Organizer
Gadget news
Groov-e’s Wave Glow Bluetooth speaker has a lot going for it, but sadly sound quality isn’t on the list
1:00 am | August 20, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Groov-e Wave Glow: two-minute review

The Groov-e Wave Glow is a very affordable portable speaker and one with sound quality to match that price tag. Yes, this is one that will infuriate the ears of audiophiles sounding somewhat tinny at times and slightly lacking any oomph across the course of my listening.

On the other hand, it has some funky looking lights which I found rather endearing, a comfy to grip strap, and some surprising ways to connect it to your music. Besides Bluetooth, you can also plug in a USB flash drive, slot in a TF card (both admittedly with a tight 64GB limit), and there’s an aux port. It’s not often you see these features in a tiny speaker any more. Granted, not everyone will need these but if you do, well, your options are limited making this more tempting.

Of course, don’t count on it rivalling the best Bluetooth speakers. This is a decidedly cheap speaker. It feels a little cheap to the touch and there’s that dodgy sound quality. I say dodgy; it’s reminiscent of buying a cheap radio or speaker years ago, before good speakers were affordable for the masses. It’s not hideous, exactly, but it’s also fairly ‘blah’.

Away from that disappointing audio quality, the Groov-e Wave Glow has some chunky, tactile buttons for play/pause, volume, and adjusting the lights, and the ports are all hidden behind a pull-out protective shell. Then there’s the lights up top and down bottom, and the elastic strap.

The Groov-e Wave Glow is priced at £23.99 and at the moment is only seemingly available in the UK, but that would make it under $35, or around AU$50. For that price, it’d be silly to expect too much, but if you can stretch further, you will find better options – more on those later. If money is that tight, however, or you’re looking for a cheap gift, the Groov-e Wave Glow still has some appeal.

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: price and release date

  • Released May 2025
  • £23.99 at launch
  • Limited availability

The Groov-e Wave Glow was launched in May 2025 and is currently available to buy in the UK. It’s already seen some modest discounts but is generally available for £23.99.

That makes it one of the cheaper speakers around. The recently released Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is close but is still usually priced at £39.99. If you’re able to increase your budget to that, there are a few other options like the JBL Go 4, but few as cheap as this one.

Groov-e Wave Glow review: specs

Weight

645g

Dimensions

13.7 x 8 x 7.5 cm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, aux-in, USB-C (charging)

Battery life

8 hours (quoted)

Speaker drivers

10W

Waterproofing

n/a

Groov-e Wave Glow review: features

  • AUX port, microSD slot, and USB flash drive support
  • LED lights
  • 8-hour battery life

The Groov-e Wave Glow is a fairly typical looking little Bluetooth speaker but with some surprising features. The highlight is its plethora of connections. Sure, you’ll be mostly using its Bluetooth connection, but it has other options. You can use its aux port to connect to other devices (and the speaker actually comes with a 3.5mm jack), while next to it is a TF (read: microSD) card slot, and the USB connection allows you to plug in a USB flash drive. Admittedly, both microSD and USB have a limitation of 64GB so you might have to search around for a compatible option, but it could be that specific situation that fits you perfectly.

There are no mics for speakerphone duties (although few speakers seem to offer that, these days) and battery life is a very unremarkable 8 hours. I’d have liked to have seen more here, especially as it takes 2 hours for a full recharge. Its Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity works fine and I had no issues using it with my iPhone 14 Pro but there were occasional dropouts on my PC – usually when I moved the speaker around.

Elsewhere, the LED lights are my favorite thing about the Groov-e Wave Glow. They visually bounce away while playing music and look suitably vibrant and exciting. They’re potentially more exciting than the audio quality, but I’ll get to that. It’s a neat touch either way and makes up for the lack of app support and thus in-app customization.

  • Features score: 4/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: sound quality

  • 10W
  • Tinny sound
  • Weak bass

I didn’t expect much of the Groov-e Wave Glow but I have to be honest, it actually sounded a little worse than anticipated. It’s functional, of course, but pretty tinny at times. There’s no bass to speak of, but my word, do the lights try to atone for that. You're encouraged to feel like it’s doing its best, happily bouncing along. However, it’s pretty tame stuff.

Listening to spoken word – a podcast or YouTube video, say – is fine, but when you switch over to your favorite music, the limitations are much more noticeable. The volume can go pretty high, but that weakens the experience even more. I went for my cheesy favorite, Robbie William’s Let Me Entertain You to start, knowing exactly how it’s meant to sound and there was no urgency or strength in the mids.

I went bold then and loaded up some Muse and sighed as it sounded somewhat pitiful. The soundstage is weak but more importantly, the bass and general ambience is underwhelming.

  • Sound quality score: 2/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: design

  • Comfy elasticated strap
  • Tactile buttons
  • Well hidden ports

The Groov-e Wave Glow is certainly exactly how you expect a speaker to look, but there are a few highlights. I’m a big fan of its buttons being attractive but tactile too, so anyone with visual impairments can find what they’re wanting to press. There are buttons for play/pause, volume, and for toggling the lights on or off.

There’s a chunky section for the ports too which blends in well and feels suitably snug. On another side is the strap which is elasticated but held in quite tightly. The idea is that you can easily hold it through the strap but also attach it to something like a hook. It feels nice in your hands which is the main thing here.

As with other similar speakers, the Groov-e Wave Glow is pretty lightweight to carry around. Up top and down the bottom is the lighting so you can place the Groov-e Wave Glow sideways as well as upright.

What lets it down in this section – and why not go higher than four stars? Well, any discussion on the design has to include the audio architecture under the hood, and as you'll know if you've read this far, this area is where the Wave Glow struggles. Also, unusually for a speaker in 2025, there's no mention of an IP rating for water or dust ingress – so it won't be joining the ranks of our best waterproof speakers buying guide any time soon.

  • Design score: 4/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: value

  • Very cheap
  • Sturdy design
  • Useful for a specific situation

The Groov-e Wave Glow is certainly cheap but its sound quality demonstrates exactly why it’s so cheap. Having said that, the aux port, USB flash drive support, and TF card slot could make it exactly what you’ve been looking for. For those people, there’s not much else to rival the Groov-e Wave Glow at this price.

However, if you’re looking for good audio, it’s a smart move to spend a little more on the JBL Go range or something from Anker Soundcore. The Groov-e Wave Glow definitely isn’t the best choice for music lovers, but it is super cheap and for many, that's the priority.

  • Value score: 3/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Groov-e Wave Glow?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

No app, but there are a few notable extras not on other models

4/5

Sound quality

The weakest element by far when considering the Wave Glow: tinny and lacking in low end

2/5

Design

Useful straps, fun lights and tactile buttons

4/5

Value

It's cheap, but given the sound quality, spending less doesn't always mean value

3/5

Buy it if...

You want extra connectivity options
Many speakers still retain an aux port but TF and USB flash drive support? That’s what potentially makes the Groov-e Wave Glow your dream option. Only you know what you need most.

You want something for the summer
Just need a short term solution? The Groov-e Wave Glow is cheap, easy to get hold of, and does the job. Just about.

You’re on a tight budget
If money is very tight and you need a speaker, the Groov-e Wave Glow is an impulse buy kind of price.

Don't buy it if...

You’re an audiophile
It’s been a while since I’ve heard something as underwhelming as the Groov-e Wave Glow which is a tragic shame, but true.

You want something to last all day
The Groov-e Wave Glow only has 8 hours of battery life which means it won’t last a busy day hiking or out and about. There are other cheap options with better battery life.

You want waterproofing
The Groov-e Wave Glow doesn’t confirm its waterproofing and while its ports are neatly hidden away, we wouldn’t trust it immersed in water. Go for something with guaranteed IPX7 waterproofing if you plan on heading to the pool.

Groov-e Wave Glow review: also consider

Groov-e Wave Glow

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus

JBL Clip 5

Price

£23.99; limited availability in other markets

$39.99 / £32 / AU$65 (approx.)

$79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95

Weight

645g

545g

285g

Dimensions

13.7 x 8 x 7.5 cm

90.9 x 90.9 x 118.9 mm

86 x 134.5 x 46 mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, aux-in, USB-C (charging)

Bluetooth 5.4 (SBC, AAC codecs), AUX-in, USB-C (charging)

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (charging)

Battery life

8 hours (quoted)

12 hours (quoted)

Up to 12 hours

Speaker drivers

10W (dimensions not stated)

48mm

Integrated class D digital amplifiers x 1

Waterproofing

n/a

IPX7

IP67

JBL Clip 5
If you can stretch that budget, buy the JBL Clip 5. It’s perfect for outdoor use while also sounding great for the price. There’s plenty of detail and bass here with an adjustable EQ and an ideal strap for carrying.
Read our full JBL Clip 5 review View Deal

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus
A little more expensive but guaranteeing good waterproofing, the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus could still sound better but it’s otherwise a robust option at a very affordable price.
Read our full Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review

Groov-e Wave Glow review: how I tested

  • Tested over 14 days
  • Used with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Twitch
  • 15 years of audio equipment reviewing experience

I used the Groov-e Wave Glow across 14 days in a wide range of ways. I connected it to my PC initially and listened to Spotify, Apple Music and Twitch using that as a source device, then moved to my iPhone 14 Pro.

That meant a solid mixture of spoken audio and also music. My music taste is fairly varied so it went from Robbie Williams to Muse to Chet Baker to various pieces of classical music. I also checked how good battery life appeared to be and monitored how long it took to recharge.

I have 15 years of experience testing audio equipment, specialising in portable, affordable products just like the Groov-e Wave Glow.

Campfire’s portable USB headphone amp/DAC proves an interesting listen but you should try before you buy
6:30 pm | August 16, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers DACs Gadgets Hi-Fi | Tags: | Comments: Off

Campfire Audio Relay: Two-minute review

Campfire Audio of Portland, Oregon is not, on the face of it, the most likely company to start competing in the portable USB headphone amp/DAC market. After all, this is a company that revels in doing things its own way, and with a product like this, there’s little scope for individualism.

So the Relay is an unremarkable-looking device by the company’s standards, but it’s certainly compact and well-made enough to compete. Between its AKM 4493 SEQ DAC chip with wide file and resolution compatibility, and its choice of balanced or unbalanced analog outputs, though, it’s specified to a high standard, too. Its basic user interface doesn’t give any indication of the resolution of the file that’s playing, though, which looks a bit remedial against its most obvious and most capable rivals.

In action, the Relay is a revealing, organized, nicely unified listen, one that’s endlessly forthright for better or for worse. Its upfront nature suits some recordings much more than it suits others, it must be said, and while there’s always a market for a hefty dose of sonic excitement it’s not the sort of attitude that automatically lends itself to long listening sessions.

One of the best portable DACs around? Maybe more 'best of the rest', but certainly one to consider if you can road test it first.

Side panel of the Campfire Audio Relay headphone DAC on a wooden surface

Oh, it's red and no mistake (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Campfire Audio Relay review: Price and release date

  • Release date: July 2025
  • Price: $229 / £229 / AU$399

The Campfire Audio Relay USB headphone amp/DAC is on sale now, and in the company's native United States it costs $229. In the United Kingdom it's £229, while in Australia it goes for AU$399.

Of course, it’s not as if the Relay is your only choice. We’ve heard and enjoyed alternatives from the likes of Audioquest, Helm and iFi lately, so the Campfire Audio has some stiff competition.

Campfire Audio Relay review: Features

  • AKM 4493 SEQ DAC
  • Balanced and unbalanced outputs
  • DSD and PCM 32bit/768kHz

Products such as this tend to have quite a restricted feature-set. And while this is also true of the Relay, what it’s got is right on the money.

Digital audio information comes in via the USB-C 2.0 slot on the top of the device. From there it’s delivered to an AKM 4493 SEQ DAC chipset that Campfire Audio alighted on for its “analog warmth” and “incredible tonality”. It’s capable of dealing with DSD and PCM content of up to 32bit/768kHz resolution, which really should be plenty.

Once the AKM has converted it, the analog information is output via one of two low-noise, high-output drivers – one feeds a single-ended 3.5mm output, the other a 4.4mm balanced alternative, both of which are on the bottom of the Relay.

Features score: 5 / 5

Output ports of the Campfire Audio Relay headphone amp/DAC on a wooden surface

Note the 'wings' (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Campfire Audio Relay review: Design

  • 57 x 23 x 10mm (HxWxD)
  • Aluminum casework
  • Only one finish available

In an admirable show of restraint, Campfire Audio has delivered a portable USB headphone amp/DAC that’s identifiably a portable USB headphone amp/DAC. It can’t have been easy – remember, this is a company that takes every opportunity to go to town where the design of its products is concerned.

About the Relay's only flourish is a little bit of angularity and asymmetry to the anodized aluminum casework. Campfire Audio provides a microfiber cloth and padded pouch to keep the finish in tip-top condition.

The casework itself is a usefully tidy 57 x 23 x 10mm (HxWxD) and the rear panel (which is made of plastic) features a little window affording a glimpse of the AKM DAC chip.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

Rear panel of the Campfire Audio Relay headphone amp/DAC (showing the AKM DAC chip) on a wooden surface

Everything in its right place… (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Campfire Audio review: Sound quality

  • Forward, direct presentation
  • Good tonal balance
  • Endlessly upfront audio balance can be fatiguing

Connected to an Apple MacBook Pro via USB-C and with a pair of Sennheiser IE900 IEMs inserted to the 4.4mm output, the Campfire Audio Relay proves – not especially surprisingly – to offer a considerable improvement over the audio performance the laptop can muster by itself. In some ways, the upgrade is quite dramatic.

A 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of My Crud Princess by No Joy delivered by the Tidal app illustrates the point explicitly. The Relay is a forward, very positive listen that’s able to reveal a lot of detail in the recording – it has a good facility for giving even the more transient, fleeting occurrences the correct amount of weighting and puts them into convincing context. Its presentation is reasonably spacious (though its direct character means there’s not the greatest amount of ‘front/back’ space on the otherwise well-defined soundstage), and it ensures every element gets the sort of elbow room it needs in order to express itself.

The tonal balance is judicious, even if Campfire Audio’s suggestion that it’s “incredible” is stretching things a bit. Frequency response, too, is very nicely judged. From the top of the frequency range down to the bottom, the Relay is even-handed and plays no favorites. Low-frequency stuff is deep and solid, with good shape to bass sounds and sufficient control to attack that momentum levels are high and rhythms are described naturalistically.

The impressive control of attack and decay applies throughout the frequency range, in fact, which allows the Relay to present recordings of all types in a convincingly unified manner. It’s especially adept through the midrange, where voices in particular are packed with information regarding character and attitude as well as tone and texture.
Problems, such as they are, stem from the Campfire Audio’s default attitude of drive, attack and endless positivity. This direct and unequivocal nature is quite exciting on first acquaintance, and undeniably so when you’re listening to something like Da Funk by Daft Punk, but over time it’s a stance that can become quite wearying.

‘A good time all the time,’ can take its toll, and the Relay’s inability to relax or even ease back just a little, even when playing something as pastoral as Peter Broderick’s And It’s Alright, means you’re likely to become fatigued sooner rather than later.

