip to anyone wanting to make an objective comparison between the Soundlink and any other portable speaker. Remember that the Soundlink has passive subwoofers that project backwards. Whether or not you are comparing it to something that does not have this feature, keep the Soundlink away from a wall, otherwise it would get that disproportionately boomy bass so that so many have complained about. I think this one little detail has inadvertently and , perhaps unfairly, negatively skewed a few Soundlink reviews. Personally, there are times when I like it close to wall because the music sounds more live that way...but it's a matter of taste.
All that being side, now that I've lived with the Soundlink for over a week, here are some further impressions:
LIKES
--Big, well balanced sound in small form factor. Like a book, it's easy to carry.
--Bluetooth pairs easily
--Versatility. You can also connect via wire
--New bifold cover allows for easier carrying while playing music
--Minimalist design. I like the fact that there is software baggage, remove controls, computerized voices to deal with.
--Gives me a break from having to wear my iPod earbuds all the time.
DISLIKES
--Battery life not as long as others in this category
--No volume reading. While it is easy to adjust the volume, you cannot tell where the volume setting is relative to the highest and lowest settings.
--AC Adapter seems to be bigger than it needs to be.
--Distasteful, overly expensive covers.
Overall, the sound is better than some 2.1 systems with dedicated floor subwoofer I've heard. Also, while I admit I have not heard the Big Jambox, it's hard to imagine this would not turn some folks in that camp...particularly with the smaller, more portable SL form factor. When I was in my 20s, back in the component system heyday, I had Sherwood amplifier/receiver, turntable and cassette deck with...two giant speakers with 12 inch woofers. Today, I am carrying that same big sound around the house with from room to room, some times even playing the same music I used play. What a trip. Thanks Bose.

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JBL Flip Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black)

I wanted a bluetooth speaker to synch with my Samsung Galaxy and from the reviews, narrowed it to the JBL Flip and the Soundfreaq Sound Kick. The speaker is meant to sit on the kitchen counter and fill up a great room of about 1000 sq ft so portability was not strictly a consideration, but I didn't want anything that would take up too much space.
To cut to the chase, although the Flip did sound very good, I decided to keep the Sound Kick. I was initially biased toward Flip due to brand recognition and I don't like the name Sound Kick, but that's just marketing.
Sound: As I said, both speakers sounded very good, but the Sound Kick had deeper bass response and more spacial separation possibly due to it's slightly larger size. Both got very loud with amazingly low distortion for speakers this size.
Size: The Flip is definitely geared toward portability and it comes with nice zippered case. The Sound Kick is maybe twice the Flip's size and is very rectangular, which might make it a bit harder to fit into an overnight bag.
Operation: Both speakers synched easily. The Flip has very minimal controls and is meant to be controlled via the media source. The Sound Kick has volume and navigation buttons, which makes it easier to adjust playback. Otherwise, with the Flip, I would have to "wake up" my phone and navigate to the music player to change songs or volume. One thing about the Sound Kick is that the power button has a click, but the other buttons are simply touch sensitive in that they don't depress or click. They are kind of twitchy and it takes some getting used to.
USB: In keeping with the minimalist design, the Flip does not have a USB connector. For my use, I like the USB on the Sound Kick so that I can charge the media source and it does eliminate one AC adapter on the counter.
Overall, both are impressive pieces of technology, especially for the price. Sound quality is subjective, but I would recommend the Flip if travel and portability were the main concern. While I preferred the Sound Kick for more of a desktop unit.
Oh, and yes, the Flip does play while plugged into the wall.

