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Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review
1:00 pm | August 18, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Comments: Off

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3: Two-minute review

Time flies, doesn’t it? This is now the eighth generation of Bowers & Wilkins’ entry-level 600 Series of loudspeakers, and the 607 S3 is the smallest and most affordable member of the range. It’s also the most expensive cheap loudspeaker the company has ever made.

A glance at the specification (25mm double-dome tweeter, 130mm Continuum mid/bass driver, and a whole stack of upgrades both where crossover and cabinet construction are concerned) and at the standard of build and finish lets you know where that money has gone, though – and goes some of the way to explaining why they'll enter our best stereo speakers roundup very soon. 

It’s always been possible to buy less expensive loudspeakers than Bowers & Wilkins, but if you bite the bullet and spend the money, it won’t take long for your investment to seem very wise indeed.

By the standards of a compact standmounter, the 607 S3 produce a remarkably open and assertive sound. They have scale and rigorous soundstaging on their side, frankly unlikely dynamic headroom and an excellent facility for detail retrieval. They seem to like every single genre of music, too - and not just in an analytical, “here’s every shred of information” kind of way. They’re an energetic and entertaining listen that seem fully aware that the business of listening to music is meant to be as enjoyable and emotionally rewarding as possible.

So yes, you can spend your money on a bigger, louder loudspeaker than this - of course you can. But if you’re not trying to fill a great big space with sound, and if you want to put your foot on the ownership ladder of one of the biggest names in the business, the 607 S3 absolutely demand your attention.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Price & release date

  • Released September 3, 2023
  • Priced $899 / £549 / AU$1,149 (approx)

The Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 standmount speakers were unveiled in September 2023 alongside three other S3-suffixed 600-series models, and in the United Kingdom they’re routinely available at £549 per pair. In the United States they go for $899 tops, while in Australia they sell for AU$1149 or something very like it.

So while this is the most affordable way to acquire a new pair of Bowers & Wilkins passive stereo loudspeakers, you’ll never mistake the 607 S3 for being especially cheap – profoundly credible alternatives from profoundly credible brands like Dali (see the five-strong Dali Rubikore range), Monitor Audio (check out our Monitor Audio Studio 89 review) and Q Acoustics (see the M40 HD for starters) many of which can be had for less money than this. So what makes the 607 S3 so special?  

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Features

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wlkins)
  • 25mm titanium double-dome tweeter
  • 130mm Continuum mid/bass driver
  • Rear-firing bass reflex port

Yes, the 607 S3 is the junior member of the most affordable Bowers & Wilkins passive loudspeaker line-up. But don’t imagine that status means that it’s had less attention paid to its features than all of its other, more expensive, siblings.

The tweeter arrangement, for example, is now built mostly from titanium (rather than of aluminium as it has been in previous 600-series models). It’s a 25mm decoupled double-dome design, using a thin (25µm) dome reinforced by a 30µm ring, and the switch to titanium allows (according to Bowers & Wilkins) for greater refinement and detail at the top of the frequency range. 

The tube-loading assembly in which the tweeter sits is longer than previously (in an effort to minimise the rearward standing waves that result from the twitter’s activity), and the tweeter itself is protected by a grille the design of which is derived from the company’s flagship 800 Signature series of speakers. This, too, is deployed in an effort to create greater space and refinement in the tweeter’s output.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

The tweeter sits closer to the mid/bass driver beneath it than previous – the 130mm Continuum assembly is mostly carried over from the previous 600 Signature series, but now it features a beefed up motor assembly derived from the 700 S3 range. And the eagle-eyed will notice it’s a little higher up in the cabinet and a little closer to the tweeter as a result - Bowers & Wilkins reckons it improves integration between the drivers and allows the mid/bass unit to generate a little more energy.

At the rear of the cabinet there’s a bass reflex port positioned above some newly upgraded speaker cable terminals (they’re intended to offer a cleaner signal path). And on the inside, the cabinet bracing is upgraded – so rigidity is improved. The crossover components have been upgraded too, in an effort to bring even greater transparency to the sound.  

  • Features score: 5/5

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Sound quality

  • Refinement and entertainment in fairly equal measure
  • Dynamic and detailed in every circumstance
  • Careless system-matching will be exposed

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wlkins)

‘Zest’ is an underused word in hi-fi, I think, so let’s start there. No matter the sort of music you like to listen to, the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 deliver it with zest. Oh, they can do the ‘insight’ and ‘analysis’ things with the best of their price-comparable rivals, but what sets them apart from those alternative designs is the zest and enthusiasm of their delivery. There’s nothing feral about these loudspeakers, but there’s an energy and a desire to entertain that is a fair bit more difficult to come by.

So it doesn’t matter if you try out a nice big hi-res file of David Bowie’s Hallo Spaceboy or a CD-standard file of Anastasia Coope’s Woke Up and No Feet, the results are – broadly speaking – the same. Low-frequency activity is given decent depth and notable speed, along with plenty of variation; the 607 S3 have no difficulty expressing rhythms in a convincing manner. The midrange is open and eloquent, so these two profoundly idiosyncratic vocalists have their character and attitude made apparent. Midrange projection is good too, so there’s always a pocket of space for a singer to operate in – even though they’re always nicely integrated into the overall presentation, rather than sounding remote or removed.

There’s plenty of dynamic headroom available, so the Bowie tune gets its changes in attack and intensity described faithfully. Detail levels are very high in every respect, so the smaller harmonic variations and changes in emphasis in the recording are paid attention to as well. And thanks to a soundstage that’s bigger than the physical size of the speakers might seem capable of creating, it’s easy to follow these fluctuations no matter where they occur. 

They’re an upfront and fairly assertive listen, the 607 S3. And in almost every way, these are welcome and actually quite valuable traits – it generally translates into a vivacious, spirited and engaging presentation. But it also means that a moment’s care with system-matching is in order, because the Bowers & Wilkins have high-frequency characteristics that are not beyond provocation. 

The treble sound the 607 S3 produce is just as detailed, just as convincing and just as nicely tonally balanced as all of the information below it. But in a system with treble-forward amplification, being fed by a source player with similar characteristics, the result can easily become rather too much of a good thing. The Bowers & Wilkins are quite assertive enough at the top of the frequency range without being goaded.

But in every other respect, feel free to throw caution to the wind. The 607 S3 are musical and entertaining, poised and attentive, dynamic and detailed in equal measure, and seem to enjoy every single one of your favourite styles of music. They may not have the out-and-out scale of the bigger speakers this sort of money can buy – how could they? – but when it comes to musicality, energy and, yes, zest, it’s hard to know how your money could be any more wisely spent.        

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Design

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)
  • 300 x 165 x 207mm (HxWxD)
  • Choice of three finishes
  • 4.65kg

You can’t really expect much by way of ‘design’ to happen where (relatively) affordable standmounting speakers are concerned – and, sure enough, not much has happened here. That’s not to say the 607 S3 aren’t harmonious lookers, or aren’t built and finished to a very high standard – they are. It’s just that they look exactly as you’d expect.

At 300 x 165 x 207mm (HxWxD) they’re the smallest stereo speakers in all of Bowers & Wilkins-land, and at 4.65kg they aren’t going to put any kind of pressure on your shelves or wall-brackets if that’s how you decide to position them.

Equally, a choice of black, white or light(ish) oak vinyl-wrap finishes isn’t going to startle anyone. The oak finish comes with a contrasting white front baffle, which is about as close to a design flourish as the 607 S3 get. 

  • Design score: 5/5

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Value

You can buy bigger, more imposing loudspeakers for this sort of money – and I mean both physically and sonically. But if you’re in the market for a compact, high-achieving standmounter at this kind of price, it’s hard to know how to better spend your cash. Add in the excellent standard of build and finish, along with the ‘if you know, you know’ brand logo, and the 607 S3 represent very good value indeed.

Should I buy the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3?

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 loudspeaker

(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

Buy them if...