Sound quality score: 4 / 5

Campfire Audio Relay headphone amp/DAC, connected to Sennheiser IE900 IEMs, on a wooden surface

The bulk of my testing was done with the Sennheiser IE900 or the Austrian Audio 'The Composer' (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Campfire Audio review: Usability & setup

  • Wide compatibility with source players…
  • Although earlier Windows devices will require a driver
  • Rudimentary user interface

On the front panel there’s a company logo that glows red when the Relay is operating, and blinks in a shade of lilac when any changes are made via the control buttons.

There’s one button on the right edge of the Relay - it deals with ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’ and can toggle between ‘high gain’ and ‘low gain’. Two buttons on the left edge handle ‘volume up’ and ‘volume down’ - press and hold both at the same time and the device begins to cycle through its six different filter settings.

Campfire Audio recommends filter #5 (super slow roll-off) for optimal performance, which does rather make me wonder what the point of the other five settings is. It also recommends setting the volume of your source device to ‘maximum’ and then using the Relay to control volume – it has 60 volume increments, so you shouldn’t have too much difficulty getting to exactly the output level you’d like.

The company includes a 6cm length of braided, branded USB-C to USB-C cable to connect the Relay to your laptop or smartphone. The Relay is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Android and iOS devices, though Windows 7/8 will require a driver to be downloaded.

Usability & setup score: 4/5

Campfire Audio Relay headphone DAC box displaying button functions

This white light (for aptX Lossless) was oddly hard to come by when using sources able to handle it… (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Campfire Audio Relay review: Value

This is a lot of money for not much stuff, it’s true, but the effect this minimal amount of stuff can have on the music you’re listening to can be quite profound.

Value score: 4/5

Campfire Audio Relay headphone DAC on a wooden surface

Note the new 'rails' on the casework to help with cooling (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Should you buy Campfire Audio Relay?

Buy it if...

You have an ordinary laptop or smartphone
The Relay will turn it into a viable source of music.

You own some half-decent headphones…
…especially if they have a 4.4mm balanced connection option. The Campfire Audio will absolutely help make the most of them.

You like an upbeat kind of sound
There’s a perkiness and a forwardness to the Relay’s interpretation of music that's bordering on the relentless.

Don't buy it if...

Your iOS device has a Lightning connector
Campfire Audio says, “Lightning connection features a power-limiting mechanism that restricts the performance of your Relay.”

You’re interested in knowing the resolution of the file you’re listening to
You can find out, of course, but only by looking at your source player. The Relay won’t tell you.

You’re no Henry Ford
You can have any colour of Campfire Audio Relay you like as long as it’s black.

Campfire Audio Relay review: Also consider

Helm Audio Bolt
The Helm is not quite as impressively specified as the Relay, but it’s a very effective little device nevertheless. And it’s usefully cheaper than the Campfire Audio.
Read our in-depth Helm Audio Bolt review to learn more

iFi GO Link Max
More affordable still is the iFi GO Link Max, and on a pound-for-pound basis it remains the best USB headphone amp/DAC around. iFi knows exactly what’s what where products like this are concerned.
Read our full iFi GO Link Max review

Campfire Audio Relay headphone DAC on a wooden surface

iFi makes strong design choices and you love to see it (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

How I tested the Campfire Audio Relay review:

  • Various headphones
  • Various audio file types and sizes
  • Various sources of music

I didn’t use it all day every day, but I kept the Campfire Audio Relay connected to either my FiiO M15S Digital Audio Player or my Apple MacBook Pro for well over a week, which is more than enough time to establish what it’s capable of.

I listened to lots of different types of music, in various file types and of lots of different resolutions, and I listened both indoors and outdoors.

I used expensive IEMs via the 4.4mm balanced output and absolutely bog-standard over-ear headphones connected to the 3.5mm unbalanced output.

First reviewed August 2025

In testing, I found this aggressively priced Bluetooth speaker sturdy and portable, but it has one major flaw…
1:00 pm | August 9, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: two-minute review

The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is best summed up as ‘it does the job’. It’s not a standout speaker. It doesn’t offer anything exceptional above the competition, but it is very cheap, easy to track down, and very low-maintenance. Audiophiles will still complain about the lack of 360-degree sound (despite the specs) and when you crank up the volume, the audio quality definitely dips.

However, it’s much, much cheaper than the best Bluetooth speakers and it has the strength of being IPX7 waterproof and very robust, so it competes against the best waterproof speakers on that front. I accidentally dropped it a few times and it’s always fine and eager to work once more. It’s easy to carry in one hand, too, thanks to its strap.

The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus has a handful of attractive buttons for volume, Bluetooth connectivity, and RGB lighting – all the kind of size that’s perfect for tapping while in the pool. There’s only a couple of RGB lighting settings and the app doesn’t support different color schemes, but it does the job. Yup, there’s that phrase again.

Costing $39.99 / £32 / AU$65 (approx.), it's a good price for a simple speaker. There are better options available for slightly more, but not much that you can find for less. If you just need something a little disposable to take on your hike or vacation, the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus will keep you happy enough.

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus Bluetooth speaker on a grassy surface

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: price and release date

  • $39.99 / £32 / AU$65 (approx.)
  • Launched in June 2025

The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus was released in June 2025 at a $39.99 / £32 / AU$65 (approx.) price point and is available to buy in the US, UK, EU, and Australia. It’s already discounted at some third-party retailers, with the speaker dropping as low as £23.99 in the UK.

As with all of Tribit’s speaker range, it’s pretty cheap. Competitors at about the same price include the JBL Go 4, but it only offers IPX67 waterproofing, while the JBL Clip 5 is pricier with the superior audio quality to match.

For the most part, at this aggressive price, you’ll be more likely to find unfamiliar brands.

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: specs

Weight

545g

Dimensions

118.9 x 90.9 x 90.9 mm (HWD)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4 (SBC, AAC codecs), AUX-in, USB-C (charging)

Battery life

12 hours (quoted)

Speaker drivers

48mm

Waterproofing

IPX7

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: features

  • IPX7 waterproofing
  • RGB lights
  • 12-hour battery life

Small yet robust, the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is designed to be that speaker you take wherever you’re headed. It has IPX7 waterproofing so it’ll happily sit in the pool without issue. Accidentally, I dropped it from about 5ft onto concrete and, again, all good here. The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is built to last.

The battery life is a fine-if-unremarkable 12 hours, and you should expect a full recharge to take about 2.5 hours. More would be nice but it’s not the end of the world, especially at this price. Bluetooth 5.4 means dropouts aren’t going to happen and there’s a comparatively rare AUX port if you need it. Support for SBC and AAC codecs are convenient, too.

The Tribit app isn’t the most exciting to look at but it has a simple Equalizer, so you can tweak sound how you like it. This is far from an audio powerhouse (more on that and its mediocre 360-degree sound in a moment) but being able to adjust things is always useful.

I rather liked the RGB lighting. It’s not too in your face and the two presets both look nice without overcomplicating matters. It’s all a nice checklist of the essentials and everything is suitably speedy to get using. Nothing is too complicated.

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Top panel of the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus Bluetooth speaker, with RGB lighting, held above a grass surface

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: sound quality

  • Less-than-encompassing 360-degree sound
  • 48mm drivers
  • Fine at low volumes

The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus’ principal weakness is its audio quality, which is quite an unfortunate drawback for a speaker. The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is fine-if-unremarkable at low volumes, but crank it up, and the issues become noticeable. Bass is weak and the general sound is pretty muffled. This is a small and cheap speaker so does all that matter? Only you know the answer to that.

For me, listening to podcasts was fine as I had no intention on maxing out the volume. Similarly, listening to some relaxing Chet Baker and other jazz worked fine. Moving over to the more bass-heavy Muse is where I realized the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus sounded weaker and more underwhelming. The soundstage is quite weak, too, with 360-degree sound appearing to be more of a buzz term than something that is actually noticeable.

Adjusting the equalizer helps a little but it still doesn’t solve the high-volume issue. Keep it low, though, and you won’t have many complaints at this price point.

  • Sound quality score: 3/5

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus Bluetooth speaker on a wooden surface

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: design

  • Tactile, chunky buttons
  • Clear design
  • Grab strap

The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus has a fairly typical design for a portable speaker and it works well for it. Along its side are chunky, tactile buttons for volume and playback, while the back contains smaller buttons for power, Bluetooth, and lighting.

The latter controls aren’t as tactile for those with visual impairments but they’re reasonably divided up so you won’t mis-tap easily. Underneath that lineup are the covered AUX and power ports. Everything works smoothly which should be an obvious one but, well, not always.

At the top is the lighting, while there’s also an easy-to-grab strap that is the perfect size for most hands. If you want to change up the EQ, you’ll need to use the aforementioned Tribit app, which is simple and offers five presets, as well as the ability to manually tweak matters.

There are less weighty speakers around but the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is nevertheless pretty light. I found no issue with carrying it around, placing it on a countertop or even leaving it lying on my bed while napping. The plastic exterior is robust but not harsh to hold.

  • Design score: 4/5

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus Bluetooth rear panel and buttons, on a grass surface

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: value

  • Cheaper than most of the competition
  • Robust design
  • Ideal for a summer’s fun

The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is cheaper than most of the competition. For a little more, you could buy the JBL Clip 5 or the Soundcore 3 but there are pros and cons here. The former costs a fair amount more, but boasts much better audio quality. The latter is about the same price but not as portable-looking.

As always, there’s a trade-off here, and I certainly appreciated the form factor of the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus more than a standard speaker.

  • Value score: 4/5

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus Bluetooth speaker, held in a reviewer's left hand, above a grass surface

(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Should I buy the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

All the essentials are here, from an app to neat lights, and reasonable battery life.

3.5/5

Sound quality

The weakest element, doesn’t lend itself to high volumes, but it could be worse.

3/5

Design

Portable with tactile buttons and an easy-to-grab strap, with few complaints.

4/5

Value

Well-priced, and feels like the speaker for your summer.

4/5

Buy it if...

You want a speaker for a season
I’m no fan of waste but if you just need a temporary solution rather than a long-term fix, the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus does the job. I’m thinking you can take it on vacation and not worry if you run out of storage space on the way back.

You want something robust
I’m clumsy and the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus was fine with me. It’ll last a few falls and clashes without any issue, which is great for a rugged lifestyle.

You’re on a budget
The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is cheap and already discounted. It’s perfect if you can’t justify spending too much on a portable speaker.

Don't buy it if...

You’re an audiophile
This is a budget-priced speaker. This isn’t a surprise that punches above its weight so it won’t delight audiophiles by any means. Give it a miss.

You need great battery life
The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus offers reasonable battery life but it’s nothing spectacular. If you need to be away from a power source for a while, this may not suit the bill.

You love music loud
The Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus sounds poorer the louder it gets. If you love your music loud, you’ll have an inferior experience to those keeping it low.

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: also consider

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus

JBL Clip 5

Nokia Portable Wireless Speaker 2

Price

$39.99 / £32 / AU$65 (approx.)

$79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95

$69 / £49 / AU$129

Weight

545g

285g

225g

Dimensions

90.9 x 90.9 x 118.9 mm

86 x 134.5 x 46 mm

90 x 90 x 74mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4 (SBC, AAC codecs), AUX-in, USB-C (charging)

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (charging)

Bluetooth 5.1, AUX, USB-C (charging)

Battery life

12 hours (quoted

Up to 12 hours

22 hours (quoted)

Speaker drivers

48mm

Integrated class D digital amplifiers x 1

45mm

Waterproofing

IPX7

IP67

IPX7

JBL Clip 5
Better audio quality, and more portable but a little pricier, the JBL offers great bass and detail. It’s perfect if you want superior sound quality, but it has a IP67 rating rather than IPX7. It won’t stand on its base like the Tribit option, either. Read our full JBL Clip 5 review

Nokia Portable Wireless Speaker 2
Teeny if a little soulless, the Nokia lacks a great soundstage but up close, it’s pretty crisp. It also has much better battery life and it’s small enough to easily toss into your bag.
Read our full Nokia Portable Wireless Speaker 2

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review: how I tested

  • Tested over 10 days
  • Used with Spotify and Apple Music
  • 15 years' audio equipment reviewing experience

I used the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus a lot to entertain me while sick in bed. That meant a lot of podcasts through Spotify and Apple Music, and plenty of chill music via Spotify. As my health improved, it lived on my desk and was paired up with my PC so I could listen to YouTube and Twitch streams.

I also sometimes used the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus while outdoors, seeing how it faced up against the British summer, and occasional drops on concrete. Basically, it took over as my main listening device for those 10 days to see how it performed.

FiiO’s wireless little BTR17 headphone DAC and amp is a tour de force at a very attainable price
4:00 pm | August 2, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi | Tags: , | Comments: Off

FiiO BTR17 review: Two-minute review

Another day, another intriguing FiiO product. Today it’s the BTR17 portable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amplifier, and it seems safe to say it represents another day of FiiO business as usual.

The BTR17 is small, but it’s packed with functionality and specified in a way that seems beyond the tiny physical confines of the device itself. Between Bluetooth 5.4 with top-of-the-shop codec compatibility, a pair of ESS ES9069Q DACs, an disproportionate amount of power when used as a desktop headphone amp, decent battery life, the ability to deal with enormously high-resolution digital audio files, and a choice of balanced or unbalanced headphone outputs, it’s obvious FiiO has endeavoured to do the right thing here.

And that impression of ‘good intentions’ becomes even stronger when you hear the BTR17 in action. There are qualitative differences, of course, between using the FiiO as a wireless receiver and using it as a dongle hard-wired to a smartphone or laptop – but what doesn’t alter no matter the circumstances are the broad strokes of its sonic character.

And generally, it’s a character that’s fast, insightful, properly controlled and very satisfying to listen to. Or, at least, it is if you’re not expecting comparable bass power to the bass speed that’s on display here - the FiiO BTR17 is a rapid, direct listen, but it’s far from the chunkiest sound around. Investigating your options in the menus can bring about some changes in character, but they’re exclusively to the detriment of the device’s fundamental character and attitude.

Come on then, is it still one of the best portable DACs available for this money? Yes, with one caveat (which I'll come to).

If the balance is not to your taste, you’ll look elsewhere/. But those who value speed and dexterity of sound as much as (if not more than) straightforward ‘wallop’ will enjoy the BTR17 no end.

FiiO BTR17 review: Price and release date

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

(Image credit: Future)
  • Launched in early November 2024
  • Priced $219 / £179 / AU$349

The FiiO BTR17 portable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amplifier is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it sells for no more than £179. In the United States it’s currently $219* and in Australia you’re looking at AU$329. So no matter the territory you’re shopping in, the BTR17 seems notable value for money.

If you don't mind wired connections of course, the world isn't exactly hunting high and low for an affordable USB DAC (see the pricier $499 / £449 / AU$769, the iFi GO Bar Kensei, the iFi Go Link Max at just $79 / £79 / AU$139 the five-star iFi hip-dac 3 at $199 / £199 / AU$349 for starters). But nevertheless, the combination of price and wireless specification could win out here…

(*subject to tariff-related change on a seemingly daily basis.)

FiiO BTR17 review: Features

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

(Image credit: Future)
  • 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 support
  • Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless compatibility
  • 650mW + 650mW balanced power for headphone amplification

It shouldn’t really come as any kind of surprise at this point that FiiO has specified one of its products in a manner that might easily shame an equivalent product from an alternative brand. And yet I find I’m still mildly startled but just how far into town FiiO has gone with the BTR17.