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JBL Micro Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

After trying around 10 different mini speakers for my cellphone this my favorite. I also have the flip. This guy is not far behind the flip in quality and volume.
The rundown:
Just tried a bunch of these ranging from $20-$60:
HMDX jam bluetooth - third place - sounds awesome, it's the loudest of all tested as well. great bass and does not distort much even at the loudest volume. nice, solid weight. However a constant buzzing/fuzzy noise made this a no go. would be my second favorite if it didn't have the buzz. well priced at 35.
Satechi bluetooth audio cube - not loud at all, tinny sound, very little bass, sounds muffled. expected more from the large size of the unit(about 3.5*3.5") compared to others, and the positive reviews. looks cool. overpriced at 50 for sure.
Kinivo wired - not very loud but otherwise great sound. nice bass, clear highs. distorts a little at max volume. cool looking. great value at 20
Sharkk bluetooth - second place - a best buy at 27 bucks. sounds great, great bass, and not much distortion on max volume. not quite as loud as the jbl or hmdx. bland looking. Comparable volume to most of the others though.
JBL micro bluetooth - my favorite - first place. stylish, great volume, clear highs and great bass. Very user friendly and uses a manual volume dial so each time you turn it on it is at the previous volume. most reset to 50% every time you turn them off and back on. Bluetooth connectivity through walls is not quite as strong as others, the only con. Also can be used as a bluetooth adaptor/dongle where the 3.5mm out can plug into any home theater system. Nice spot to hang it up on a nail, making the sound project farther and louder. Also has a small flat area on the side opposite the hook so it stands up by itself and it doesn't fall over even at max volume with bass heavy rap playing, meaning you can aim the speaker. This actually makes the speaker louder than the hmdx for real world usage. With extremely heavy bass music the mids and highs "fade out" a little bit at max volume since a single driver can only handle a certain amount of range. Otherwise it does not distort even at max volume. pricey at 60 but worth it. great battery life too, more than the advertised 5 hours.
August bluetooth - decent quality and bass, however distorts at fairly low volumes making it a no go. Similar to the sharkk in size, weight and sound.
Satechi BT wireless portable speaker - worst of all, distorts at the slightest bit of bass or volume. Instant no go and a rip off at 40 bucks. can also be used as a bluetooth dongle like the jbl though. Looks almost identical to the kinivo. has horrible buttons that perform multiple functions and are super sensitive leading accidental skipping of songs, turning off, etc. stay away from satechi.
Xmini - bluetooth drops easily. by far the lightest and smallest and has good sound for it's size but little bass and not too loud. If you want portability and lightweight this is the way to go. The alpatronix is small too but heavier. pricey at 40 for what you get.
Alpatronix bluetooth - sounds great, but distorts quickly with any bass heavy music. Also "walks" across the table with bass heavy songs unlike the others due to it's weight/bass ratio. Loud, like the jbl and hdmx. 40 bucks is too much unless you don't listen to anything but classical at low volumes.

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HomeSpot NFC-enabled Bluetooth Audio Receiver for Sound System

Bluetooth Music Streaming:
Play music wirelessly from your phone on your A/V receiver, home stereo system or speaker with this Bluetooth audio receiver. High-quality audio streaming from your phone or other Bluetooth device in CD-quality sound through your speaker. Freedom to move freely in your house as you listen - conveniently control and stream music from up to 66 feet/20 meters away. Easy to install - simply plug it into your stereo, then connect to your device with just one press of a button. If your phone has NFC, just tap it to the HomeSpot audio receiver to make an instant connection. For Bluetooth phones or computers without NFC, the pairing process is the same as if connecting to other regular Bluetooth audio receivers and speakers.
NFC Compatibility:
NFC Bluetooth pairing function has been tested (or reported by users as working) with these phones: Google Nexus 4, Google Nexus 7, LG Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy S3*, Samsung Galaxy Nexus*, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy S4, S3 mini, Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE, HTC One, OneX/XL*, HTC One SV*, HTC EVO 4G LTE, HTC Windows Phone 8X, Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8, Nokia Lumia 820, Nokia Lumia 822, Nokia Lumia 810, Nokia Lumia 610 NFC, Nokia 700, Nokia 701, Sony Experia Ion, Sony Experia S, Sony Experia P, Sony Xperia TX (ST29i), Sony Experia V.
*Installation of Tap-and-Pair App (or any other NFC Bluetooth pairing handover app compliant to NFC Forum Specifications) is required for Android OS version 4.0.x, despite NFC hardware support by the phone. Tap-and-Pair app can be downloaded free of charge from Google Play Store. Phones that have been upgraded to 4.1/4.2 (Jelly Bean) do not require app installation for NFC Bluetooth pairing.

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