Space is at a premium
These speakers prove that small can sound beautiful

You enjoy an energetic and entertaining sound
There’s plenty of refinement here, but there’s even more brio

Space is at a premium
These speakers prove that small can sound beautiful.

Don't buy them if...

Your system is very treble-happy
It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

You’re expecting tactility
These speakers are very well made and very well finished - but ‘luxurious’ is not a word that applies.

You want to fill a big room with sound
There are plenty of speakers at this sort of money that can shout louder than the 607 S3.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 review: Also consider

If the size of these cabinets is a big attraction, then the only-slightly-larger and similarly priced Dali Oberon 3 are well worth a listen – they don’t have quite the vim of the 607 S3. That said, the splendid Monitor Audio Studio 89 do – although they're quite a bit more expensive. 

Want something smaller, wireless, and slightly cheaper? The Ruark MR1 MkII Bluetooth stereo speakers are worth a look. 

But if you’re after a physical representation of the money you’ve spent (and you have an appropriately sized space in which to put them) the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 have plenty to recommend them beyond how very large they are. 

Rekkord Audio F300 turntable review: a classy, fully automatic budget deck let down by a lack of punch and drive
3:11 pm | August 15, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Turntables | Comments: Off

Rekkord Audio F300: Two-minute review

The idea that the man who operates turntable hero Pro-Ject might require another brand building and selling record players might seem an odd one – but Heinz Lichtenegger (for it is he) sees Rekkord Audio as the perfect method of filling in gaps in the Pro-Ject line-up. Specifically those gaps marked ‘automatic operation’.

So the Rekkord Audio F300 (hand-made, like the rest of the Rekkord Audio range, in the Black Forest) is a fully automatic turntable, arrives with its cartridge and even its belt pre-fitted, and is about as close to ‘plug and play’ as a product of this type ever gets. It’s properly built and finished, too – so the asking price seems absolutely fair enough.

Or. at least, it does until you get down to the business of actually ‘playing a record’. The F300 is a fine-sounding device in many ways – it’s detailed and forgiving, able to flow through rhythms and tempos with complete assurance, and creates a convincing soundstage on which the action can unfold.

But it’s ‘action’ that exposes the Rekkord Audio’s few shortcomings and marrs its bid to enter our best turntables buying guide. It’s not an especially dynamic listen when it comes to tracking shifts in volume or intensity, and it’s overtly short of outright ‘punch’ when it comes to describing bass sounds.

So ultimately it comes down to your own personal scenario. That there are more complete-sounding turntables available at this sort of money is undeniable. But if the fully automatic convenience of the F300 excites you (and that's understandable – nobody likes harming vinyl), it’s currently about as good as you’re going to get at the price. 

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Price and release date

Rekkord Audio turntable

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

The Rekkord Audio F300 automatic turntable is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it sells for £549. It’s available to American customers for $599, but currently no price is quoted for the Australian market – if exchange rates are anything to go by, you’re looking at AU$1,049 or something quite like it.

There's no shortage of well-regarded turntables from well-regarded brands available at this sort of money, chief of which might be the excellent ProJect Debut Carbon Evo. But Rekkord Audio reckons it has a worthwhile point of difference…  

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Features

  • Fully automatic operation
  • Audio Technica AT91 moving magnet cartridge
  • Captive RCA connections and grounding lead

The obvious feature, and the feature Rekkord Audio is understandably most pleased about, is its fully automatic operation. Hands not as steady as they used to be? Hand/eye coordination not all it might be? The F300 is here to help.

Better still, the F300 is not only fully automatic but it’s quiet and reliable with it. Set the controls to the desired rpm, and press the ‘start’ control – the Rekkord Audio takes care of the rest. About my only gripe concerns the F300’s insistence that 12in discs spin at 33.3rpm and 7in discs at 45rpm. So, anyone who wants to listen to a 45rpm 12in single will have to cue it up manually and take it off manually at the end of the side. Which takes a bit of the shine off the ownership experience, no two ways about it. 

Rekkord Audio F300 turntable

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

The F300 is hard-wired for stereo RCA and grounding wire connections, which adds to its ‘plug-and-play’ credentials but does mean you’ve no possibility of upgrading. The Audio Technica AT91 cartridge that arrives pre-adjusted and attached to the headshell that is, in turn, pre-attached to the 211mm low-mass aluminium tonearm is a very capable item – but again, it seems optimised for the role and upgrading doesn’t seem to have been factored in. Still, all you need to do is adjust tracking weight and dial in the appropriate anti-skate setting, and the F300 is good to go. Added to the automatic operation, it makes the whole ownership experience about as painless as it realistically can be. Even the belt that moves the aluminium platter is pre-fitted when you take the player out of its packaging.

  • Features: 4.5/5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Sound quality

The Rekkord Audio F300 turntables.

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)
  • Nicely tranquil and fluent sound
  • Good detail retrieval and pleasant rhythmic expression
  • Not especially dynamic or at all punchy

There’s a Paul Simon song that opens with the line, “Well, I’m accustomed to a smooth ride”. It seems unlikely to me that he is referencing the Rekkord Audio F300 (especially as the song in question is getting on for 35 years old), but nevertheless it sprang to mind when I first heard the F300 in action, and I haven’t been able to shift it. 

Because if there’s one thing the F300 offers, it’s a smooth ride. In fact, you could do a lot worse than listen to something like The Rhythm of the Saints (the Paul Simon album from which that line is taken) if you want to hear the Rekkord Audio at its most comfortable and consequently at its best. It fairly glides along in the most natural and unforced manner, handling rhythms and tempos with a deft certainty, digging out plenty of detail at every stage and offering plenty of midrange insight. It has a fair amount of bite at the top of the frequency range, creates a large and plausible soundstage, and has a slightly-warmer-than-neutral tonality that suits the material well.

There’s a pleasing unity to its presentation, and it gives every aspect of the frequency range equal billing. It’s alert to even very minor details, and is able to contextualise them both in terms of their weighting and their position on the stage.   

Rekkord Audio F300 turntables

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

Unfortunately, it’s not even remotely difficult to take the F300 out of its comfort zone where it is, obviously, far less comfortable. A heavyweight reissue of Aphex Twin’s timeless Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92 makes the point in unequivocal fashion – the F300 may be alert to small dynamic variations in instruments or voices, but it’s not all that adept at dealing with the big dynamic shifts associated with changes in attack or intensity. The distance between the quietest and loudest moment of this record is no distance at all when described by the Rekkord Audio.

Equally problematic is the relative lack of low-end punch the F300 is able to summon. It has no problem expressing the rhythms of this recording with positivity, but the best it can summon is a sort of mild ‘shove’ where you just know the music wants to hit with greater determination. This lack of rigour, allied to the easy-going overall nature of the F300’s delivery, conspires to serve up a presentation that’s probably most politely described as ‘tepid’. Which is no one’s idea of what Aphex Twin should sound like, let’s face it.

  • Sound: 3/5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Design

  • Perspex dust-cover
  • Single-piece MDF plinth
  • Decoupled sub-chassis

A closeup of the Rekkord Audio F300 turntable

(Image credit: Rekkord Audio)

It’s not easy to make a mainstream record player look anything other than ‘a rectangle with a circle on it’ – and Rekkord Audio hasn’t tried. The F300 looks exactly as you might expect, in a good way.

It’s very nicely built and finished, though, and feels the part just as much as it looks it. The three available finishes (satin black or silver are available as well as the ‘stirling oak’ wood veneer of my review sample) look good, and in the case of the wood veneer model there’s a degree of tactility in the fairly deep grain, too. The plinth is of a single, relative chunky, piece of MDF – a material valued for its rejection of resonances – and the clear Perspex dust-cover on top of it is mildly angled and consequently mildly interesting in visual terms. 

The F300 is distinct from the less expensive models in the Rekkord Audio line-up thanks to the floating sub-chassis that’s visible beneath the aluminium platter. The platter itself, the tonearm assembly and the components that control the automatic operation are all decoupled from the main body of the chassis – and so the theoretical benefits where isolation from internal and external vibrations are obvious.