Regardless of the way the digital audio information gets on board, either by USB-C or via Bluetooth, it’s dealt with by a pair of ESS ES9069Q DACs that are able to handle every major file type up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 resolution. If you decide to go with Bluetooth, you have the luxury of the 5.4 version with codec compatibility all the way to LDAC and aptX Lossless – the use of a Qualcomm QCC5181 Bluetooth chip to do the necessary means the FiiO is LE Audio-compliant, too.

Use the BTR17 in ‘desktop’ mode with its ‘power in’ USB slot connected to a source of USB power (FiiO provides a little length of monocrystalline silver- and copper-plated eight-strand USB-C / USB-C cable to ensure clean power and accurate data transfer)and it can churn out a substantial 650mW + 650mW of balanced power. This is the sort of output more commonly associated with bigger desktop headphone amps, and is ample to drive even quite truculent headphones.

If you’re using battery power rather than USB-C power, the BTR17 will run for anywhere between seven hours (making a Bluetooth connection, using a power-hungry codec, driving balanced headphones via the 4.4mm output and listening at hefty volume) and ten hours (in ‘phone’ mode, at modest volume, driving headphones via the unbalanced 3.5mm output and listening to stuff of no more than 16bit/44.1kHz resolution). Charging from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ is a 90-minute job.

Unsurprisingly, there’s more – just as there was with the older FiiO BTR7 Bluetooth DAC (which is not to be confused with the newer model you're reading about today). The BTR17 has a three-stage, ten-rail power supply, and it has multi-stage architecture of the type FiiO fits to its pricey digital audio players. It has a ‘driver-free’ mode that means it can connect to a PS5, a Switch or something like that directly, without the need for downloaded drivers. It has integrated DC output and temperature detection to protect the device if conditions take a turn for the abnormal. And I could go on - but let’s just wrap this section up by saying FiiO has laid in on, specification-wise, with a trowel here.

Features score: 5 / 5

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

(Image credit: Future)

FiiO BTR17 review: Sound quality

  • Great sonic momentum and rhythmic positivity
  • Detailed and insightful
  • ‘All or nothing’ EQ and filter adjustments

I’ve heard a few DAC/headphone amp devices lately that have sounded muscle-bound and barrel-chested in the manner of a bulldog. The FiiO BTR17, by way of happy contrast, is more of a greyhound.

There’s a rapidity, a kind of entirely naturalistic momentum, to the FiiO’s sound no matter if it’s receiving its digital audio information wirelessly via Bluetooth or through one of its USB-C sockets. A fleet-footed recording like Broadcast’s Black Cat fairly motors along – the BTR17 expresses the rhythm with complete conviction, and the tune stays on the front foot as result. There’s nothing forced about the way it’s presented, though - it doesn’t hang around, but neither does it feel like it’s being prodded forwards.

Part of this impression comes from the way the BTR17 handles the leading edge of low-frequency sounds – there’s no overhang or slurring, instead the FiiO snaps into bass information with real purpose. There are some minor issues at the bottom of the frequency range, and I’ll get to those – but there’s no arguing with the speed this little device can invest a recording with.

This is not at the expense of organisation, either. The FiiO creates a decently spacious and easy-to-understand soundstage, and can spread out even complex recordings to the point that individual elements are easy to highlight. There’s plenty of detail available at every part of the frequency range, and the BTR17 is just as attentive to fleeting and/or very minor occurrences as it is to the broader strokes. The upshot is a presentation that seems very much like it’s the complete picture.

Overall tonality is, in almost every circumstance, quite carefully neutral and uncolored, so if you play a warm and sepia-coloured recording like Johnny Too Bad by The Slickers, or a blue-ish and low-temperature number like Floating World by Zodiac Free Arts Club, what goes in is what comes out. The BTR17, left to its own devices, seems perfectly happy not to stick its oar in.

Integration of the frequency range is good, too, with no area being overplayed. I’ve heard plenty of products like this that will ramp up the bottom end or shove the midrange forwards, but that’s the FiiO’s scene at all.

There’s not an awful lot of meat on the low-frequency bones here, though. The BTR17 can dig fairly deep and hit reasonably hard, but low-end substance is in fairly short supply. Of course, a positive knock-on of this trait is that speed and manoeuvrability I’ve already discussed – but there’s also a downside which anyone who’s interested in bass for the sake of bass will already have worked out for themselves.

There are options in the device’s menus to finesse the EQ settings, of course, and also to investigate various filters – you might think this slightly flyweight presentation could be mitigated somewhat this way. But the effects of each are mild in the extreme, right until the moment they become rather ham-fisted and end up spoiling the carefully shaped low-frequency response. You can make the BTR17 sound weightier than it really wants to if you set your mind to it – but you’ll be affecting its speed and rhythmic positivity at the same time. And not in a good way.

Sound quality: 4 / 5

FiiO BTR17 review: Design

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

(Image credit: Future)
  • 87 x 41 x 16mm (HxWxD)
  • Black or blue finishes
  • 73g

When a product is sincerely intended to be ‘portable’, design has to take a back seat to ‘getting everything into a package as small and light as is realistically possible’. So apart from the little ledge beneath the 33mm screen on the front of the BTR17 and the mildly interesting ‘turn/push’ control at the top left, its 87 x 41 x 16mm (HxWxD), 73g chassis is entirely unremarkable. And that’s the case regardless of which of the black or blue finishes you choose.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the build quality here, though, nor the standard of finish. The BTR17 is almost entirely plastic, but it’s reasonably tactile and seems made to last.

Design score: 5 / 5

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

(Image credit: Future)

FiiO BTR17 review: Usability and setup

  • Tiny physical controls
  • Full-colour screen
  • Staggeringly in-depth control app

The BTR17’s 33mm display may look unhelpfully small, but it’s a crisp, full-colour IPS job and manages to legibly confirm file type or Bluetooth codec, sample rate, EQ setting, battery life and volume level all at the same time. It also gives access to menus that allow adjustment to gain gradients, audio filters, a choice of EQ presets, screen brightness and so on.

You navigate the menus using the rotary control on the top left edge of the BTR17. It feels and looks good, and operates with pleasant positivity – and it also gives access to volume control, ‘play/pause’ and telephony functions. There are other controls arranged beneath it down the edge of the machine – they are, inevitably, very small, and their labelling is even smaller. But take the time to commit their functions to memory and you can deal with ‘skip forwards/backwards’, ‘power on/off’, select ‘Bluetooth’, ‘phone’ or ‘PC’ your usage mode, and switch ‘desktop’ mode on or off.

Those usage modes have a big part to play in the BTR17’s battery life. In ‘PC’ mode, it’s powered by the computer it’s connected to. In ‘phone’ mode, its internal battery contributes to power supply, which reduces the load on your smartphone. In ‘BT’ mode, all the power is coming from the FiiO’s internal battery.

Physical connection to a computer or a smartphone is via one of the two USB-C slots on the bottom of the BTR17. Either can be used for charging and for data transfer, and one is also for power input when the device is in ‘desktop’ mode. At the opposite end of the device, meanwhile, there are Back in the mainstream world, there are a couple of headphone outputs - one is an unbalanced 3.5mm socket, the other a 4.4mm balanced equivalent.

There’s a huge, almost unnecessarily extensive, amount of functionality available in the ‘FiiO Control’ app. Want to adjust the ‘double-click’ function of those physical ‘skip forwards/backwards’ buttons, or create a custom EQ using a ten-band equaliser, or switch ‘distortion compensation’ in a couple of harmonic ranges on or off, or adjust the channel balance between ‘left’ and ‘right’? This is where you do it. If you want a slider to control the length of time the BTR17’s screen stays on, or how bright it is, or how long it stays switched on while it’s at rest, you can do it here too. Unless you’re the sort of person who can’t rest until they’ve customised the minutiae of their audio equipment’s set-up and performance, it is likely to seem like overkill.

Usability and setup score: 4 / 5

FiiO BTR17 review: Value

  • You can't pick fault with the value for money
  • Performs its duties admirably

Obviously it’s important to judge ‘value’ on a basis other than that of ‘how much stuff do I get?” – because while the FiiO BTR17 is necessarily small and light, it’s got a lot of functionality and it performs really well.

Most USB DAC/headphone amps at this sort of money don’t have a wireless aspect to their performance. Very few have a display or a control app, and fewer still have the sort of alacrity of sound the BTR17 can summon. Its sonic attitude will not be for everyone, but for those who are partial, there is excellent value for money to be had here.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the FiiO BTR17?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Even allowing for FiiO being FiiO, this thing is comprehensively specified

5/5

Design

It's super small and still has a useful screen

5/5

Sound quality

Detailed, agile, neutral – just could be a tiny bit punchier

4/5

Value

It would be an error to argue with the sound-per-pound value here

5/5

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

‘Speed’ and ‘detail’ do it for you where sound is concerned
There’s a dexterity and insight to the way the FiiO presents music that is quite habit-forming after a while

You enjoy a through specification
FiiO has laid it on with the proverbial trowel here - there are alternative products costing much more than this that aren’t specified as impressively

You enjoy an even more thorough control app
'Granular’ is too weak a word to describe the level of influence the app lets you exert over the BTR17

Don't buy it if...

You’re after low-frequency substance
The bass sounds the BTR17 generates are detailed, straight-edged and deep - but they’re not as weighty as some listeners will require

You don’t like having to make choices
What do you want the buttons to do? How long do you want the screen to stay on? How bright would you like it? Decisions, decisions…

Your eyesight isn’t all it used to be
This is a necessarily small product, so don't be surprised if the display and, especially, the physical controls seem all-but invisibleView Deal

FiiO BTR17 review: Also consider

The iFi Go Link Max is a great-sounding USB-C DAC/headphone amp that’s compact and well-made – but it doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity.

Helm Audio’s Bolt USB-C DAC/headphone amp is another great performer and no hardship at all to listen to – but, again, there’s no wireless functionality here.

FiiO's BTR17 DAC/amp in black, on a gray table, showing PCM resolution in yellow font

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the FiiO BTR17

  • Used while working, while commuting and in the car
  • Listened in wireless Bluetooth mode, and using wired options

I used the BTR17 as a desktop DAC/headphone amp, connected to my Apple MacBook Pro. I used it connected to an Apple iPhone 14 via its USB-C socket, too, which allowed me to use wired headphones with a device with no headphone socket – and I also connected it wirelessly via Bluetooth to the smartphone, just for the sake of completeness.

I also found it a useful device when in a car with no wireless connectivity – Bluetooth from my smartphone to the FiiO, and the out of the BTR17’s 3.5mm unbalanced headphone socket to the ‘aux’ input of the in-car audio system. In every circumstance, no matter the type of connection or the type of music playing, the little FiiO was always a speedy and revealing listen.

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: WiiM addition fixes the wireless speakers’ only minor issue
1:00 pm | July 26, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Comments: Off

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Two -minute review

Update September 19, 2025: WiiM and Audio Pro have contacted TechRadar to clarify that contrary to the initial September 4 announcement about a big Audio Pro WiiM-powered wireless speaker rollout, Audio Pro's new range of speakers aside from the C10 you're reading about here and the new A10 should no longer be described as "powered by WiiM" and instead "powered by LinkPlay", which is the parent company of WiiM. Audio Pro's new speaker range does not integrate with the WiiM ecosystem, and does not have direct WiiM support.

The release states: "For further clarity, the only Audio Pro speakers that are powered by WiiM and integrated with the WiiM Home app are the A10 and C10, WiiM Edition speakers, available exclusively via WiiM’s Amazon storefront."

To explore how WiiM compares to Sonos as a multi-room option, read this guide to the current state of both platforms. The rest of this review remains as written.

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is a predictably good-looking wireless speaker with plenty going for it purely in design terms (as long as you're OK with monochrome). It’s lost its handle and its Amazon Alexa voice control compared with the original model, but it’s gained a swanky new streaming platform (thanks, WiiM!) which offers an absolute stack of options where music sources and system flexibility are concerned.

Best of all, it’s a fine-sounding speaker that is able to extract an absolute stack of information from a recording and put it into convincing context. It’s punchy when it needs to be, it’s insightful, and it sounds a heck of a lot bigger than it looks. Deft control of the low frequencies, plenty of midrange articulacy and a winning way with dynamic variations all add to its sonic charm. If it was just a little more vibrant and exciting when the music demanded it, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII would be absolutely ideal, but it is nevertheless worthy of a place among the best wireless speakers out there.

Top panel of the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers, on a white surface

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Price and release date

  • Cost $360 / £259 / AU$699 (approx.)
  • Launched in 2021

When the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII first launched back in 2021, it cost $450 / £329 / AU$749 (approx.).

Fast-forward to today, and not only has this product become even more compelling thanks to upgrades in its streaming support and smart features, but it’s also routinely available for $360 / £259 / AU$699 (approx.). It looks like rather than becoming outdated, the C10 MkII has matured and evolved…

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Features

  • 80 watts of power
  • Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
  • Numerous streaming options

It’s fair to say that Bluetooth 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility is not the most inspiring specification for a wireless speaker in 2025. But what the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII lacks in cutting-edge Bluetooth chops, it more than makes up for in its wireless network abilities.

The exemplary control app, which is now bolted to WiiM’s extremely well-regarded streaming platform, allows you to integrate a lot of music streaming services – and I mean a lot: Amazon and Apple Music, Deezer and Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal, QQ Music, iHeart Radio and vTuner, and plenty more besides. The C10 MkII is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, and the app allows the speaker to be half of a stereo pair or part of a multi-room system without any fuss whatsoever. It’s an extremely flexible device.

Once aboard, digital audio information is processed by a 24bit/96kHz DAC and then is breathed on by 80 watts of Class D amplification. A pair of 19mm tweeters get 20 watts of power each, and in between them there’s a 133mm midrange driver that receives the other 40 watts. This bigger driver is supported by a rear-facing vertical bass reflex port.

  • Features score: 4.5 / 5

Control app screenshots for the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Sound quality

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers on a white surface

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
  • Open, detailed and well-controlled sound
  • Great tonal balance and frequency response
  • Could sound a little more exciting

Yes, by the standards for $350-ish wireless speakers the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is quite large. But be assured the sound it creates is plenty larger than the cabinet it’s coming from.

The sort of scale the Audio Pro can invest in a FLAC file of Hookworms’ Negative Space is straightforwardly impressive. It can open the recording out and offer a proper sense of space at the same time, even though the point-source of sound is always obvious. The amount of dynamic headroom that’s available allows the speaker to track the ever-increasing intensity of the recording convincingly, and the control of the lowest frequencies is such that rhythmic expression is confident and naturalistic, too.

And as well as being controlled with real authority, the bottom end – like the rest of the frequency range – is loaded with detail and variation. The C10 MkII is no thumper – it hits good and hard at the low end, but is textured and tonally varied. The same is true at the opposite end, where treble sounds are bright and substantial, with plenty of information available regarding tone, attack and decay. Through the midrange, the Audio Pro is about as explicit and as eloquent as any device of its type and price I’ve heard. It communicates in absolute torrents.

The tonal balance is nicely judged – it’s not absolutely neutral, but the tiny suggestion of warmth (especially towards the bottom end) is almost certainly sensible in the context of the circumstances the C10 MkII will probably be used in. The evenness of the frequency response is splendid, too, giving measured and appropriate weighting to every part of the tonal range, without underplaying or overstating any particular area.

Really, about the only area of mild concern where the sound of this speaker is concerned has little to do with the specifics of performance – it’s more about attitude. For all of its undoubted dynamic potency and ability to paint a full and nicely detailed picture, the Audio Pro is not the most demonstrative listen.

It sounds quite like it looks: sophisticated, understated and in unarguable good taste. This, where audio quality is concerned, can be considered shorthand for ‘slight lack of excitement’. No one is interested in a feral loudspeaker, of course, but at those moments when a recording demands vigor and attack, I get the strong impression the C10 MkII thinks this kind of behavior is a little beneath it.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Design

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers, with a magnetic grille, on a white surface

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
  • 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD)
  • Black, white or gray matte finishes
  • Magnetically attached grille

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is, by the standards of a ‘rectangular box’ wireless speaker, very nicely finished and actually quite elegant in an understated sort of way.

This is just as well – given the 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD) dimensions, it could have very easily ended up looking a bit bulky. As it is, though, the standard of construction and finish, along with the unapologetically monotone options of black, gray or white matte colours, make for a very harmonious look. The magnetically attached grille helps with the clean look, too.

It’s a fairly sizeable proposition on the average desk, though, and the lack of a handle makes transporting its 4.3kg weight rather less easy than it might be. I can’t deny I’ve used the bass reflex port as a handle, but I can’t imagine Audio Pro would recommend it as an option…

  • Design score: 5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Usability and setup

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers control panel

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
  • Great control app, extensive physical controls
  • No voice control
  • Can easily be part of a multi-room set-up

Unlike the previous generation of C10, there’s no Amazon Alexa voice control here – there’s no voice control at all, in fact. You may count this as a negative, you may not, but there’s no denying that your other control options are very nicely realized indeed.

That WiiM-powered control app, as already mentioned, is stable, logical and slick in operation. As well as the ability to integrate a generous number of music streaming services and internet radio providers, it’s also where you can form a stereo pair or establish a multi-room system. There’s bass and treble adjustment, the ability to establish as many as half a dozen presets, input selection, the ability to check for firmware updates and various timer and alarm-clock functions.

The top surface of the cabinet features a selection of controls, too, embedded in a tactile steel plate. Power, volume, playback control and Bluetooth pairing are all available here, and access to the six presets you’ve defined in the control app are also available. There’s also a little LED giving confirmation of the selected input.

  • Usability and setup score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Value

Rear panel of the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII wireless speakers, featuring USB input, and charging port.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
  • Excellent standard of finish
  • Versatile streaming platform and app
  • Extras add up to value for money

Consider the standard of build and finish, and then consider the out-and-out sound quality. Take into account the great new WiiM-powered streaming platform and all its possibilities, from forming a true stereo pair to easily creating a multi-room system.

And then look around at what this kind of money can buy you from alternative brands. Yes, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is very good value for money indeed.

  • Value score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII?

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth (albeit 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec) and WiiM’s excellent streaming platform.

4.5 / 5

Sound quality

Open, detailed and well-controlled, but could be a little more exciting.

4.5 / 5

Design

Three possible matte finishes, sizeable with carry handle removed, magnetically attached grille.

5 / 5

Usability and setup

Great control app, extensive physical controls, can be part of a multi-room set-up.

4.5 / 5

Value

Not cheap, but extras provide added value to make the expense more than worth it.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You admire a bit of Scandi design
‘Elegance’ is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but there’s no denying the Audio Pro is a bit of a looker.

You enjoy slick operability
Co-opting WiiM’s streaming platform has turned the C10 MkII into a very versatile and easy-to-use speaker indeed.

You know the devil is in the details
By the standards of their price-comparable rivals, the Audio Pro is able to resolve a heck of a lot of fine detail.

Don't buy it if...

You’re after sonic fireworks
There’s plenty to recommend the sound of the C10 MkII, but ‘excitement’ is not an area of expertise.

You think life should be Technicolor
One person’s ‘understated’ is another’s ‘boring’, and if you don’t like black, or white, or gray, then you’re going to be struggling here.

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Also consider

JBL Authentics 200
If you fancy a bit of retro charm rather than Scandi cool, the JBL Authentics 200 will be just the thing. It's got that JBL sound (punchy, driving and forceful), that JBL look (fully mid-70s hi-fi heyday) and is nothing if not fully featured. See our full JBL Authentics 200 review for more.

Apple HomePod 2
If you’re already deep in the iOS ecosystem, the Apple HomePod 2 is a great-sounding option, although it lacks some features most alternatives consider ‘essential’.
Here's our full Apple HomePod 2 review to add to the pile.

How I tested the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII

Because the C10 MkII is mains-powered rather than battery-powered, I listened to it exclusively in my home. It’s a bit big for a desktop speaker, but nevertheless I gave it a go – it was much more at home on a shelf in the lounge, though.

I listened to music from Tidal and Qobuz via the excellent control app, of many types and quite a few different file sizes. And I listened both critically and with the Audio Pro functioning simply as a ‘background’ device – and there were never less than thoroughly enjoyable.

  • First reviewed: July 2025
I test audio kit every day and these bookshelf speakers are the dragon I’ll be chasing for decades to come
1:00 pm | July 19, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Comments: Off

Sonus Faber Concertino G4: Two-minute review

The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are a very posh set of passive bookshelf speakers. That poshness isn’t just imbued by the colour palette and material choices that define their physical form, even though they do help a bit. Nor is that poshness fully explained by the not-inconsiderable $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495 price point, though, again, that cost does its own fair share of heavy lifting on that front.

The poshness of these posh speakers comes, in my opinion, from Sonus Faber’s dedication to detail. So much attention has been paid to the design, construction, and resulting sound of these speakers, creating an experience arguably greater than the sum of its parts.

On the sound front, these speakers sound unsurprisingly excellent. The two-way design provides for both rich, detailed bass and generous, airy high-end – balanced to the point of tasteful sweetness. There’s a real tactility to the sound produced by the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, as if you could reach behind each instrument or sound source and cup it in your hands. This incredible, three-dimensional resolution is caveated by some serious directionality, but having to sit before your speakers for optimal results is neither a problem, nor anything new.

Visually, it’s hard to beat those walnut sides – but the vegan Ohoskin leather cladding gives it a good old college try. The brass accents consummate the executive nature of these speakers’ design, and the high attention to detail paid in their execution. If you’ve the figurative brass to spare, and are willing to buy more than a great pair of speakers, here’s where to start looking. Among the best stereo speakers money can buy? Absolutely.

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 bookshelf speakers on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Price & release date

  • Released September, 2024
  • Priced $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495

The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are something of a celebration for the Italian brand – specifically, an anniversary. It’s been 30 years since the first Concertinos made it to listening rooms around the world, and Sonus Faber has deigned to mark the occasion with this special revisit to its classic design.

The first 300 pairs of the Concertino G4 are numbered via a unique brass plate on the left cheek, and sold as the Concertino G4 Maestro Edition; the pair reviewed here is number 29. The occasion, the numbering of the first out of the gate, and the brand from which they hail are all overt clues as to the lofty space these audiophile bookshelfs aim to occupy on the market. The other is the price – $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495 per pair, with purpose-designed iron stands coming in at an extra $1,500 / £1,375/ AU$2,875 (approx.).

These are by no means the most expensive speakers you’ll see from Sonus Faber – indeed, they actually sit quite comfortably at the cheaper end of the brand’s (dauntingly broad) price bracket – but they are nonetheless considerably pricy objects d’art. How do you think they hold up?

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 bookshelf speakers on a wooden surface

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Specs

Type

Bookshelf

Active or passive?

Passive

Bi-wirable?

Yes

Woofer

5-inch paper pulp

Tweeter

1-inch silk dome

Impedance

4 ohms

Dimensions

314mm x 214mm x 297 mm

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Features

  • Passive, bi-wirable two-way speakers
  • Unique cork damping
  • Look at ‘em!

The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are a pair of passive two-way bookshelf speakers, but also probably the most beautiful pair of passive two-way bookshelf speakers I did ever see. I’ll be breaking down the impeccable aesthetic design of these bookshelfs a little later, but for now – quelle finesse!

Being a passive set of hi-fi speakers, the Concertino G4 are fundamentally uncomplicated and untroubled by the shoehorning-in of needless techy fripperies. However, there are some very nifty goings-on within, that make for a sound as phenomenal as the look. More specifically, the Concertino G4 utilize some precision-modeled cork damping material inside, which does a remarkable job of reducing internal resonances (and, I like to think, contributes a certain ‘springiness’ to the resulting sound of these excellent speakers).

This cork damping is paired, for the first time in Sonus Faber’s history, with a mid-woofer – a 5-inch paper-pulp, long-throw mid-woofer that goes some way to defining the brand’s sonic signature. Couple this with a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter, and you have a stunningly broad, stunningly rich set of living room listeners.

The speakers are, of course, bi-wirable; what else would you expect from a two-way speaker at this price? This writer doesn’t subscribe to the idea that running a bi-wired speaker system results in any tangible sonic improvements whatsoever, but bi-amping is a very different thing entirely – and something the Concertino G4 promise to benefit from all the more.

In the box, you’ll find the speakers, some optional magnetically attachable grille cloth covers, and, if you’re lucky enough to get a double-digit Maestro Edition, one of 100 hand-printed artworks – a copy of an etching, illustrating the Concertino G4’s unique internal damping, delivered in an embossed manila envelope. As far as ‘box candy’ is concerned, this is an excellent little gift, especially for the monumental shame that such downright cool designs are permanently, necessarily hidden from view.

Magnetic cover grille of the Sonus Faber Concertino G4 bookshelf speakers

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
  • Features score: 4.5/5

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Sound quality

  • Exceptional dimensionality
  • Sonorous low-end
  • Generous, airy high-end

Holy hell.

Being a writer of variable income (that is, varying somewhere between 'ramen noodles every night' and 'slightly posher ramen noodles every night'), I tend to champion the cheaper stuff over anything. Particularly so when returns diminish starkly after a certain price cut-off, and especially where it’s obvious that a premium brand is cashing in on its perceived pedigree as opposed to offering anything of serious value.

As such, it’s rare for me to recognize anything asking upwards of $2000 as 'worth it'. But the Concertino G4 are exceedingly hard to turn down, simply for the rapturous quality of sound they dare to bring into my humble living room.

I use ‘three-dimensional’ a lot as a term when describing the structure and texture of a given device’s auditory performance, and am forced to again here – but in full acknowledgement that this is about as three-dimensional as any bookshelfs can be. The platonic ideal. The dragon I’ll be chasing for decades to come.

Rich(ard) Dawson’s End of the Middle is a record rich (geddit?) in raw percussive instrumentation, blooming low-tuned guitars and alternately plain-spoken/high-falsetto’d art-folk tales of the unexpected. Through the Concertino G4s, Dawson’s heartbreaking windows into the banal (played from a 12-inch on my Victrola Stream Sapphire) are rendered with stunning richness and clarity.

Aptly for the Sonus Faber name, these are sonorous speakers. The low-end is unbelievably rich and structured; it’s rare to feel like you can reach behind the bass strings and grasp the thick air in their wake. Dawson’s voice is rich [that's enough now – Ed.], complex, and fully present – his fricatives feel as if formed in the room.

High-end information is rendered generously. There’s a sense that all higher elements sit plushly within a cushion of air, presenting themselves forth for scrutiny without force or strain – the same force and strain that, in my self-invented mythos of sound, causes tinniness, cloy or otherwise intolerable screech from lesser sources.

Close up of a Sonus Faber Concertino G4 bookshelf speaker, on a wooden surface

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

The balance of sound is hugely directional. If you, like me, place these facing across a room as opposed to down it, you’re likely to find patches of especial untamed bass-i-ness. Unsurprisingly enough, if you situate yourself where Sonus Faber’s manual actually instructs you to – that is, dead in front, with the speakers facing you, as one point of an audiophile equilateral triangle – the fruits of the Concertinos’ labor make the sense they’re supposed to make.

Dirty Projectors’ Swing Lo Magellan, also listened to on vinyl, is every bit as immediate as your mind’s ear interprets it. It might be a bit dross to fall on the word ‘musical’ to describe the Concertino G4 here, but here we go nonetheless – the subby kicks of opener Offspring Are Blank are discrete, weighted and musical, a far cry from the placeless wub lesser speakers would offer up as alternative.

As Offspring…’s pre-chorus opens out with twanging guitars, there’s a spring in the step – a delightful bounce emphasized by the rubbery drums and densely sponged short-scale bass of ensuing track About To Die. Percussion throughout the album is supple and giving despite its forefront presence, and David Longstreth’s dry, dead-center vocals are a floaty, reedy delight. My album favourite, The Socialites, has a weight and focus I’ve not heard elsewhere. It's a unique joy.

Speaking of which, the Concertino G4 has no issue bringing that same weight and focus to famously less-focused records, like My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. Kevin Shields’ stacked soundscapes throb and thrum with excitable energy throughout, while the dead, motorik drums at the center of When You Sleep punch out from behind as if pummeled by a hammer. Side B loud-lullaby Sometimes is a glorious bath of multi-tracked guitars and rabbit-heartbeat kicks, distinct in its indistinctness and clear in its complete lack of conventional clarity. A beautiful paradox delivered through these speakers.

The word I keep returning to with these speakers is ‘generous’. There’s space in and around everything tackled, from distant roomy drums to attention-begging upfront vocals – space enough you genuinely feel as if you could cup each element in your hands, or awkwardly reach around them to grab something. Aside from their clear preference for head-on listening (which is, assuredly, of necessity and by design), these speakers are functionally faultless.

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 bookshelf speakers on a wooden surface

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Design

  • Executive walnut and brass build
  • Delicious vegan leather cladding
  • Nifty magnetically attachable clothe grille covers

Design-wise, it’s hard to know where to start with the Concertino G4s because of Sonus Faber’s trademark meticulousness. Each speaker is a work of art, exuding craftsmanship from every angle. They benefit from beautifully shaped walnut cheeks, with an outward crease that runs from bottom to top, front to rear, and bisect the trapezoidal shape of the whole thing in a very pleasing manner.

New here is the involvement of Ohoskin, an Italian manufacturer of high-quality leather alternatives. This bio-based leather material (made from orange and cactus byproducts) is eco-conscious, sure, but also a stunning ‘pleather’ that clads the top and front of the chassis. It certainly could’ve fooled me.

Between this sleek black not-actually-leather and the solid walnut cheeks, these are a distinctly executive set of audiophile speakers, enhanced further by the mirror-polished brass that forms its front logo panels, rear terminal plates and side-mounted issue number placards. Even the studs holding those walnut cheeks in place are highly reflective, monogrammed indications of attention to detail.

That same attention to detail gifts us sleekness elsewhere. Sonus Faber supplies you with a pair of lightweight cloth grille covers, which you may optionally attach to the front of the Concertino G4 by way of some concealed magnets beneath the pleather.

Now, I think these speakers look far better in their uncovered glory, both for generally preferring uncovered hi-fi speakers and for having my own aesthetic misgivings around the covers' design. Still, the option is a nice one to have, and well-executed besides – from the completely invisible magnets to the soft felt material covering the ‘feet’ on the covers themselves.