  • Design: 4.5/5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Usability and setup

A close-up of the Rekkord Audio F300 turntable arm.

(Image credit: Future/Simon Lucas)
  • Minimal user input into set-up
  • Even more minimal input needed when playing a record
  • ...Sit back and listen

It’s hard to know how setting up or operating the F300 could be any simpler or more straightforward. If you can’t get a sound out of this record player within minutes of taking it from its box, you should probably have a word with yourself.

There’s a wall-wart mains adapter in the packaging that needs to be plugged in. The captive RCA leads and grounding lead need to be attached to your amplifier, wireless speaker or what-have-you. The aluminium platter needs positioning, the counterweight needs adjusting – as does the anti-skate control. And then you just need to take the plastic guard off the cartridge. You are now set up.

And, of course, the whole point of the F300 relative to most of its rivals is its ease of usability. Select the speed at which you’d like the platter to turn. And then, having put a record on the platter, push ‘start’. The job is very much done.

  • Usability and setup: 5

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Value

As a painless-to-own, easy-to-use turntable that’s properly built and finished, it’s difficult in the extreme to fault the value that Rekkord Audio is offering with the F300. Whether or not it sounds like the money’s-worth is, admittedly, a slightly different question - the answer will depend quite strongly on whether you consider the words “laid back” to be especially positive or not… 

Should I buy the Rekkord Audio F300?

Buy it if...

You value convenience
The F300 is as convenient as they currently come.

You admire good engineering
There’s no arguing with the quality of construction here, nor the standard of the engineering involved.

You like an easy-going sound
To be honest, ‘easy-going’ is to understate it somewhat.

Don't buy it if...

You own a lot of 12in singles
Rekkord Audio is adamant: 12in records turn at 33.3rpm, 7in records at 45rpm.

You enjoy upgrading your equipment
The captive leads and the cosy nature of the relationship between tonearm and cartridge don’t lend themselves to upgrades.

You admire a punchy sound
You have a stack of choice if you want a more assertive-sounding turntable. None of the alternatives are automatic, though.

Rekkord Audio F300 review: Also consider

If it’s the automatic operation that’s brought you this deep into the Rekkord Audio F300 review, you won’t find too many alternatives that perform to this sort of standard. If, however, you’re simply in the market for the best-sounding turntable this sort of money can buy, you most definitely have options – Pro-Ject and Rega (see in particular the Rega Planar PL1) are probably the most high-profile turntable brands with very capable machines at this sort of price.

How I tested the Rekkord Audio F300

I plugged its captive RCA connections into my Naim Uniti Star amplifier via a Cambridge Audio phono stage, from where it played through a pair of Audiovector QR-1 SE loudspeakers, and also into the ‘aux’ input of a KEF LS60 wireless speaker system. I played 12in and 7in records of all types, all vintages and various conditions (although I steered clear of those LPs it appears someone has been eating off). And I didn’t stop for the thick end of a week.  

JBL Clip 5 review: an affordable portable speaker with fantastic sound
4:54 pm | August 14, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

The JBL Clip 5 is reasonably priced at $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95 and is available in the US, the UK, and Australia. Considering that the JBL Go 4 costs $49.95 / £39.99 / AU$59.95, if your budget can stretch to the JBL Clip 5 the extra investment will return big gains in sound quality and volume levels.

From minute one I was impressed with what this compact Bluetooth speaker had to offer. The Clip 5 is a satisfying mix of durability, practicality, and enjoyable sound in a small package. Is it one of the best Bluetooth speakers around? All in good time. 

The JBL Clip 5 is covered in woven fabric on the front and back, with a silicone mid-section. It has a large plastic carabiner on the top that's easy to open and clip onto things. I’ve had it hanging from door handles, the bathroom mirror, and shelving units amongst other places, and could easily change up its position to allow for the best listening experience. 

There are silicone strips on the back of the speaker body for added stability when the speaker is placed face-up on a surface, and the JBL logo on the front of the speaker is also made from silicone. Above the logo are the play/pause button and the volume up and volume down buttons. These have icons that represent the respective functions – so, a triangular 'play' icon, and plus and minus signs – and I found them satisfying to press. Within the silicone area on the left-hand side of the speaker sit the power, Bluetooth and Auracast buttons.

A close up of the carabiner on the top of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

This pint-sized speaker measures just 3.4 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches / 86 x 134.5 x 46mm, but at 10 ounces / 285g, it feels a little heavy for its size. It’s a shame that it's only possible to hang the Clip 5 or lie it on its back; there was many an occasion when it would have been more convenient to stand it on its base, but its pebble-like shape makes it unstable.

The speaker has IP67 water and dust protection, meaning I wasn’t limited to where I could listen to tunes. It quickly became my favorite bath-time companion, and the steam was no issue for it. We also did a dunk test in the TechRadar testing tank, after which the Clip 5 continued to function quite happily, so whether you want to listen to tunes on the beach or do karaoke in the shower, it looks like this speaker can handle it. JBL has adopted a sustainable approach with the Clip 5 by incorporating some post-consumer recycled materials in the design. Great stuff.

A close up of the back of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve read my JBL Go 4 versus feature, you’ll already know I’m a fan of the JBL Portable app's user-friendly interface. It has an attractive, easy-to-use design that makes it a snap to view the battery level, use Stereo Group mode to play in stereo from two speakers, or use the PartyTogether mode to add other JBL speakers into the mix for amped-up sound.

Further features on the app include PlaytimeBoost, which is designed to boost the volume of the music without consuming more battery power, a Product Information section, and an EQ settings section. There are four equalizer profile presets: JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, and Vocal, as well as a customizable EQ profile.

I tested out the Clip 5’s Auracast capabilities by connecting it with a JBL Xtreme 4 and Go 4 speaker. The connection process was easy thanks to PartyTogether mode, and the resulting surround sound effect was impressive. I must admit that my colleague, audio expert Harry Padoan, and I couldn’t help but bop along to the tunes in our music testing room.

A closeup of the control buttons on the side of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

The battery is said to last up to 12 hours on the JBL website. When I tested it by playing our TechRadar testing playlist non-stop at 50% volume, it lasted just under eleven-and-a-half hours, which isn’t bad considering how obnoxiously loud the Clip 5 is when playing at this volume level.

The sound quality of the JBL Clip 5 is pretty impressive considering its size and price. It’s capable of some surprisingly deep bass and delivers this without losing the detail, even when just using the default JBL Signature EQ setting.

When I laid the speaker down, I could feel the bass pounding through the surface it was on. Not only was the bass impactful and dynamic in tracks like Black Eye by Allie X, but it also delivered low-frequency bass impressively well when I listened to Angel by Massive Attack.

A close up of the USB C charging port on the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, there was a shortcoming that became apparent when listening to Black Eye. The vocals came across slightly strained and overpowering when listening to the track at 75% volume. They were brought more into proportion when the volume was reduced to 50%; the bass continued to bounce dynamically across the track, and I could still hear the detail in the vocals. I changed to the Energetic EQ preset to see if this made any improvements. While it did what it said on the tin and added some energy to the instrumental element of the track, the vocals continued to have a sharp edge to them. As was also the case with the JBL Go 4, changing over to the Vocal EQ preset just results in all the elements sounding distorted, as if they were recorded underwater.

When listening to Hit the Road Jack by 2WEI and Bri Bryant, the delivery was satisfyingly atmospheric and immersive considering the size of the Clip 5. The different elements layered together well. The bass was dramatic and impactful, and I could hear the finer details in the background of the track as the beat was building up.

The JBL Clip 5 in black is pictured being held by the carabiner against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Cheaper speakers can struggle with the treble and intensity of some vocal sections on this track, making them sound tinny and strained. The Clip 5 handled it well, but the tinniness did appear at around 75% volume, which seemed to be a running theme when I listened to various tracks. The song Boom Boom by the same artists sounded good at 75%, with plenty of detail and drama, but the highs again began to feel a little harsh; at 50% volume, everything blended together a bit better. So this definitely wouldn’t make a replacement for a party speaker if you wanted to blast out the tunes at a get-together.