  • Design score: 5/5

Closeup of the tweeter of the Sonus Faber Concertino G4 bookshelf speakers

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Value

  • Commands a considerable price
  • But represents more than just ‘good sound’
  • Clearly made with skill, reverence and love

When buying the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, you’re actually buying at least two things, not one. Yes, one of them is an excellent-sounding pair of bookshelf speakers, but you’re also buying an immaculately designed, reverently constructed pair of artworks for your living space. On top of that, if you buy the Maestro Edition, you’re also buying a secret third thing – a limited-edition set, made all the more valuable for its combination of rarity and pedigree. It is with this in mind that I suggest, humbly, that value is difficult to ascribe to this set of speakers.

I’ve heard dozens upon dozens of bookshelf speakers below £1,000 – and even owned a fair few second-hand speakers bought for below £100 – that display similarly remarkable attention to detail in the audio realm, even if their chassis leave a little to be desired. Yet all fall short, however marginally, of the dimensionality on display here. Buying the Concertino G4 for performance alone could be justifiable, yes, but only if you’re willing to throw an extra £3,500 at the extra 5-10% that elevates these speakers above their upper mid-range contemporaries.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Concertino G4s. It’s a rare pair of speakers that can so convincingly render voices and instruments in discrete three-dimensional space, and nothing short of magic to hear the care with which such sound sources are treated. But you can find this for less. What you can’t is the Italian-made, executive-saloon suavity of the Concertino’s form, or the combination of this hand-built reverence with such deferent approaches to audiophilia.

So, while I might not be currently tempted to sell my belongings in favor of owning the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, I do know that, with the right capital and in the right atmospheric conditions, I’d snap them up in a heartbeat. Not just for their impeccable sound, but for the space they command, and for what that command represents.

Rear wiring options of the Sonus Faber Concertino G4 bookshelf speakers

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
  • Value score: 4.5/5

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: scorecard

Comment

Rating

Features

Passive, bi-wirable bookshelf speakers; smart internal cork damping.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Massive depth, clarity and three-dimensionality; careful handling of high-end, weighty low-end.

5/5

Design

A masterclass in executive chic. Cloth grille covers aren’t to everyone's taste.

5/5

Value

Pricy, but it buys you a work of practical art, made with reverence.

4.5/5

Should you buy the Sonus Faber Concertino G4?

Buy them if...

You have the cash
The price point is a lot to ask from most people, even if it’s far closer to the floor than the ceiling when it comes to the cost of audiophile-grade hi-fi equipment. That said, these walk the walk – and provide more than sound for the money.

You have a dedicated listening spot
The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are designed to be listened head-on, like studio monitor speakers. These should be enjoyed as such, then – in a room where they straddle your hi-fi and point directly at your head.

Don't buy them if...

You want a daily driver set of bookshelfs
Sure, the Concertino G4 will serve you marvellously well whatever you deign to throw at them, but buying them for watching Countdown and listening to BBC Radio 4 would be a bit like ordering a Michelin Guide dish on Uber Eats. And scarfing it down while watching Countdown or listening to BBC Radio 4.

You don’t have a dedicated hi-fi spot
You don’t need telling that these speakers want to see the output from an integrated amplifier or broader hi-fi system. You might, though, need telling that these speakers demand their own dedicated space and placement to sound their best.

Also consider

Sonus Faber Concertino G4

Monitor Audio Studio 89

Sonus Faber Lumina II

Type

Bookshelf

Bookshelf

Bookshelf

Active or passive?

Passive

Passive

Passive

Bi-wirable?

Yes

No

Yes

Woofer

5-inch paper pulp

x2 4.5-inch RDT III

150mm paper pulp

Tweeter

1-inch silk dome

x1 MPD III

29mm silk diaphragm

Impedance

4 ohms

6 ohms

4ohms

Dimensions

314 x 214 x 297 mm

340 x 157 x 361 mm

304 x 180 x 263mm

Monitor Audio Studio 89
Another set of passive bookshelf speakers, they incorporate two RDT III mid/bass drivers and a sandwiched MPD III tweeter, arranged vertically for wider sound dispersion.
See our full Monitor Audio Studio 89 review

Sonus Faber Lumina II
If you want that same Sonus Faber experience without having to worry about a potential remortgage, you can achieve just that with these excellent, ‘budget’ offerings from the Italian artisans. There are shortcomings (including a leather finish that may offend), but does a great job of bringing audiophile quality down a price peg.
See our full Sonus Faber Lumina II review

How I tested the Sonus Faber Concertino G4

  • Tested for four weeks
  • Used in my living room, as my primary listening speakers
  • Tested using a Victrola Stream Sapphire and Cambridge Audio receiver

As someone with considerable personal and professional investment both in the enjoyment of music and in its production, I have unique experience on both sides of the equation. I engage with speakers of various types as a matter of course each day, from flat-response studio monitor speakers to gorgeous, flattering hi-fi numbers like these.

For four glorious weeks, the Sonus Faber Concertino G4 speakers were my primary listening speakers in my living room. I wired them into my Cambridge Audio Azur 540r receiver, which received the sound of my vinyl record collection via a Victrola Stream Sapphire turntable (outfitted with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge).

First reviewed: July 2025

Read more about how we test at TechRadar

I reviewed Marshall’s new Bluetooth speaker and it rocked my world with awesome audio and unbelievable battery life
12:07 pm | July 17, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Marshall Kilburn III: two-minute review

The Marshall Kilburn III is the latest entry in the brand's mid-sized Bluetooth speaker range, aiming to combine huge, impactful audio with a pleasingly portable design. It’s also a model that hopes to outdo its predecessor, delivering far superior battery life, refined looks, and revamped acoustics. But that all comes with quite a bump up in price. So, is the Kilburn III truly worth the additional spend?

Well, given the truly swathing improvements across the board, I honestly believe that the answer is "yes". Some of the upgrades here are totally game-changing, none more so than the boost to battery life. The Marshall Kilburn III can offer 50 hours – yes, 50 hours – of playtime, which is more than double its predecessor, at just over 20 hours. That bolstered battery life means that the Kilburn III has more playtime than any other Marshall speaker – and far more than the majority of competition in this size and price category.

What really makes this model stand out – even compared to some of the best Bluetooth speakers – is its stellar audio performance. But let me be clear, other enhancements, such as an IP54 dust- and water-resistance rating, sleeker overall build and a premium gold control panel all come together to make the Kilburn III so much better than its predecessor, the Marshall Kilburn II.

Yes, the Kilburn III has fully reengineered acoustics, as well as bolstered 360-degree stereophonic sound. And the results from these adjustments are astonishingly good. This speaker served up incredibly clean, impactful bass, fantastically expressive mids, and energetic treble. No matter the genre of music you throw at it – it could be classical, it could be house, it could be rock – the Kilburn III nails it all, with beautifully full-sounding, omni-directional audio that’s seriously addictive.

It's also super-easy to adjust sound to your taste, either using the tactile knobs on top of the speaker, or via the Marshall app. The companion software opens up a number of EQ presets, a five-band equalizer, and even Placement Compensation, which optimizes audio for your space. It really is so easy to forge a sound that’s tailored to you, wherever you’re listening.

There are a bunch more features to unlock, too, such as battery preservation, Auracast, and charging bank functionality – which enables you to charge your phone through the Kilburn III’s USB-C port.

Arguably, though, the biggest draw of this model is its stunning looks. We’ve come to expect boundless beauty from Marshall over the years, with its eye-catching retro, amp-inspired design work translating beautifully into the world of speakers, headphones, and now even soundbars, following the launch of the five star-rated Marshall Heston 120. And it's no different with the Kilburn III.

Unlike the Kilburn II, gorgeous golden details used here for the logo and the controls really hammer home a premium feel. Pair that with neat speaker grilles on the front and reverse sides, pleasant knob and switch controls, as well as a red velvet-infused strap, and you’re looking at a masterclass in design.

The catch, as I flagged earlier, is that you’ll have to splash a fair amount of cash for the Kilburn III’s services. It will set you back $379 / £299 / AU$599 – which is by no means cheap. And it's also $80 / £50 / AU$100 more than the Kilburn II cost at launch. Having said that, the improvements are seismic and this is a model that's right up there with premium rivals such as the Sonos Move 2 and Bose SoundLink Max.

All in all, the Marshall Kilburn III is an exemplary Bluetooth speaker that absolutely aces everything that matters most. Amazing sound? Check. Luxury looks? Check. And a tasty set of features? Also, check.

Sure, if you want an option that’s perfect for taking to the beach, its IP54 durability may not quite do the trick, and I’d point you in the direction of our best waterproof speakers guide. But if you want a true statement piece with class-leading battery life and audacious audio, this is one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market.

Person holding the Marshall Kilburn III

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Kilburn III review: price and release date

  • $379 / £299 / AU$599
  • Launched in May 2025

The Marshall Kilburn III first released at the end of May 2025, almost seven years after its predecessor, the Kilburn II. It has a list price of $379 / £299 / AU$599, which is $80 / £50 / AU$100 more than the Kilburn II at the point of release. But the price reflects a slew of improvements, which I’ll tackle in depth below.

You can grab the Kilburn III in either Black & Brass or Cream, but the variant you select should have little to no impact on the price you pay for the speaker.

Marshall Kilburn III review: specs

Weight

6.2lbs / 2.8kg

Dimensions

10.7 x 5.9 x 6.7 inches /

273 x 150 x 169mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, AUX

Battery life

50 hours

Speaker drivers

1x 30W woofer; 2x 10W full ranges

Waterproofing

IP54

Person powering on the Marshall Kilburn III

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Kilburn III review: features

  • Effective Placement Compensation
  • Nifty companion app with decent EQ options
  • Colossal battery life

The Marshall Kilburn III has many of the key features you’d be looking for in a modern Bluetooth speaker. You get all the basics, such as multi-point connectivity and fast-pairing, but there’s so much more to unlock in the Marshall app.

For instance, there’s Placement Compensation, where you can state if the speaker is positioned close to an edge, a wall or corner, and the speaker will adapt its audio output accordingly. I tried all of the different calibrations and found that the adjustments all make a significant difference, so ensure that you have the right setup for your space.

There are also some tasty EQ options to sink your teeth into. Yes, gone are the days of simply making adjustments to the bass and treble; Marshall has included a five-band equalizer here, enabling you to make a custom EQ that's to your taste. Alternatively, you can pick from a number of presets, such as bass, mid, and treble boost.

Some other nuggets include: battery preservation options, such as the choice to lower charging speed if temperature is outside the ideal range; Auracast broadcast tune-in; and M-button customization, which enables you to alter the function of the "M" shortcut on the speaker’s control panel.

The bottom line is, all of the crucial features are present – and super-easy to play around with in the Marshall app. Although, there are a few omissions that you’ll find on rival speakers.

For instance, there’s no built-in mic for high-quality, hands-free calling, something you’ll find on a model such as the Sony ULT Field 3. In addition, there’s no multi-speaker pairing (ie. no JBL PartyBoost equivalent), so if 100% volume isn’t enough or you want to create a multi-room setup over Bluetooth, it may be worth checking out a larger option in our guide to the best party speakers. I don’t typically keep multiple units of the same speaker at hand, and I prefer to keep calls more private, meaning neither of these missing features bothered me all too much.

Perhaps the best feature of this speaker, though, is its ridiculously long battery life. It delivers 50 hours of playtime, which is far, far more than most rivals in its price and weight class. Even the brilliant JBL Xtreme 4 can only just knock out 30 hours with PlayTime Boost active. Combine that with the ability to charge external devices via the speaker’s USB-C port, and you’re looking at a true powerhouse.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

Person plugging USB-C cable into the Marshall Kilburn III

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Kilburn III review: sound quality

  • "True" 360-degree stereophonic sound
  • Incredible bass output
  • But overall sound is still brilliantly balanced

I was lucky enough to have the chance to try the Kilburn III out early at Marshall’s HQ in Stockholm, Sweden, so I already had a decent idea of this speaker’s talents. However, having spent a bit more time with it at our music testing room at Future Labs, I have realized that the Kilburn III is even better than I’d first thought.

One of the first things that struck me about this speaker was its booming bass output – something I also loved about the brand’s Heston 120 soundbar. When blasting Keep That Groove by Vitess, the pumping low-end was translated ultra-cleanly, with no noticeable distortion or muffling. Bass didn't ever overpower synths or vocals, and I didn’t even feel the need to activate the Bass Boost EQ mode!

The Kilburn III treated me to clear audio, even when I pumped out the tunes seriously loudly. For instance, when playing One-Winged Angel by Nobuo Uematsu, the piercing strings, ominous bass drums, and fear-inducing vocals culminated beautifully, never outshining one another. This is in part thanks to the Kilburn III’s dynamic loudness tech, which automatically adjusts bass, mids, and treble, so you don’t lose out on any detail.

Speaking of which, the Kilburn III is able to put up a pleasingly intricate performance, even though it lacks any "hi-res" Bluetooth codec support such as LDAC or aptX Adaptive. Leading sax from In The Pocket by Eric Darius danced through our testing room, sounding tonally accurate and unrestricted, resulting in a nuanced and expressive interpretation of the track. And thanks to the speaker’s "true" stereophonic sound, it didn’t matter where I was listening from – I got full-sounding, clear audio at every angle.

Even instrument separation surprised me after throwing on Vantablack by Intervals, with in-your-face electric guitar sounds well defined in the mix, even with a deep, powerful bassline and thrashing drums running throughout.

I really did throw a huge variety of tracks at the Kilburn III, and I was truly blown away by its ability to effortlessly handle anything sent its way.

With an all-action rock banger such as Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz, intertwining guitars sounded satisfyingly forward, with drums expertly positioned for a next-level listening experience. And with an upbeat dance track – something perhaps not associated with Marshall – such as A Fresh Energy by Gaskin, pumping bass was never lethargic, while higher-pitched percussive elements came through with incredible vibrancy.

The Kilburn III really is a Jack of all trades…but it's also a master of each one.

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

Person turning a knob on the Marshall Kilburn III

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Kilburn III review: design

  • Stunning amp-inspired looks
  • Excellent physical controls
  • IP54 waterproofing is better, but nothing special

I already own the Marshall Stanmore III and have always adored the way it looks in my living room setup. I just love the retro feel of the amp-inspired design Marshall uses for its speakers, so you won’t be shocked to hear I very much like the look of the Kilburn III.

It has a premium-looking faux leather outercasing, stunningly finished speaker grilles on its front and reverse side, a gold-plated control panel, and sleek handle that has a red velvet underside. I didn’t so much like the white logo and black control panel on the Kilburn II – but this new model feels far more high-end, and it's one that is going to look like a true statement piece in any living space.

When I spoke to Marshall about the Kilburn III, that sense of the speaker being a "statement piece" was strong in the mind. I was assured that the speaker wasn't meant to compete with the company's rugged models – think the Marshall Middleton or Marshall Emberton III. And that may explain its sort of "meh" waterproof rating.

The Kilburn III is just IP54 dust- and waterproof-rated, meaning it's only really protected against splashing water, not water jets or full on submersion. Of course, a lot of portable Bluetooth speakers are now IP67-rated – sometimes higher – so if you’re looking for the most rough-and-ready model around, you should probably look elsewhere.

Regardless, there are other design aspects of the Kilburn III of which I am a fan. First of all, the tactile knobs on top of the speaker are incredibly effective and well built. You can alter volume, bass, or treble levels with these. There’s also a pin control, which makes a return from other Marshall models, for switching the speaker on or off. Perhaps the most interesting physical control, though, is the "M" button, which can be set to a variety of functions – such as sifting through EQ options – via the Marshall app.

On the reverse side of the speaker, you'll also find a USB-C port to charge the speaker or external devices, as well as a 3.5mm AUX port if you want to indulge in wired listening.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Marshall logo on the Marshall Kilburn III

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Kilburn III review: value

  • More expensive than its predecessor…
  • …but a seismic improvement across the board
  • Well-priced against rivals

I’ve flagged it a couple of times in this review, but the Marshall Kilburn III is significantly more expensive than its predecessor. Given the sheer scale and breadth of improvements, though, I think it’s totally worth it.

Battery life is much improved, it has a more premium design, and the re-engineered acoustics have taken the revamped Kilburn to new heights. Even around that $400 / £300 / AU$600 zone, it sounds well-worth every penny.

And even against some similar-sized competitors, I wouldn’t consider the Kilburn III to be overpriced. For instance, 2024’s JBL Xtreme 4 launched at $379 / £329 / AU$499, and after testing both models side-by-side, I'd give Marshall’s effort the slight edge sonically. Of course, given its age, you can often find the JBL Xtreme 4 on sale now, though.

On top of that, this model is cheaper than the Bose SoundLink Max at the point of release, which often still goes for the full $399 / £399 / AU$599. So, the Kilburn III is far from the priciest in its weight class.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Reverse side of the Marshall Kilburn III

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Marshall Kilburn III?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Some small omissions can’t overshadow amazing battery life and in-app functions.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Beautifully balanced audio even at high volumes, no matter the listening angle.

5/5

Design

Attractive amp-inspired design with gorgeous golden details.

4.5/5

Value

A price bump over its predecessor, but sounds, looks, and feels well-worth it.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You love the Marshall aesthetic
The Kilburn III stays faithful to the traditional Marshall aesthetic with its retro-looking amp-inspired design, adding a golden control panel and logo, upgraded tactile knobs, and a pin-style power switch, to make the Kilburn III a real beauty.

You need plenty of battery life
Arguably the most impressive aspect of this Bluetooth speaker is its outrageously long battery life. With 50 hours of playtime, depending on listening volume, there's more than enough juice to keep the party running into the next day…and maybe the day after that, too.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
The Marshall Kilburn III is an expensive speaker, and significantly pricier than its predecessor. Of course, I think there's enough to justify that hike; but if you’re on a budget, consider models such as the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 and the Marshall Kilburn II – both of which we’ve tested and enjoyed.

You want a big, powerful party speaker
The Kilburn III can get pretty loud, displaying great bass output given its size. But for gigantic, yet talented, sound, nothing beats the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. It can even double up as a karaoke machine – what more could you want?

Marshall Kilburn III review: also consider

Marshall Kilburn III

JBL Xtreme 4

Bose SoundLink Max

Price

$379 / £299 / AU$599

$379 / £329 / AU$499

$399 / £399 / AU$599

Weight

6.2lbs / 2.8kg

4.63 lbs / 2.1kg

4.7lbs / 2.1kg

Dimensions

10.7 x 5.9 x 6.7 inches /

273 x 150 x 169mm

11.7 x 5.9 x 5.6 inches / 297 x 149 x 141mm

4.7 x 10.4 x 4.1 inches / 120 x 265 x 105mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, AUX

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Battery life

50 hours

24 hours (plus up to 6 hours more with Playtime Boost)

20 hours

Speaker drivers

1 x 30W woofer; 2 x 10W full ranges

2 x 30W woofers, 2 x 20W tweeters

2 x 89mm transducers, 1 x 23mm transducer, 2x passive radiators

Waterproofing

IP54

IP67

IP67

JBL Xtreme 4
I still rate the JBL Xtreme 4 as one of the best party speakers around. I used it for comparison testing against the Kilburn III, and it still displays that clear, responsive, impactful sound that I remembered from last year. This model is a little more rugged, boasting an IP67 waterproof rating. On top of that, it can be found on sale fairly regularly now, so you should be able to grab it for less than the Kilburn III. Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review.

Bose SoundLink Max
If you want big, bold, balanced audio, the Bose SoundLink Max is a top-tier option. Again, this one’s IP67-rated, so it’s a little better protected against the elements. It’s gorgeous, too, much like the other speakers in the SoundLink line – but there’s a severe drop off in battery life when you compare this to the Kilburn III. On occasion, you can find the SoundLink Max for $100 / £100 off, so if Bose has your heart, make sure you keep your eyes peeled for a sale. Read our full Bose SoundLink Max review.

Marshall Kilburn III review: how I tested

Marshall Kilburn III red velvet strap

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for one week
  • Mainly used in our music testing facility at Future Labs
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the Marshall Kilburn III over a week-long period, making use of its full set of features, playing hours of music, and assessing all aspects of its design. I mainly used the speaker in our music testing room at Future Labs, so that I could judge audio quality in an isolated, controlled environment.

When blasting tunes, I mainly used Tidal, but I occasionally played songs over Spotify too. As always, I started the testing process by streaming tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to a ton of tracks from my own personal library. I ran a comparison test with the JBL Xtreme 4 to assess aspects such as sub-bass output, instrument separation, and sonic detail.

I’ve tested all sorts of audio equipment during my time at TechRadar, from flagship headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM6, through to home cinema products such as the Marshall Heston 120. I’ve reviewed an array of speakers along the way from brands such as Sony, JBL, and, of course, Marshall. As a result, I’m more than familiar with the Kilburn III’s rivals, as well as what it takes for a speaker to stand out in a highly competitive market.

I spent two weeks with the UE Megaboom 4, and it’s now my go-to Bluetooth speaker for summer
1:00 pm | July 6, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: Two-minute review

Ultimate Ears already has already put out some of the best Bluetooth speakers around, and while I don’t think it’s quite as easy to recommend for the masses as the brilliant UE Wonderboom 4, the UE Megaboom 4 still has its place as a great option for anyone who wants a fairly premium speaker that completely eradicates any feelings of battery anxiety, and can really bring the bass and volume necessary to give any party a jolt.

After putting the speaker through its paces, it’s clear now that the Megaboom 4 feels most at home with pop and dance tracks, so if those feature regularly in your go-to playlists then you’ll enjoy the soundscape on offer. Busier rock/alternative tracks do get a bit muddled in the mix so for fans of Linkin Park, Rise Against and the like, you may want to look elsewhere.

What can’t be faulted is the signature UE design that not only looks great with its oversized volume buttons, it’s also functional, giving way to a rugged IP67 rating, ensuring that the speaker is more than ready to withstand an accidental dip (or full submersion) in water. The move to USB-C, while a minor tweak on the UE Megaboom 3, is still a welcome change for the sake of convenience.

The UE app also lets you configure the EQ settings to offer up even more of a spotlight to the vocals or the bassline, depending on what you prefer, and the PartyUp mode lets you pair other UE speakers to keep the playlist going in every room of a house. What really sets it apart in this price range however is a 20-hour battery life that absolutely decimates the 10-hour stint of the similarly priced Sonos Roam 2. While you can certainly get better sound by paying a bit more for the Bang & Olufsen A1 Gen 3, I think the Megaboom 4 represents one of the best options for folks who want a long-lasting speaker that doesn’t go beyond the $200/£200 mark.

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Price and release date

  • Released June 2024
  • Officially priced at $199.99 / £169.99 / AU$349.95

The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 came to market back in June 2024 alongside a plethora of UE speakers, and at the time of writing it’ll set you back $199.99/£169.99 At that price, the Megaboom 4 is easily one of the more expensive Bluetooth speakers you can buy, but it still sits in the mid-range sector of UE’s own devices, eclipsed by the UE Everboom and the UE Epicboom.

There are four colourways available including Active Black, Cobalt Blue, Raspberry Red and Enchanting Lilac, all of which are set with the same RRP. At around the $200/£200 mark, the Megaboom 4’s closest competition can be found in the Sonos Roam 2 and the JBL Charge 5, although the latter tends to be regularly discounted. There’s also the cheaper and similar in style UE Boom 4 which is priced at £129.99/$149.99.

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 in black, in a house with white window frames in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Specs

Weight:

935g

Dimensions:

225 x 87 x 87mm

Battery life (quoted):

20 hours

Connectivity:

Bluetooth (unspecified)

Drivers:

2 x 50mm ohm drivers, 2 x 55x86mm passive radiators

Aux-in:

No

Charger port:

USB-C

Microphone:

No

Waterproof rating:

IP67

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 in black, in a house with white window frames in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Features

  • 20-hour battery life
  • USB-C has replaced micro-USB
  • Quick playback with the Magic Button

It says a great deal about just how slow Ultimate Ears has been to fully embrace USB-C in its devices that one of the biggest upgrades the Megaboom 4 has over the Megaboom 3 is that it finally does away with having a micro-USB port. Beyond that however, the two speakers are largely the same, so if you’re not too fussed about convenience when it comes to charging then you might want to seek out the Megaboom 3 at a discount. If you’re anything like me however, access to a USB-C port wins out every time.

Even though the upgrades are fairly minimal, the UE Wonderboom 4 is far from being featureless. One of its best concepts (and something I wish every Bluetooth speaker had) is a ‘Magic Button’ that gets you straight into a playlist with one push. Without the marketing jargon attached, this button is the same play/pause input that you tend to see on the top of most Ultimate Ears speakers but if you hold it down (even when the Megaboom 4 is switched off), after a few seconds one of four preselected playlists will begin.

To save from any wasted time over deciding what to play first, this ‘one touch’ system is an ingenious way of getting the party started. Bear in mind however that you need either a Spotify of Amazon Music account to use this feature, so you’ll be out of luck if you’re an Apple Music fan. In addition to having your favourite playlists/albums ready to go, the Ultimate Ears app also lets you tweak the soundscape with equaliser controls.

There are five preset EQs available within the app, although the sound does tend to be a bit more generally pleasing to the ear if you opt for the standard ‘Signature’ mode. If you do have a preference for bass or treble however then there is a custom option available that lets you tweak the levels as you see fit, and you save those changes so that they’re ready to go in a few taps.

Even though the Megaboom 4 can reach some pretty high volumes, Ultimate Ears’ PartyUp mode lets you bring additional UE speakers into the mix to help cover a larger area. Not all of UE’s existing products work with this however, so you’ll need to check which devices are compatible ahead of time if you do fancy making use of it, but it’s still a great feature to have. It never gets old when you’re moving from one room to another and there’s no break whatsoever in the tunes you’re listening to, or as it more often tends to be in my case, an audiobook.

What is sure to raise an eyebrow (or two, if you can't raise one on its own) from anyone in the market for a new speaker is the fact that the Megaboom 4 can run for up to 20-hours at a time. That's more than you’ll ever need for a single gathering, but if you’re heading away for a weekend and you’d rather save your battery pack for topping up other devices like your phone, it’s nice to know that the Megaboom 4 can go the distance. With that kind of longevity, the Megaboom 4 towers over the Sonos Roam 2.

  • Features score: 4/5

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 in black, in a house with white window frames in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Design

  • Same signature UE style
  • IP67 waterproof and dust-proof
  • USB-C port has a dust cover

If there's one thing that I can’t fault Ultimate Ears speakers for, it's their design. Even though I have the far more portable JBL Clip 5 in my possession, I've preferred bringing UE devices with me to the office or to picnics over the years because of how great they look. The oversized volume buttons are instantly recognisable, and just a lot more interesting to look at than your average speaker.

It’s all much the same with the Megaboom 4, although I will admit that it looks practically identical to its predecessor, so don’t go looking for any visual markers to let you know that this is a newer product. Still, the cylindrical frame isn’t just for show, it’s also functional as it helps to deliver the audio in a 360-degree scope so you won’t have to strain to hear what’s being played.

Similar to its green ambitions that kicked off with the excellent Wonderboom 3, UE has endeavoured to have a sizeable chunk of the Megaboom 4’s plastic segments be constructed from recycled plastics – over 54% in fact. While there’s always more that can be done, it is still great to see Ultimate Ears taking some initiative in an area that feels as if it’s been sidelined somewhat in recent years by other companies. Plus, even with those recycled plastics in tow, the Megaboom 4 is still one durable device.

Courtesy of an official IP67 rating, the Megaboom 4 can absolutely take an accidental dip in the pool without cause for concern, and it’s been drop tested too. Even just to hold the speaker (which weighs in at 935g), there’s a decent heft to it that feels reassuring. As a nice added touch, the USB-C port also has a cover to keep it protected from any debris.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 in black, in a house with white window frames in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Sound quality

  • Works best at higher volumes
  • Pop songs sound great here, with plenty of bass
  • Rock and similarly busy genres don't fair too well

So far, I’ve painted a fairly pretty picture of the UE Megaboom 4, and while I do love this speaker, it unfortunately doesn’t quite stick the landing when it comes to sound quality. At the surface level, this is a speaker that feels right at home when listening to pop music.

Playing an all-time classic in Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again, it showcases the perfect mix of the song’s twangy bass, rhythmic cymbals and of course the vocals which never feel drowned out by everything that’s going on. It’s precisely the blend that you’d want for an outdoor gathering as you can sing along to the music without feeling as though the instruments are overpowering.

Moving over to a modern pick that leans more towards being a dance track, Charli XCX’s Apple benefits from the same treatment, except this time it does a better job of showing off the Megaboom 4’s room for a hefty bassline under the right conditions. The kick pedal beat that rolls throughout much of the track packs a hefty punch, and it’s sure to get people off of their seats and moving (it certainly had that effect on me).

It’s with these party friendly tracks that the Megaboom 4 really shines, especially when they’re played at a decent volume that allows the speaker to show off what it can do. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for personal playback when you’re alone and you just want to listen to your go-to favourites.

Embracing my emo roots, as one does when working from home, a run-through of Send the Pain Below by Chevelle shows where the Megaboom 4 trips up. At a lower volume, it just feels as if the song is a bit muffled, which isn’t helped by the fact that the speaker doesn’t quite know what to do with busier rock songs like this. The lead guitar sounds a bit too crunchy and it ends up suffocating the bass during the chorus, so I think you're better off looking elsewhere if you mostly plan on playing tracks of a similar vibe.

  • Sound quality: 3.5/5

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Value

One thing I cannot fault the Megaboom 4 on is its value. Almost in defiance of today’s economic landscape, the Megaboom 4 retails at the same price that the Megaboom 3 went on sale for back in 2018. That’s unheard of in the modern age and it just means that if your current Bluetooth speaker is starting to show its age, you won’t be penalised at the checkout for having held out until now to upgrade.

I will say though that because of how minimal the upgrades are between the Megaboom 4 and the Megaboom 3, if you do own the latter then it’s not worth making the upgrade unless battery life has started to take a real hit (or you’re ready to finally do away with the last micro-USB cable in your collection).

There’s also the issue that UE has undermined its own product to a degree as you can buy the slightly cheaper UE Boom 4 at $149.99£129.99, so long as you don’t mind sacrificing five-hours of battery life and a bit of bass. Still, for all that the Megaboom 4 offers, I’d sooner recommend it above the competition for anyone who just wants a long-lasting, durable speaker with great volume to get them through the weekend.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 in black, in a house with white window frames in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4?