Adagio Per Archi E Organo In Sol Minore by the London Philharmonic Orchestra was a satisfying listen with this speaker; there was a clear distinction between the different notes and instruments, but a slightly tinny edge to the sounds of the organ. This will likely only be noticed by audiophiles who are scrutinizing the sound quality, however. I don’t imagine anyone expects perfection at this price point but, actually, outside of the treble troubles, the Clip 5 is certainly reaching for it.

Another enjoyable listen was I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. The guitar and vocals sounded great, and everything was well-proportioned. I could easily hear the detail and depth in Justin’s voice, and the instruments layered together well, with nothing stepping out of line or trying to steal the limelight when it shouldn’t have been.

A close up of the play, pause and volume buttons on the front of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

The difference between the sound quality of the Clip 5 and the cheaper JBL Go 4 is certainly noticeable. While there is of course a $30 price difference to consider, I'd say it’s worth it if you want deeper bass and the ability to blast out some tunes without lugging about a bigger speaker – though there's naturally some sacrifice when it comes to sound quality at the higher end of the volume scale. 

If you're still undecided whether the JBL Clip 5 covers all your bases, we’ve curated a list of the best Bluetooth speakers with alternatives suitable for varied budgets and requirements. We also keep track of the best cheap Bluetooth speaker deals, so it's worth checking back now and then to see if there’s money to be saved.

JBL Clip 5 review: Price & release date

  • List price: $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95
  • Available now in the US, UK, and Australia

The JBL Clip 5 was released in June 2024 and is one of JBL’s first speakers to include Auracast capabilities, along with the Xtreme 4 and Go 4. It’s available directly from the JBL website in the US, UK, and Australia for $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95. 

JBL Clip 5 review: Specs

Should I buy the JBL Clip 5?

The JBL Clip 5 in black is pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

JBL Clip 5 review: Also consider

How I tested the JBL Clip 5

  • I tested the speaker over several months
  • I listened to a variety of music genres and podcasts
  • I played music continuously to determine battery usage

I tested the JBL Clip 5 over a few months. I listened to a variety of music genres, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist that includes tracks ranging from complex and layered instrumentals to deep bass and delicate vocals. This enabled me to determine the speaker's ability to handle different frequencies.

I played our TechRadar playlist on Tidal continuously at 50% volume using the default JBL signature EQ preset to test whether the battery could last up to 12 hours.

I used it to listen to music and podcasts in the TechRadar office, our music testing room, and at home, using Spotify and Tidal from an iPhone 12 Pro and a OnePlus Pad Go.

Sonos Roam 2 review: a great sounding Bluetooth speaker gets even better
8:00 pm | August 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Sonos Roam 2: two-minute review

The Sonos Roam 2 is the brand's latest speaker, and while much of the attention on Sonos lately has been on its app and new Ace headphones, speakers are at the heart of its lineup. These all seamlessly connect with each other for a great listening experience with easy access to plenty of services either in the home or outside. 

The Sonos Roam 2 replaces one of the best Bluetooth speakers, and launched alongside the Sonos Ace headphones with little fanfare and only a handful of changes that were mostly under the hood. The main changes here are an extra button to make setup easier and a slight redesign in terms of colors. 

At $179 / £179 / AU$299, the Roam 2 is certainly not a cheap or an ultra-affordable speaker, but it does get you a Sonos product for that price, and that's what really adds up to a winning device here. Adding a dedicated button on the back lets you more effortlessly switch between using this lightweight speaker on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Furthermore, with either, you'll get a stable, drop-free experience – at least I did during my over two months of testing.

The Roam 2 also fits right in with other Sonos products, offering a rich, clear, and balanced experience that doesn't come across as flat, especially the soundstage. Whether it was Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, The Rolling Stones, or Taylor Swift, the Roam 2 sounded great. Thanks to the Automatic Trueplay feature, it also adjusts the mix on its own to make sure it sounds at the same level wherever you are.

It's also very lightweight and easily movable, with a pretty minimalist design that puts the focus on the music versus some fancy party tricks. The let-down, though, is the battery life and that limits how travel-ready the Roam 2 truly is. At 10 hours it falls behind both more expensive and more affordable speakers, which means you'll want to bring a power bank with you.

I’ve spent about three months with the Roam 2, using it at home, on trips to the Jersey Shore, and even on weekend trips, and it's a great speaker. While it isn't an immediate upgrade if you already have a Roam, unless the single button on the back is driving you crazy, the Roam 2 is an excellent option for someone who wants a terrific-sounding Bluetooth speaker that offers a premium build and a higher-end feature list.

Sonos Roam 2 in 'Wave'

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 Review: Price and release date

  • $179 / £179 / AU$299
  • Available in Black, White, Olive, Sunset, or Wave
  • Released in May 2024

If you're already sold, the good news is that the Sonos Roam 2 is readily available. Regardless of color, the Roam 2 is priced at $179 / £179 / AU$299 and comes in either Black, White, Olive, Sunset, or Wave. 

This isn't cheap by small portable speaker standards – you can get the likes of the JBL Flip 6 for a lot less, which still sound great. However, you won't get Wi-Fi connectivity too there, so the Sonos brings its own value.

In the box, you'll get some documentation and a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging. You can, of course, bring your own cable or use another, but the Roam 2 can also recharge wirelessly. You're not required to invest in the one that Sonos makes, but it does offer a wireless charger that matches perfectly with the design of the Roam 2 for $49.99.

Sonos Roam 2 review: Specs

The top controls on the Sonos Roam 2.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Features

  • The Roam 2 is both a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speaker
  • Automatic Trueplay ensures great playback in any environment
  • 10 hours of battery life will leave you wanting more

While Sonos is declaring this the Roam 2, it could probably pass for a Roam 1.5, given the minute changes here. Then again, considering how stellar a wireless speaker the original Roam was – with excellent playback and connectivity – it allowed the brand to fix its shortcomings. 

The biggest advantage over the sea of other Bluetooth speakers available at, above, or below the price is that Roam 2 is a full-throttle Sonos speaker in every sense. For one, it boasts Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and thanks to the latter, it fully integrates with the Sonos ecosystem. 

Bluetooth makes the Roam 2 easy to use while on a trip, whether it be to another state, country, or simply to a park. As I’ll discuss in the Design section later, Sonos fixed the biggest gripe with the original by adding a dedicated Bluetooth button – above the one for power – on the back. You can easily connect by just holding the Bluetooth button on the back, seeing the light on the front switch to a glowing blue, and connecting from your phone to play easily from your service or library of choice. 

It also eliminates the requirement of using the Sonos app to use the Roam, and even in Bluetooth, it delivers a rich playback experience. Furthermore, both indoors and outdoors, I had zero Bluetooth connectivity issues or dropouts. 

Wi-Fi connectivity is the key to the integration of the Roam 2 with other Sonos products you may already have in your home. I’ve used the ultra-portable speaker with a Beam 2nd Gen, Era 100, Era 300, and Move 2, and it fits right in. I can easily add it to the mix or first start playing on the Roam 2 and then add the other speakers. It’s also a great speaker to carry around in the home to bring music elsewhere… for me, that was to the bathroom, and it serves excellently as a shower speaker. 

While the Sonos app has had its ups and downs, I still like it because it makes it easy to group speakers together succinctly and places most streaming services – be it the big-hitters like Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal, or hundreds of others – under one roof, and lets you get to streaming pretty easily. It’s still a main selling point here and is different from competing Bluetooth speakers. I also really appreciate the integration of "Automatic Trueplay," which lets the Roam 2 automatically adjust the EQ on the fly through onboard microphones for the best playback possible.

It's a major disappointment that Sonos didn’t expand the battery size or the overall runtime. just like the first-generation, the Roam 2 is rated for 10 hours of playback, and that’s exactly what I’ve been hitting with either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth streaming. 