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The Megaboom 4 now supports USB-C and runs for up to 20-hours at a time

4/5

Design

The same classic UE design but with rugged credentials to back it up on the road

4.5/5

Sound quality

Improved bass and depth for pop, but lacking in clarity for rock and busier songs

3.5/5

Value

No price increase over the Megaboom 3, and feature packed for the price

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You need a long-lasting Bluetooth speaker
With 20-hours of battery life in the tank, it’s unlikely that you’ll reach 0% over the course of a weekend, which makes the Megaboom 4 a great option for longevity.

You need great volume to power a party
If there’s one thing the Megaboom 4 can carry with confidence, it’s volume. I can’t remember the last time I tested a speaker that felt more at home at the louder end of the scale.

You’re a fan of pop music
While heavy rock fans should look elsewhere, the Megaboom 4 does classic and modern pop justice with great depth that’ll have you singing along in no time.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a speaker for personal playback
The Megaboom 4 doesn’t sound quite right until you crank the volume up, which means you’re better off looking elsewhere for simply listening to music and podcasts at home.

You need a speaker for a small gathering
For a small gathering or picnic, the Megaboom 4 is definitely overkill, which is why a more portable speaker will do the job just fine.

You want the best value Ultimate Ears speaker
For most people, the more bijou UE Wonderboom 4 can give you everything you could want from a Bluetooth speaker, and it’s a great deal cheaper too.

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 in black, in a house with white window frames in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Also consider

UE Megaboom 4

UE Wonderboom 4

Sonos Roam 2

Dimensions:

225 x 87 x 87mm

104 x 95.3 x 95.3mm

98 x 98 x 35mm

Weight:

935g

420g

430g

Battery life (quoted):

20 hours

14 hours

10 hours

Connectivity:

Bluetooth (unspecified)

Bluetooth 5.2

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Drivers:

2 x 50mm ohm drivers, 2 x 55x86mm passive radiators

2 x 40mm active drivers, 2 x 46.1x65.2mm passive radiators

A tweeter, a mid-woofer, and two class-h digital amplifiers

Aux-in:

No

No

No

Charger port:

USB-C

USB-C

USB-C

Microphone:

No

No

Yes

Waterproof rating:

IP67

IP67

IP67

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
At just $99.99/£89.99, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is an absolute bargain, providing a rugged design and great sound in return. For the folks who just want an upgraded experience to playing songs directly on their smartphone, this is the one to go for.
Read more in our UE Wonderboom 4 review.

Sonos Roam 2
If you value sound quality and portability over battery life (plus the ability to stream over your home Wi-Fi network) the Sonos Roam 2 is probably the speaker for you. It can fit into a bag more easily than the Megaboom 4, and you'll benefit from Sonos’ signature detailed sound.
Read more in our Sonos Roam 2 review.

How I tested the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

  • Tested for two weeks, both indoors and in a communal garden
  • Connected to a variety of Android phones

For the purpose of this review, I used the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 as my main Bluetooth speaker over a period of two weeks, mostly playing songs indoors with occasional moments of testing in an outdoor garden.

I paired the speaker primarily with Android phones, including the OnePlus 12 and the Motorola Edge 60 Pro.

I tested the speaker with a wide range of genres beyond those mentioned in the sound test, including heavy metal (Lamb of God), hyperpop (100 Gecs) and rap (Kendrick Lamar).

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: July 2025
I reviewed the Sony ULT Field 3 Bluetooth speaker and it left me disappointed, for one key reason
5:30 pm | June 30, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Sony ULT Field 3: two-minute review

The Sony ULT Field 3 is one of the latest portable Bluetooth speakers to enter a market stuffed to the gills with options. This one promises “impressive power”, “easy portability” and a build quality that'll play your music “anywhere, in any weather”. But with rivals such as JBL and Ultimate Ears going all-in on the whole rough-and-ready portable speaker thing, it begs the question… can Sony outdo its red-hot rivals?

At a glance, you may well think so. This speaker is packed with a ton of features. We’ve got multi-point, customizable EQ, environment optimization and, of course, ULT mode for enhanced bass output. That’s all very neat, and as always, Sony has done a great job with its Sound Connect app, which enables you to access all of these features and more.

This is also a highly durable speaker, with excellent build quality, IP67 dust and waterproofing and an adjustable strap, meaning it’s easy to transport and play in any environment. But, in order to outdo the best Bluetooth speakers around, the thing that truly matters in my book is sound quality.

Unfortunately for the Field 3, this is the one key reason that it fails to stake its claim as a class-leading option. Even with ULT mode on, which plays to the speaker’s strengths – beefy low-end output – you’ll notice significant compression at higher volumes, some harshness in the treble range and a slight lack of nuance.

Even if you want a more balanced listen, the ULT-off tuning simply didn’t cut it in my experience. You can achieve decent audio using the Sound Connect app’s seven-band equalizer, but still, you can’t expect well-separated, perfectly balanced audio.

And given the list price of this speaker – just under $200 / £180 / AU$330 – I think that middling sound quality is pretty disappointing. Some issues, like limited bass extension and mono-only sound (unless you pair to a second Field 3 model) are typical for a speaker of this size – but I’d still expect clearer, more controlled audio from a Sony product at this cost.

Again, a serviceable listen is certainly achievable on the Field 3. But some aspects are more than serviceable. More than anything, that includes battery life, which is very good for a speaker in this weight class. You get up to 24 hours with ULT on – admittedly not playing at high volume, though. Still, the Field 3 should have plenty of juice to last a long listening session, and it can even charge external devices with its USB-C port – which is a most welcome inclusion.

When all’s said and done, the Sony ULT Field 3 has some strong qualities, but just doesn’t have enough sauce to stand out in a talented crowd. Perhaps if it gets a juicy price cut in sales events I’d be able to say it’s worth checking out. But for the moment, I’d suggest looking elsewhere for a summer-ready Bluetooth speaker. Other models, such as the JBL Charge 5 or even the smaller, yet Wi-Fi-enabled Sonos Roam 2 would be better picks, just to name a couple.

Hand adjusting the strap on the Sony ULT Field 3

(Image credit: Future)

Sony ULT Field 3 review: price and release date

  • $199 / £179 / AU$329
  • Launched in April 2025

The Sony ULT Field 3 launched alongside its sibling, the Sony ULT Field 5 in April 2025. It has a list price of $199 / £179 / AU$329, but there’s good news – I’ve already seen it on sale for less through various online retailers. In the UK, for instance, Sony has already run a slashed-price offer, which allows you to pick the ULT Field 3 up for less than £160, so keep your eyes peeled for a bargain buy.

You can grab the ULT Field in three different colorways: Black; Forest Gray; and Off White. The variant you chose should have little to no impact on the price you pay for this model.

Sony ULT Field 3 review: specs

Drivers

1x 86 x 46mm woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter

Dimensions

10.1 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches / 256 x 113 x 79mm

Weight

2.6lbs / 1.2kg

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.2

Battery life

24 hours

Waterproofing

IP67

Buttons on top of the Sony ULT Field 3

(Image credit: Future)

Sony ULT Field 3 review: features

  • ULT mode for enhanced bass output
  • Sound Field Optimization
  • Great battery life

As is typically the case with Sony, you’re getting a solid suite of features on the ULT Field 3. You get the standard stuff like multi-point connectivity, fast-pairing and multi-speaker pairing – which unlocks stereo mode – but there’s so much more to uncover.

Perhaps the main attraction is the ULT mode, which gives bass a gigantic boost. It’s well worth having this on if you want the most powerful, party-ready sound available, but I’ll drill into that a little more later. You can also listen with ULT mode off or set your own custom EQ using a seven band equalizer.

Another audio-related feature that interested me was Sound Field Optimization. This essentially detects noise from your surroundings and fine-tunes audio output to be as clear as possible for your environment – something that’s particularly useful in busier outdoor areas.

But if you dive into the Sony Sound Connect app, there’s a little more at your fingertips. There’s STAMINA (yep, in all caps) mode, which provides a boost to battery life while restricting elements like different sound modes. There’s also an option to prioritize connection quality over sound quality or control playback from your music apps.

One more feature that you don’t always find is an integrated mic that enables hand-free calling. I tested this out and found that my voice came through clearly and my friend's speech on the other end of the line never had any noticeable tinniness or distortion.

Does the ULT Field 3 have the most fleshed out feature-set I’ve ever seen? Well, not quite. There’s a distinct lack of EQ presets, no LED lights or similar, no Auracast over Bluetooth LE audio and omission of wired listening.

Still, there’s plenty overall – even a USB-C charging port that can juice up external devices or serve as a medium to charge the speaker itself. While we’re here, let’s talk battery life too. I was impressed with the ULT Field 3’s playtime – in fact, it’s one of the best things about this speaker. You get up to 24 hours of battery life – of course, if you’re listening at high volumes with ULT mode on, that’s gonna be lower. But still, this speaker is more than capable of keeping the tunes bumping well into the early hours.

  • Features score: 4/5

Tab on reverse side of the Sony ULT Field 3 open, exposing USB-C port

(Image credit: Future)

Sony ULT Field 3 review: sound quality

  • Standard ULT-off tuning sounds poor
  • But with it active, you get improved, bass-heavy audio
  • No advanced codecs, not even LDAC

OK, to be frank, I was initially pretty disappointed with the audio performance of the Sony ULT Field 3. I started off by listening with ULT switched off and tuned into Black Eye by Allie X which sounded… underwhelming. The meaty drum machine lacked its bite, taking the rhythmic bounce of the track down a peg. At higher volumes, the vocals had a slightly tinny edge to them too. But much of this could be rectified.

Yes, I simply pressed the ULT button and things vastly improved. The deep bass of that drum machine reared its lovely head, finally giving the track some much needed uplift in the low end and, in turn, I was gifted a more full-sounding delivery. In addition, dance tracks like Last One Standing by Kolter and Sidney Charles sounded better this way, with strong low-end output and decently crisp vocal sections.

But even with ULT mode on, I did encounter some issues. All songs sounded noticeably compressed as I gradually pushed the volume higher and higher. By the time I’d reached 80-100%, there was little breathing room for each instrument, resulting in quite a muffled, narrow sound. Treble especially could get pretty harsh with loudness pushed to the max. At medium volume, I’d argue that vocals, percussion and strings were all relatively clear, and the audio can just about fill a medium-sized room. But don’t expect phenomenal separation or microscopic levels of detail even here.

On that note, you won’t get any ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs with the Sony ULT Field 3. Even Sony’s proprietary LDAC has been left out. Then again, this is more of a fun and convenient party speaker rather than a device pitched at audiophiles. And there are a ton of great alternatives if you want a more revealing listen – just look at the Bose SoundLink Max (or newer, smaller, cheaper SoundLink Plus) for instance.

There are a couple of other issues I ran into that are worth noting. Even with ULT mode on, the speaker didn’t quite have the might to handle dark sub bass. For example, The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy – marked by imposing deep bass running throughout – wasn’t replicated all too well. The speaker just didn’t quite have that extension in the low-end to make every boom sound ultra-clear, with the deepest notes tailing off a bit, even in ULT mode. For a speaker of this size, that’s fairly common – but it’s worth considering if you want the ultimate bass-heavy audio companion.

Speaking of that, there’s a seven-band equalizer that you can access via the Sound Connect app, which does enable you to forge a better sound than the standard ULT off tuning. But that’s it. There aren’t any other presets, which is pretty disappointing if you just want a swift way to adjust the sound to you. There’s also no EQ test, as seen on Sony’s recent smash hit headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM6.

Still, with a custom calibration, I did find that tracks with more emphasis on vocals – rather than big booming bass – could sound fairly clear. Rains Again by Solji had solid balance across the frequencies, with expressive vocals and soft strings coming through with enhanced clarity. And for tracks like this, where ULT mode will afford too much emphasis to the low-end, that quality is most welcome. All in all, decent audio is achievable with the ULT Field 3, but it’s far from the best-sounding speaker I’ve tested.

  • Sound quality score: 3/5

Sony logo on the Sony ULT Field 3

(Image credit: Future)

Sony ULT Field 3 review: design

  • IP67 dust and waterproof rating
  • Adjustable and detachable strap
  • Looks-wise not my fave, but fairly compact and durable

The Sony ULT Field 3 is certainly designed to be a rugged, outdoorsy speaker and it serves that purpose nicely. That’s largely thanks to its up-to-scratch IP67 rating, which means it's both dustproof and able to survive 30 minutes of underwater submersion, up to one meter – something I’d expect from any of the best waterproof speakers.

On top of that, there’s a really solid feel to the Field 3. It has a robust, durable, and fairly chunky build – if you dropped it I think it might break the ground rather than the other way round. Weighing in at 2.6lbs / 1.2kg, it’s got some serious weight for its size. Overall, it really does feel as if the ruggedness of this speaker is its selling point, rather than sound quality.

No matter the environment, you’ll be able to take the Field 3 around with ease, thanks to a fabric strap that’s pre-attached to the speaker (it can be removed). Some models like the Tribit Stormbox Lava come with a handle that you can swap in for transportation over shorter distances – something I would’ve liked to have seen here – though you can adjust the strap to make it shorter for handheld use if you’d prefer.

In terms of looks, I wasn’t loving the Field 3, though that’s fully down to personal preference. I just didn’t quite dig its rounded brick-like aesthetic and the color options were a bit on the bland side for me, but you might love it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

And there’s certainly stuff here that I do like, including simple yet effective button controls, a tab hiding the USB-C port, and a decently compact build. So yes, plenty to admire about the Field 3 as far as design goes – especially if you want something that’s ready to brave any setting, from living room through to the beach.

  • Design score: 4/5

Sony ULT Field 3 with strap attached

(Image credit: Future)

Sony ULT Field 3 review: value

  • Audio not good enough for the price
  • A lot of rivals can still offer the ruggedness too
  • Ultimately overshadowed in a tough market

The Sony ULT Field 3 is by no means an inexpensive speaker. At $199 / £179 / AU$329, it’s not quite in the premium tier, and its sibling the ULT Field 5 will come at a substantially higher price. But there are tons of similarly sized rivals offering great sound, build quality and features at a similar – or even lower price.

Value for money is simply not the ULT Field 3’s strong-suit. That's mainly because audio quality is pretty disappointing. You can definitely achieve a decent listening experience with ULT on for bass-heavy tracks, or custom calibration for softer genres and podcasts, but still – there are some issues, like underwhelming sound with ULT off and prominent compression at high volumes that hold this model back.

When you have rivals like the JBL Charge 6 on the market that offer impressive audio, an even higher IP rating and the same battery life, there simply aren’t many reasons to recommend the Field 3.

Is this a bad speaker? No, no it’s not. The ULT mode is the key draw, offering solid bass response for a speaker of this stature. You also get a ton of playtime and great protection against the elements. But I’d argue that’s not enough given the competition from, of course JBL – but also the Sonos Roam 2 (below), Ultimate Ears Everboom, and Tribit Stormbox Lava.

  • Value score: 2.5/5

Buttons on top of the Sony ULT Field 3

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Sony ULT Field 3?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Some omissions, but great battery life, environment optimization is a nice touch.

4/5

Sound quality

Needs ULT on to sound its best, at high volumes compression is noticeable.