In two tests, I streamed a long playlist of songs and found that Roam 2 streamed playback with the volume at 60% for 10 hours. I was able to use it for most of the day on the beach and several hours at a time during a BBQ function. For both of these, it was on Bluetooth connectivity, but at home, I tend to move the Roam 2 around, but I generally find myself plugging it in; it’s not perfect, but it is a pretty seamless way to solve the maximum 10 hours of playback. Sonos does include a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, but you won’t find a power brick or a wireless charger.

Simply, that’s a bit low for a Bluetooth speaker that costs this much, but it’s not a dealbreaker when you consider the other features here, especially if you want something to play within the broader Sonos ecosystem. 

In a similar vein to battery life here, the microphone situation on the Roam 2 is an interesting one. When on Wi-Fi, you can use the built-in voice microphone with Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control. Through this, it acts like an Echo with the former, and with the latter, you can ask Giancarlo Esposito to play your favorite songs. But when on Bluetooth, you can’t use the Roam 2 as a speakerphone or for conference calls. A little strange, but in line with the first-generation.

Even with battery shortcomings and microphone oddities on the Roam 2, these features largely support excellent audio quality and minimalist design quite well. This makes Roam 2 an excellent choice for someone who’s already in or brand-new to the Sonos ecosystem. 

While this is more expensive than smaller Bluetooth speakers and even similarly sized ones like the Beats Pill, the Roam 2 feels higher-end, with excellent sound in a simple build. 

  • Features score: 4/5

Sonos Roam 2 in 'Wave'

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Sound Quality

  • Delivers excellent sound that punches far above its size
  • Produces a wide soundstage that doesn't over emphasize bass
  • Great sound quality over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

And simply, that’s an excellent sound that punches far above the sheer size. The Roam 2, like the original Sonos Roam, is powered by a tweeter, mid-woofer, and two class-H digital amplifiers that are all controlled by Sonos’ sound engineering. That’s a lot of tech jargon, but the Roam 2 produces an excellent sound that works for a broad range of artists, and presents low, mid, and high frequencies quite well.

When just paired over Bluetooth, skipping the Sonos app experience, I think most will be happy with the balanced sound. It’s not necessarily heavy on bass, especially with pop tracks, but it does let that element of a song be heard. 

While playing Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, the speaker mimics the wall of sound effects quite nicely, letting you hear the various elements of the mix, including guitars, drums, piano, and saxophone. A live cut of Racing In The Street by the same boss lets the piano opening riff and closing interlude flow across various frequency ranges with zero distortion. That’s powerful on its own, but it sounds great when paired with Springtseen’s vocals and the rest of the band kicking in – saxophone, bass, backing guitars, and drums – all at once. 

For most tracks at moderate volumes reaching, say, 80%, the audio experience is both rich and crisp with a wide soundstage that doesn’t feel like it’s compressing any element. You also have the ability to hop into the Sonos app for Android or iOS to adjust the EQ to your liking. Remember, another benefit here is Automatic Trueplay. Like on other Sonos speakers, it will tap the onboard microphones to help tune the mix in real time – for instance, if it needs to lower or up the bass, depending on where you are using it.

I also really enjoyed pop tracks on the Roam 2, like Apple by Charli XCX, which delivered thumping bass with smooth vocals and EDM sounds layered on top, to bad idea right? by Olivia Rodrigo, which showed how the speaker could handle vocals at varying frequencies. 

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Sonos Roam 2 features a dedicated button for Bluetooth connectivity.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Design

  • The Roam 2 doesn't call much attention to itself with a minimalistic build
  • The addition of a Bluetooth button on the back fixes a major issue with the original
  • It's ready for a trip to the beach or a tumble in a park with a IP67 resistance rating

The Roam 2 largely looks like the original Roam. It’s still super portable, either held in hand or tossed into a backpack at just 0.95 lbs and it stands at about the size of a water bottle. It comes in a few shades, and I’m particularly fond of the “Wave” shade, which is essentially a light blue. It’s easy to spot and a bit more fun without popping too much. 

Compared to the original Roam, the second generation is hard to tell apart. One way is that the Sonos logo on the front is now color-matched to the rest of the speaker. It still sits on top of the front grille, which is where the sound gets pushed out. Unlike competing options from, say, Ultimate Ears, the Roam 2 simply pushes sound out the front. That’s something to keep in mind when placing it.

The Roam 2's top and bottom, or end caps, are rubberized, which makes it easy to stand vertically. However, you can also place it horizontally, and four pegs let it rest easily and not shake too much when you’re playing a rock-roll classic or a pop hit at full blast. 

On the top of the Roam 2, you’ll find four physical buttons – microphone on or off, volume down, play or pause, and volume up. They're all easy to find, and unlike on the Sonos Era 100, they aren’t capacitive. Considering you can take this speaker to the beach and toss it in the sand or use it in the rain, this is probably a good design call. I also successfully used it in those two environments and dunked the Roam 2 a few times. It held up just fine, and that’s thanks to its IP67 resistance rating. 

Sonos’ best design decision with the Roam 2 can be witnessed on the back, though. You might recall that the original only had one physical button on the rear that had to be used to turn the Roam on or off, as well as for connectivity. It was a bit of a pain to use, and as someone who’s had an original Roam since launch, I never really forgot the oddity of it. That is rectified here as there are two buttons on the back – a power button and a Bluetooth pairing one. Rejoice! 

This not only makes it easy to turn the Roam on or off, but you can also power it on and immediately use it without having to connect or pair it with the Sonos app on your Android or iOS device. You can immediately start streaming music from an iPhone or any Bluetooth-enabled device.

Lastly, the Roam 2 has a USB-C port on the back that can be used to charge the speaker. Unlike other options, there is no reverse charging here. Thanks to a Qi unit on the bottom, you can also wirelessly charge the Roam 2. 

On the whole, I was already pretty fond of the Roam 2's design. As we said in our first generation review, it is a “really attractive” Bluetooth speaker that sticks with Sonos’ minimalist focus. It might not be as vibrant or LED light-filled as competing options, but that also lets the focus be on the sound it produces.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Sonos Roam 2

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Sonos Roam 2 review: Value

  • Sonos fixed most of the issues with the original here
  • For the price, you get an excellent piece of hardware with rich sound that's on par with other speakers
  • You can spend less for a great sounding longer-lasting speaker

Whether you have a home-filled with Sonos speakers or are brand new to the connected audio brand, the Roam 2 should be on your sort list for an ultra-portable speaker. It fixes one of the biggest pain points with the original, while still delivering excellent sound in a strong build that comes in some fun shades.

Thanks to the Bluetooth button on the back, you can easily unbox it and get right to playing music if you're away from home. You'll just power the Roam 2 on, hold it in, and connect from your Bluetooth-enabled device to start streaming. The onboard tweeter and woofer deliver a rich, balanced audio experience that can get surprisingly loud for the sheer size, and it outpaces competing Bluetooth speakers.

The Roam 2 also has an edge when it comes to Wi-Fi connectivity, letting it integrate with other Sonos speakers for multi-room audio and, in fact, works with the Sonos app for easy music streaming from a plethora of sources. You can also use the onboard microphone with Amazon Alexa for other smart controls. 

It's not all perfect, though; at $179 / £179 / AU$299, the Roam 2 should last longer than just 10 hours, and you can get more mileage for a lot less. You might also be looking for a more fun design or integration with other platforms that Roam 2 doesn't offer. 

Still, even with a battery life shortcoming, the Roam 2 offers improvements to an already excellent Bluetooth (and Wi-Fi) speaker. While it's not an immediate upgrade for folks with the original – unless you're frustrated by the lack of a Bluetooth button – the Roam 2 is an excellent option for someone who wants excellent sound in an ultra-portable build with simple aesthetics. 

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Sonos Roam 2 in Wave.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Should you buy the Sonos Roam 2?

Buy it if...

You're already in the Sonos ecosystem
I love how the Roam 2 fits right at home with an existing Sonos ecosystem and I can easily carry this around my home, or continue the experience outside. If you already have a Sonos setup, the Roam 2 gives you the best of both worlds. 

You want a simple, ultra-portable speaker
The Roam 2 not only looks great and has plenty of buttons, but it's really easy to take it on the go with you... both near and far.

Don't buy it if...

You need a long-lasting speaker
At just 10 hours of battery life, the Roam 2 is the opposite of a road warrior, so if you want a speaker that can last for days you'll want to look elsewhere.

You don't want to spend a ton
At $179 / £179 / AU$299, the Roam 2 is in the higher-end sector of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers, and while the feature list mostly matches the price tag, there are plenty of cheaper options out there.

Sonos Roam 2 review: Also consider

Beats Pill
Yes, the iconic Beats Pill is back and asides from a strange button situation that reminds me of the first-gen Roam, it's a very well-feature Bluetooth speaker that checks off nearly all of the boxes. It offers rich, booming sound, nearly ultra-long battery life at 24-hours, and pairs seamlessly with an iOS or Android device. Here's our full Beats Pill review for more information.

JBL Flip 6
The JBL Flip 6 is a little older, as it launched in late 2021, but like the Roam 2 is beach-ready with an IP67 resistance rating. It's nearly the same size and offers excellent sound, but it also has a party mode which the Roam doesn't offer while on Bluetooth. You can connect the Flip 6 with up to 100 other JBL speakers with the PartyBoost functionality. IT remains a great buy today, so here's our full JBL Flip 6 review.

Sonos Roam 2 Bluetooth Pairing

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

How I tested the Sonos Roam 2

  • Tested over two months on its own and in conjunction with other Sonos speakers
  • Listened to a range of music over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections
  • Tested in a variety of spaces, both inside and outside

I tested the Sonos Roam 2 for over two months with a long list of my favorite tracks across genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and jazz, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist, which has a wide range of songs. I tried to throw a broad range of tracks at the Roam 2, from Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles to Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Charli XCX. 

Since it works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, I tried the former with several devices, including an iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Mini, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google Pixel Fold, Google Pixel 8, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6. On Wi-Fi, I used it on my pre-existing Sonos system that consists of an Era 100, Roam 1st Gen, Sonos Beam 2nd Gen, Sonos Sub Mini, Sonos Move 2nd Gen, and a Sonos Era 300.

I tested the battery qualitatively in a broad range of places and a formal test to see what it netted out at. I ran it through a long playlist twice with the volume set to 60%.

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: an excellent record player with great built-in amp that’s ideal for beginner audiophiles
1:08 pm | July 30, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Turntables | Tags: | Comments: Off

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1: two-minute review

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is here to change the reputation of all-in-one record players. These have a poor reputation, largely because they're usually built to a very low price, with all the sacrifices that entails. The Juke Box E1 is not like this, because Pro-Ject hasn't built this for budget, it's built it for convenience. This isn't a cheap-o system, and it doesn't look, feel or sound like one either.

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 takes the familiar and good-looking Pro-Ject Primary E1 turntable and adds a built-in phono stage, amplification and Bluetooth receiver to deliver an all-in one sound system – just add speakers. Or grab the bundle that Pro-Ject offers with matching speakers.

If you already have a decent amp, then you'd be better off with one of the stand-alone Pro-Ject E1s, but as a one-box option among the best turntables for beginners who are starting from nothing, this is exceptionally simple to set up and use, and it delivers an impressive performance across all kinds of music. 

At £599 / $799 / AU$999, this is not a super-cheap purchase, but you'd need to spend the same or even more to get a good-quality turntable and separate amplifier of the same level of quality, so it's fair value and compact, in that regard. 

However, if you think you'll become more ambitious in the future, a standard Pro-Ject E1 and separate amp might be more future-proof, since you could replace one without swapping the other.

Juke Box E1 from above

Despite its additional features the Juke Box E1 looks very similar to the E1, E1 Phono and E1 BT turntables. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: price and availability

  • Released in February 2024
  • £599 / $799 / AU$999
  • £799 / $1,199 / AU$1,566

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is available as a stand-alone unit without speakers for £599 / $799 / AU$999, or you can buy it in a bundle with the matching Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 set of stereo speakers for £799 / $1,199 / AU$1,566. 

The price here is more expensive than most other all-in-ones, but it's targeted at a different kind of buyer – one who's got more interest in audio and component quality, but is perhaps short on space or would prefer to avoid the hassle of separates.

The Juke Box E1 is the successor to 2018's Juke Box E, and it was released in early 2024.

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 rear

All the key connections are round back where you'll find line and phono outs as well as the speaker outs. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: Features

  • Includes its own amp
  • Can be used with external amps
  • You can stream to it over Bluetooth

The Juke Box E1 comes with an Ortofon OM 5E cartridge, which is also used to excellent effect in the standard E1: it's a good all-rounder and easily upgradeable. But the most significant features are inside, where you'll find both an integrated phono stage and 2x50W of Class D amplification. That makes this a full hi-fi system: just bring or buy speakers, no separates required. 

The platter here is belt-driven to reduce mechanical noise and in addition to the outputs there's a line in so that you can connect another sound source. You can also stream from your phone via Bluetooth.

As with the E1 there's no start/stop automation: you set and lift the tonearm manually.

  • Features score: 4/5

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1: Audio performance

  • Musical, involving and entertaining
  • Decent bass and airy highs
  • Can go fairly loud

Having previously tested the Pro-Ject E1 we had a good idea of what to expect here when we connected it to the same speakers as before: Pro-Ject's turntables are very musical, and the E1 with the Ortofon OM 5E performs very well with a wide range of genres including classic rock and electronic pop. 

As with the E1, the sound stage was clear and detailed, offering excellent separation of instruments with a largely neutral performance and a bit of warmth. It's the sort of turntable that makes you smile involuntarily as you listen. Bass guitars are tight rather than rubber band-y, layered vocals and synth pads are well positioned and you'll often hear details that other turntables can't deliver quite so well. Lushly recorded music is a particular pleasure, but we had fun annoying the neighbors with noisy guitar rock too. It's a very enjoyable listen.

What's different this time, of course, is that the Juke Box has its own phono stage and amplification – and if you buy the bundle, its own speakers. The amp is rated 2x50W at 4 ohms, and I was impressed by its performance compared to an affordable standalone option.

Whether you're using Pro-Ject's speakers or bringing your own there's a noticeable difference in spaciousness if you're streaming a song over Bluetooth rather than listening to it on vinyl. That's Bluetooth's fault rather than the amp and speakers' fault, but it does feel like you're not making the most of what the Juke Box can do. 

Pro-Ject's own speakers have a frequency range of 55Hz to 20kHz, which is decent for relatively small bookshelf-sized speakers like these and only marginally narrower than the 52Hz to 28kHz of the Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers I normally test with.

Like the B&Ws, they're two-way speakers with bass reflex ports and benefit from careful placement: too far from a wall and they can lack bass; too close and there can be too much of it. I preferred the sound of my B&Ws using the same built-in amp, finding them to be slightly wider and more airy, but the Pro-Ject speakers are still very lively and entertaining.

  • Audio score: 4/5

Juke Box E1 display

There's a status display in the lower right corner of the plinth, but because it's on top you can't see it from across the room. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject E1 review: Design

  • It's a Pro-Ject E1, but chunkier
  • Still good-looking despite the added bulk
  • Retains the zen design of its siblings

As the name suggests, the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 has a lot in common with its sibling, the Pro-Ject E1 – but while they look very similar, the Juke Box is a little more chunky because it's not just a turntable. It also has a significantly larger power supply.

This is the latest generation of the firm's award-winning all-in one, and as before it provides everything you need to enjoy vinyl apart from the speakers (unless you opt for the bundle that includes stereo speakers). What's different from the previous version is that there's a new tonearm, a new drive system for the sub-platter, and a switch to toggle between 33 and 45rpm. 