3/5

Design

It's not the sleekest, but the Field 3 is rugged and ready for any environment.

4/5

Value

Average audio at a not-so-cheap price makes the Field 3 a tough sell.

2.5/5

Buy it if...

You want a speaker capable of handling any environment
I have no doubts that the Sony ULT Field 3 is capable of enduring almost any setting, thanks to its brilliant IP67 dust and waterproof rating. That means it can even survive being dunked underwater for 30 minutes – pretty impressive. If you want to bring your music anywhere and everywhere, the Field 3 has you covered.

You need a speaker with plenty of battery to go around
One of the best things about the ULT Field 3 is undoubtedly its battery life. You can get up to 24 hours here, which is enough to keep the tunes blasting throughout a beachside bash or house party for the ages. You can also use the Field 3 to charge external devices via its USB-C port, so when it comes to power, this really does have it all.

Don't buy it if...

You want great all-round audio
In terms of sound quality, the Sony ULT Field 3 is unlikely to wow you. Without ULT mode on, bass sounds too thin, but even when it is active you’ll notice a lot of compression at high volumes and treble especially can get quite harsh. I’d recommend checking out our guide to the best party speakers if you want a more sonically talented alternative.

You’re on a budget
The ULT Field 3 simply isn’t great value – particularly when it’s not on sale. You can do better for $199 / £179. But you don’t even have to spend that much. If you want a great speaker without having to spend all too much, I’d recommend checking out options like the five-star JBL Flip 7, or for something a little larger, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2.

Sony ULT Field 3 review: also consider

Sony ULT Field 3

JBL Charge 5

Sonos Roam 2

Price

$199 / £179 / AU$329

$179.95 / £169.99 / AU$199.95

$179 / £179 / AU$299

Drivers

1x 86 x 46mm woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter

1x 30W woofer, 1x 10W tweeter

1x tweeter, 1x mid-woofer

Dimensions

10.1 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches / 256 x 113 x 79mm

8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 inches / 221 x 96 x 93 mm

6.6 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches / 168 x 62 x 60mm

Weight

2.6lbs / 1.2kg

2.1lbs / 960g

1lbs / 440g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth 5.1

Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi

Battery life

24 hours

20 hours

10 hours

Waterproofing

IP67

IP67

IP67

JBL Charge 5
If you’re looking for a great-value rival to the Sony ULT Field 3, the JBL Charge 5 is right up there. You get well-balanced, clear audio, plenty of power and a highly durable design. Its battery life is very good, but not quite as high as Sony’s speaker and we still noticed distortion at peak volume. But overall this is a great speaker. With the Charge 6 recently arriving (review coming soon, and we’re expecting great things), you’re also able to pick the Charge 5 up at a massively cut price right now. I’m talking $139 / £119 – that’s amazing value! Read our full JBL Charge 5 review.

Sonos Roam 2
This one’s something a little different, but well worth checking out. Yep, the Sonos Roam 2 is a fair bit smaller than the ULT Field 3, weighs less than half of Sony’s speaker and can’t come close in terms of battery life. But still, I’d choose it over the ULT Field 3, personally. You get surprisingly powerful, yet rich sound quality, Wi-Fi connectivity for seamless streaming, and the same IP67 ruggedness. We’ve also seen it on sale for less than $140 / £140 in 2025, so keep an eye out for juicy deals if you’re sold on this Sonos speaker. Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review.

Sony ULT Field 3 review: how I tested

Sony ULT Field 3 on table against pink background

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for one week
  • Mainly used in our music testing facility at Future Labs
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I put the Sony ULT Field 3 to the test for a one week period (after a thoroguh run-in of 15 hours), tinkering with all of its features, blasting hours worth of tunes and assessing all aspects of its design. I predominantly tested in our music testing room at Future Labs in order to judge audio quality in an isolated, controlled environment.

When listening to music, I mainly used Tidal, but I occasionally played songs via Spotify too. I initially streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to music from my own personal library.

I’ve tested all sorts of audio gear during my time here at TechRadar, from flagship headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6 through to home cinema products like the Marshall Heston 120. I’ve reviewed a large array of speakers along the way from brands like Sony, LG and JBL, so I have a strong understanding of the ULT Field 3’s rivals, as well as what it takes to stand out as a strong candidate in a highly competitive market.

Bose’s SoundLink Plus Bluetooth speaker outperforms its portable dimensions…unless you need it in a rush
4:00 pm | June 26, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Comments: Off

Bose SoundLink Plus: Two-minute review

The Bose SoundLink Plus fits the gap between the SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max nicely. Like its two older siblings, the SoundLink Plus is a sturdy, silicone-and-steel speaker that has an impressive IP67 rating against dust and moisture, can be controlled either via an app or by using buttons on the speaker itself, and will play nicely with other speakers in the Bose line-up.

Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive compatibility and multi-point connectivity is a decent start. A mid/bass driver and a tweeter supported by four passive radiators is welcome specification too, even if Bose is doing its usual thing of failing to quote power, frequency response or any other even mildly interesting information. And battery life of 20 hours (with a following wind) looks good too, especially when you consider a) the speaker’s USB-C slot can also output, as well as receive, power, and b) the battery can be replaced if and when the need arises.

As far as performance goes too, it’s established SoundLink business as usual. Which means expansive and full-figured low frequencies, plenty of detail across the board, direct and informative midrange and a top end that doesn’t get carried away with itself.

One of the best Bluetooth speakers around then, just like it's big brother? Well, in this instance, the SoundLink sonic recipe also means bass sounds that could be better controlled and, as a consequence, rhythmic expression that isn’t as convincing as it might be. Whether or not this is a deal-breaker when balanced against everything the Bose does well will very much depend on you…

Bose Soundlink Plus review: Price and release date

  • Available from June 26, 2025
  • Priced $269 / £249 / AU$429

The Bose SoundLink Plus is on sale from June 26, 2025, and in the United Kingdom it costs £249. In the company’s native United States it sells for $269, while in Australia you’re looking at AU$429.

That puts it, as you'd expect, a good deal cheaper than the June 2024-issue Bose SoundLink Max it joins in the range, which made its debut at $399 / £399 / AU$599 and hasn't seen too many dips in price since (partly because it is a fantastic speaker).

But it's still a fair bit pricier than our top Bluetooth speaker pick, the JBL Flip 7, which arrived in March 2025 and can be yours for $149 / £129 / AU$179.

Has Bose's gamble paid off? Let's dig in!

Bose SoundLink Plus on Brighton Beach pebbles, with the old pier in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Bose SoundLink Plus review: Specs

Weight:

1.45kg

Dimensions:

99 x 231 x 86mm (HxWxD)

Battery life (quoted):

20 hours

Connectivity:

Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive codec support

Drivers:

1x mid/bass driver, 1x tweeter, 4x passive radiators

Aux-in:

No

Charger port:

USB-C

Microphone:

No

Waterproof rating:

IP67

Bose SoundLink Plus review: Features

  • Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive codec support
  • Mid/bass driver, tweeter, four passive radiators
  • Up to 20 hours of battery life

The SoundLink Plus uses Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity, and is compatible with SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive codecs. There’s multi (for which read ‘two') -point connectivity available, too.

Once your digital audio content is on board the Bose, it’s delivered by a speaker driver array consisting on a mid/bass driver, a tweeter, and no fewer than four passive radiators. Bose being Bose, of course, the size and composition of these drivers, their position within the cabinet, and the amount of power that’s driving them, is privileged information. And that’s also the case where the type of amplification the Plus uses, and the frequency response it’s capable of achieving, are concerned too.

If you’re judicious about the volume level you listen at, you should be able to listen to the Plus for as much as 20 hours between charges; if you’re not, you’ll be lucky to get five hours of action. Should the worst happen and your Bose runs flat, charging it back to ‘full’ takes a lazy five hours – although the USB-C slot on the rear of the chassis can also be used as a power output if you need to charge your smartphone or what-have-you. The battery can be replaced by Bose service engineers should the need ever arise, which is a nice nod to a more sustainable tech future too.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

Bose SoundLink Plus on Brighton Beach pebbles, with the old pier in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Bose SoundLink Plus review: Design

  • 99 x 231 x 86mm (HxWxD)
  • IP67
  • Choice of three finishes

You’ll make your own mind up about the way the Bose SoundLink Plus looks, and you’ll certainly have an opinion about the available finishes (black, ‘dusk’ blue or the acidic ‘citrus’ yellow), but there’s no arguing with the hardiness of this 99 x 231 x 86mm (HxWxD) speaker.

Thanks in large part to the use of soft-touch silicone in its construction, the Bose is shock-proof. Thanks to an IP rating of IP67, it’s basically immune to the effects of dust and water – in fact, Bose claims it’s perfectly happy being submerged in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes at a time. The SoundLink Plus floats, though, so you’d have to be pretty patient to test this out definitively. And thanks to a loop of sturdy nylon rope at one end of the chassis, the speaker’s 1.45kg weight can be borne by the strap of a bag or something like that.

Like the larger SoundLink Max, the front of the Plus is a powder-coated steel grille. At the rear there’s a smaller perforated grille, along with a USB-C slot that can move power in either direction.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Bose SoundLink Plus on Brighton Beach pebbles, with the old pier in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Bose SoundLink Plus review: Sound quality

  • Spacious, detailed and punchy presentation
  • Impressive dynamic headroom
  • Not the last word in rhythmic positivity

It’s not, strictly speaking, a game of two halves because the positives in the way the SoundLink Plus sounds are much more numerous than the negatives. But equally, this Bose is not what I can truthfully describe as an ‘all-rounder’.

As far as the positives go, they are plentiful and gratifying. With a Qobuz-derived hi-res FLAC file of Boring and Weird Historical Music by Telemachus playing, the fractionally warm tonal balance makes a lot of sense and the speaker’s ability to extract plenty of detail throughout the frequency range is straightforwardly impressive. The direct nature of the midrange allows voices to reveal plenty of character and attitude along with the more usual information regarding tone and technique. And at the top of the frequency range, the SoundLink Plus attacks with well-judged gusto, bringing a bit of bite and shine to treble sounds without straying into hardness – even if you’re playing at big volumes (which you won’t be, because it affects battery life so fundamentally).

Bose, of course, isn’t saying how much power is available here, but whatever the specific number it’s more than enough to ensure the SoundLink Plus has more than enough dynamic headroom to deal with the shifts in intensity and/or volume that pepper this recording. The speaker is happy to go very loud indeed without altering its overall sonic characteristics, and when playing at more considered volumes its ability to identify and contextualise even very transient details of harmonic variations is pretty impressive.

And as well as dealing in outright volume, the Bose also creates a large soundstage by the standards of reasonably compact single-enclosure speakers. There’s a sensation of space that’s by no means a given when listening to wireless speakers at this sort of money, an openness that means even involved recordings like Radiohead’s The National Anthem are fairly easy to follow on an individual-instrument basis.

The SoundLink Plus has fairly even frequency response inasmuch as no area is underplayed or overstated to any great degree – but it doesn’t integrate the lowest frequencies with everything happening above them as smoothly as it might. The amount of punch and low-end substance the speaker can summon is impressive, certainly, but there’s a relative lack of control where attack and decay are concerned that means the plentiful bass can drag at tempos a little. Rhythmic expression isn’t as naturalistic as it might be, and low-frequency information can sound just a little estranged from the otherwise-unified presentation.

  • Sound quality: 4/5

Bose SoundLink Plus review: setup & usability

  • App or button control
  • Two SoundLink Plus can form a stereo pair
  • No mics means no voice control

There’s a mildly recessed strip of physical controls across the top of the SoundLink Plus – the action is rubbery but quite positive at the same time. Here’s where you can deal with ‘power on/off’, ‘volume up/down’, ‘play/pause’, Bluetooth pairing, and also access a ‘shortcut’ button.

The function of the ‘shortcut’ button can either be ‘access Spotify’ or ‘speaker link’ – you’ll define what you want it to do in the Bose control app that’s free for iOS and Android. ‘Access Spotify’ doesn’t really require any further explanation, but it’s worth noting that ‘speaker link’ allows two SoundLink Plus to form a stereo pair, or any other Bose speaker with a ‘shortcut’ button of its own to share content.

Other app functions include EQ presets and a three-band equaliser to create some settings of your own. There’s the ability to check for firmware updates, and an indication of remaining battery power. As is standard Bose practice, the app is nothing much to look at but is stable, logical and useful.

  • Setup & usability: 4.5/5

Bose SoundLink Plus review: Value

The SoundLink Plus is decent value for money, no two ways about it. Yes, it can be bettered for battery life and for charging time, and there are speakers out there with more comprehensive control options. But it’s built to last (and thanks to that IP67 rating, to last anywhere), looks good, and is potent enough to fill even quite large spaces with sound. Sound that’s reasonably balanced, unarguably punchy and actually quite revealing, what’s more.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Bose SoundLink Plus on Brighton Beach pebbles, with the old pier in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Bose SoundLink Plus?

Bose SoundLink Plus

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Strong app support

4.5/5

Design

Robustly made and beautifully (Bose-fully?) finished

4.5/5

Sound quality

Bold and thoroguhly Bose once more, if just a tad lethargic through the bass

4/5

Value

However you look at it, it's a contender at the level

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You’re genuinely careless
The SoundLink Plus is IP67-rated, so dust and moisture even in quite large quantities are no problem

You’re never far from the pool
The Bose speaker floats, which means it’s even more fun in the pool than those inflatables…

You enjoy robust, power-packed sound
‘Punchy’ is almost too mild a word to put the sonic character of this speaker into perspective

Don’t buy it if…

You like to listen loud
The SoundLink will go loud, sure enough, but big volumes affect battery life quite significantly

You’re in a hurry to listen
If you run the battery flat, it will be five hours before it’s fully charged again

You’re all about the dancefloor
Other wireless speakers at similar money are more confident and adept when it comes to rhythmic expression

Bose SoundLink Plus review: Also consider

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation
Recently, we heard and fully enjoyed this lovely little contender. Yes, it’s smaller and sounds less powerful than the Bose and yes, it’s more expensive – but it’s a profoundly accomplished listen and one of the more straightforwardly desirable Bluetooth speakers around.
Read more in our Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen review

Sonos Roam 2
The more adventurous can also consider the second-generation Sonos Roam. It’s handily cheaper than the Bose, even more portable, and it looks and feels good. It’s not the loudest speaker this sort of money can buy you, and there’s always the nagging doubt that the control app will strangle itself again but, like I say, it’s one for the adventurous.
See our in-depth Sonos Roam 2 review for the full story

Bose SoundLink Plus on Brighton Beach pebbles, with the old pier in the background

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Bose SoundLink Plus

  • Tested for two weeks
  • Dual sources used: iPhone 14 Pro and a FiiO M15S digital audio player
  • Listened in my home and on the beach

Thanks to its multipoint connectivity, I was able to connect my Apple iPhone 14 Pro and my FiiO M15S digital audio player to the SoundLink Plus at the same time – switching between the two gave a great indication of how well the Bose can perform when it’s given the best shot where codec compatibility is concerned. I listened to lots of music, of different styles and various file sizes, along with a fair amount of spoken word stuff, and I listened in my home and down on the beach. It’s a tough job, and so on…

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: June 2025
« Previous PageNext Page »