The Juke Box has the same belt-driven ABS anti-resonant platter as the regular E1, but it's in a slightly different place, presumably because the interior needed to be repositioned to make room for the amplification circuitry. As with the previous Juke Box, there's a small LCD display in one corner of the plinth to show the selected input and its volume, and as before it's on top so it's only visible if you're looking down on the turntable. 

In order to achieve something close to the zen-like simplicity of the normal E1, the Juke Box has hidden some of its controls. The speed switch has been relocated to underneath the front of the plinth, and the on-off switch is on the underside too. Speaker, line in and out and power connectors are round the back. There's a single volume control on the front and the inputs are switched by pressing it or via the included remote control. 

There are four finishes: glossy white, red or black, and a walnut wood grain effect. All come with a clear acrylic dust cover. The cover is in a normal place but opening it will knock the Bluetooth aerial out of position.

  • Design score: 4/5

Juke Box E1 remote

The included remote is straightforward and slim, with a tendency to slide down the side of your chair. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: Usability and setup

  • Extremely user-friendly
  • A small display shows input source
  • Included remote control

The Pro-Ject E1 on which the Juke Box E1 is based is an extremely user-friendly turntable, and the same applies here but even more so: where the E1 still needed to be connected to an amp, the Juke Box has one inside it. As with the E1, the tonearm tracking force is factory pre-set, so it's just a matter of assembling the Juke Box, putting the belt on the pulley, adding the platter and slip mat and connecting your speakers. 

The other main difference here is the display, which standard E1 doesn't have. It's simple and effective, showing the volume level and input source. You can control the volume with the control dial or press it to change inputs. 

Really, the only usability thing missing here is automatic operation, which would certainly be a nice pairing with how generally great this is for beginners – but not everyone wants it, so it's not a real issue that it's missing.

  • Usability score: 4.5/5

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review: Value

  • A decent price for a turntable/amp combination
  • Hard to find a good rival at this price

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is roughly twice the street price of the regular Pro-Ject E1, but for that extra cash you're also getting a powerful amplifier. You'll really struggle to get a decent, separate amp for that amount of money, and of course an all-in-one is more convenient as it takes up less space. In that regard, this thing is excellent value – and having it be a Bluetooth receiver is the icing on the cake.

However, there's a question of the long-term value that it delivers because you obviously don't get any flexibility for future upgrades, if you think you'll want them. You can't swap the amp out for a more powerful one to pair with more capable speakers. You can't swap the turntable out for something with different options while keeping the amp.

If you don't think you'll need to make these changes in the future, or you just don't think you'll mind the cost, then no problem. But it does mean that the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is a double-edged sword when it comes to value – fantastic in the first instance, but with an issue as you get more ambitious.

  • Value score: 4/5

Buy it if...

You don't want separates
The Juke Box contains everything you need to play records apart from speakers, and Pro-Ject will happily sell you a set of those too.

You have eclectic tastes
The supplied Ortofon cartridge is a good option for all kinds of genres.

You appreciate style
Pro-Ject's turntables are beautiful things, even in this slightly more chunky size.

Don't buy it if...

You have a decent amp
The regular E1 model will be a better fit from this specific range.

You'll probably upgrade
If you think you might go down the audiophile road in future, separates offer better upgrading options.

You tend to lose things
The remote here is slim and easy to lose down the side of your chair.

Also consider

Pro-Ject E1
If want an affordable Pro-Ject option and have an amp already, then the amp-less sibling here, the E1, is an ideal option. It's super simple, it's warm and rich sounding, it's very well priced – and it comes in a version with a phono stage, or with Bluetooth, if you prefer. Here's our full Pro-Ject E1 review.

Lenco LS-410
We didn't exactly rave about this record player in our Lenco LS-410 review, but it one-ups the Pro-Ject by including speakers as well, so if you really want to save space and money, take a look.

Pro-Ject Juke Box E1: How I tested

  • Used over several weeks across a ton of records and with streamed Apple Music
  • Tested alongside the Pro-Ject E1
  • Tested with Pro-Ject's optional speakers as well as the reviewer's own; tested with and without integrated amp

I tested the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 at home over several weeks alongside its sibling, the Pro-Ject E1, connected through its own amplifier to both Pro-Ject's own bundled speakers and to my own Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers. 

I also connected the Juke Box to my Onkyo amp, bypassing the Juke Box's own integrated amplifier; as expected it sounded identical to the E1. For both turntables I listened intensely to albums I already know inside out across a wide range of genres from the most luscious yacht rock to rowdy punk and slinky electronic pop.

Beats Pill review: a Bluetooth speaker with style, great sound and… too few buttons
1:30 pm | July 28, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

The Pill is back! Beats' 2012 capsule creation was long overdue an update, wasn't it? Yes, Apple's Beats-branded Bluetooth speaker has been through several iterations in the 12 years since its debut, but even the most recent of those was back in 2015 (and was discontinued by Apple in January 2022). This left a gaping hole in the Bluetooth speaker space. Cut to June 25, 2024, and, following a few careful and thoroughly on-brand celeb leaks, a 2024 Beats Pill finally dropped. And it's cheaper than it was in 2012! But let's not get ahead of ourselves – pricing comes later.

Is the new Beats Pill worthy of a spot in our best Bluetooth speakers buying guide? In so many ways, yes. Right off the bat: the glow-up has worked – it looks great. It's rounder and more tactile: there's a sense of pride in carrying it around. It feels as if it should have a Bang & Olufsen plate on its metal grille and be far more expensive than it is. 

It sounds really good for its size too. This is thanks in no small part to the reworked acoustic architecture under the hood: there's a new single and totally reengineered racetrack woofer (the 2015 Beats Pill+ featured a dual woofer design), helped by stronger neodymium magnets. Apple says the 2024 Beats Pill can drive 28% more motor force to "displace 90% more air volume" and while I don't have a Pill+ to hand to test that claim, I can tell you that the Pill sounds much bigger and more spacious that it's hotdog-esque dimensions would lead you to imagine. It easily provided the tunes for a gathering of six people. 

The high notes are handled by a redesigned solo tweeter (again, just the one, not the two you'd find in the older Plus model) secured in its own housing and the entire array – and metallic grille surrounding it – is now angled up by 20 degrees, so its improved output hits you in the right way. This Pill is also 10% lighter than the last one since Beats has managed to knock 68g / 2.4oz off the weight.

Beats Pill speaker in the sun

(Image credit: Future)

Let's get to the sound first: it's good. The Beats Pill's enviable sonic chops are the reason it gets four stars. The bongo drums at the start of Shed Seven's Dolphin (from a nice Flac file on my laptop via USB-C for better-than-Bluetooth audio – more on this later) start off every bit as quiet as they should, building to Rick Witter's crisp, energetic and nuanced vocal. Jangly guitars, driving bassline and Alan Leach's uncompromising drum fills are all given due diligence in a cohesive mix that still lets those bongos shine as the track intensifies. 

John Frusciante's Omission, from Shadows Collide with People celebrates every supplementary musical passage with zeal and finesse even over Bluetooth 5.3 (and even though only SBC and AAC are supported, so no higher-res codecs). The track's tambourine, female backing vocals, synth, keys and percussion are not only revealed but expertly showcased with texture, in a soundstage that I can only describe as reverent. The album continues to Shift Sync and I'm happy to note a healthy and head-noddingly accurate bass thump from the Beats Pill, too. 

OK, if you're prepared to pay about $30 more for the JBL Charge 5 (and prepared to cart around something that's 332g heavier, or slightly more than a bag of flour) you'll get a sound that's a touch meatier, broader and dynamically agile through the rise and fall of each note. However, the 2021-release JBL is neither as premium-looking nor as perfectly portable, and the Charge 5's 20 hours of playtime is beaten by the Pill's 24-hour stamina. Also, the Pill can be used as a speakerphone during calls, which is a feature I really like and one that seems to be dying out – the JBL Charge 5, for one, has no built-in mic so can't do it. 

Where the JBL model has the upper hand, though, is when it comes to daisy-chaining multiple speakers from its family via the PartyBoost function. Your options for beefing up the Beats Pill's audio is to pair two of them, in either 'Amplify' or 'Stereo' modes – ie. mono or stereo. So if you had visions of purchasing eight or so perfectly paired Pills to dot around your home, you'll be disappointed. 

Beats Pill speaker in the sun

(Image credit: Future)

The Pill supports super-snappy one-touch pairing on both Android and iOS now, plus Find My (on iOS) or Find My Device (Android). Instructions on setting this up can be found by scanning the QR code supplied in the packaging, but a dedicated app might have been an idea on iOS. This is an Apple product in a Beats jacket, so certain Apple ecosystem perks (iCloud pairing to any device within your iCloud account, audio hand-off to your Apple Watch if your iPhone dips out of range) are here.

The thing is, there's no dedicated EQ tab or way to check for remaining juice in the Pill other than by pressing the power button quickly (more on this incoming), which makes a picture of the Pill pop up on my iPhone with a battery life percentage. That said, I like that once paired, my iPhone's volume slider becomes Beats-branded. 

For extra usability bits and pieces on Android, you're directed to the Beats app (requires Android 8.0 or later). For iPhone and iPad users, Beats clearly feels its integration with iOS gets the job done. I'm not sure it's a great decision, though I accept that AirPods don't have a dedicated app on your iPhone either, and, let's face it, they're rather popular. 

Beats Pill speaker in the sun

(Image credit: Future)

The big ace up the Pill's sleeve is that you can use the included USB-C charging cable to charge other portable devices from the Pill, or to enjoy lossless audio from your laptop, phone, or other digital music sources. It's a great USP if you value audio quality. However, it leads me on to my main gripe with the Beats Pill. Look at its top plate and you'll see just four buttons: two for volume, a power/pairing button and a central button. That's simply not enough buttons – especially when you remember there's no iOS app to speak of. 

Let me explain. The power button alone has no fewer than six functions, three of which involve holding it down for a different number of seconds, to make the Pill take effect (as it were). A fourth involves holding it down while simultaneously plugging it into another device quickly (!) so it doesn't think you mean something else. You need to hold the power button down for 0.8 seconds or less to check the battery; more than 0.8 seconds but less than 3 seconds to turn it on or off; more than 3 seconds to initiate pairing. Holding the button down while simultaneously plugging its USB-C port into a source device (which, again, you must do quickly and decisively) should initiate USB-C audio. 

You know what I'm going to say. I often initiated Bluetooth pairing when I meant to turn it off. This is because, after a few presses that didn't register for more than 0.8 seconds, I got a little more heavy-handed and overcooked it. And USB-C audio was only achieved after several attempts where once again, the Pill thought I wanted to initiate pairing rather than hook up a wired connection to my laptop. There's no dedicated 3.5mm port on the Pill and I couldn't get the USB-C cable to work with a 3.5mm dongle to a set of headphones, or a Lightning dongle to my iPhone 12 Pro on the other end of the cable, so it really is true USB-C to USB-C only. 

The Pill's central button handles playback in the usual way (one press for play/pause, two to skip, three to go back) but also can be long-pressed at the same time as the central button on another Pill, to pair them. I didn't test this since I only had one review sample, but again, an app where you see the paired speaker (and what, in which mode, it's connected to) would have helped here. 

Beats Pill speaker outside on a sunny day

(Image credit: Future)

For the money, which is $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$249 (ie. $50 less than the 2012 original) I need you to know that this is a great-sounding, great-looking, well-featured Bluetooth speaker that, thanks to its IP67 rating, is also one of the best waterproof speakers I've tested for sound.

For me, its dimensions and aesthetic (available in Red, Black, or this gorgeous beach-ready 'Champagne Gold' hue) are quite beautiful and I took greater pride in producing it from my bag than I did many of the similarly-priced, 'rugged' and fabric-jacketed rival speakers I've tested to date. If you're a fan of the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) or slightly newer Beosound Explore for looks and sound, you'll love the Beats Pill. 

Beats Pill speaker outside on a sunny day

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Pill review: Price and availability

  • Priced $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$249
  • Released June 25, 2024

The Beats Pill officially arrived on June 25, having been artfully teased in the weeks beforehand. That price pleasantly surprised me since, well, this is still Apple and the 2012 inaugural model cost $50 more. 

Competition is the key driver there, obviously – there's a lot of it about in 2024. For looks, its closest rival is the excellent – but older and significantly more expensive – May 2020-issue Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1. For size and relative newness, you might look to the May 2024-release Sonos Roam 2, which costs $30 / £30 / AU$50 more. That speaker will also hook up to your Sonos system, but it only has a battery life of 10 hours compared to the Beats' 24 hours. Lastly, the JBL Flip 6 can now be yours for around $109 / £99 / AU$169 because it's a 2022 product – and we like it a lot. The downside is that although the Flip offers multiple-speaker PartyBoost connectivity, it's 'just' a Bluetooth speaker otherwise. You don't get the speakerphone capability, ability to charge other devices, or USB-C audio passthrough you get with the Beats Pill. 

Beats Pill review: Specs

Should I buy the Beats Pill?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Beats Pill review: Also consider

How I tested the Beats Pill

  • Tested the speaker for over two weeks
  • Listened over a wired USB-C connection to a Mac and via Bluetooth to iPhone 
  • Tested in a variety of spaces and over calls, to test the speakerphone chops

I tested the Beats Pill for over two weeks. As is our way at TechRadar, I listened to the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes various hi-fi certified testing tracks (think complex instrumentals, thumping basslines and ethereal vocals), plus my own ever-changing playlists. These span everything from tried-and-tested Joni Mitchell favorites to Eminem's new album because why not? Music, too, is ever-evolving – as are we. 

The bulk of my testing was done using my iPhone 12 Pro (yes, I'm still using a Lightning port – but so many of us are!) and my MacBook Pro, which helped me better test it for the iOS ecosystem user. 

Oh, and because I'm committed to the cause, I tested that 24-hour battery life claim at 50% battery. How did I sleep? Intermittently, although I had placed the Beats Pill in a cupboard in my apartment, as far from my bed as possible. I even lined said cupboard with a few pillows. It was still playing 23 hours after my battery test began. I was impressed… a little tired, but impressed. 

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: a very capable, jack of all trades Bluetooth speaker
5:30 pm | July 14, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Comments: Off

Ultimate Ears Everboom: Two-minute review

It would have been very easy for the Ultimate Ears Everboom to falter. Given UE’s storied reputation among the best Bluetooth speakers around, we knew the Everboom would be a solid speaker, but sandwiched between the Ultimate Ears Megaboom (now into its fourth iteration, launched alongside this model) and the inaugural 2023 Ultimate Ears Epicboom it would be easy to get lost in the noise. Would people opt for the more affordable downgrade or be compelled to bypass this and pick up the beefier party-ready option? 

That would be a shame, because the Everboom finds its niche as a near-powerhouse that isn’t a challenge to carry around – in large part thanks to its surprisingly lightweight 960g build and metal carabiner clip replacing the Epicboom’s flimsy strap.

Sonically the Everboom isn’t perfect – at max volume subtle distortions creep in, and audiophiles will notice tunes aren’t as expansive and neutral as when using more premium speakers – but to say it gets the job done would be an understatement. Whether you’re looking to keep guests entertained at a party or kick back to a podcast after a long day, the Ultimate Ears Everboom’s room-filling 360-degree sound has your back. It can do so for hours too, with a decently long 20-hour max battery life.

And if things go awry at the party, the Everboom is designed to survive smaller drops and lengthier dunks – it’s IP67 rated and floats – which makes it the perfect companion on an adventure where anything can happen.

The Ultimate Ears Everboom clipped to a bag using its karabiner

(Image credit: Ultimate Ears)

Just note that the Everboom lacks music over Wi-Fi support (unlike the Sonos Roam 2, say) and doesn’t have a 3.5mm aux port, which means your only option is a Bluetooth connection for playing tracks, and you won't be disappointed. 

At $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349 there’s a lot of competition. For your home you could snag a Sonos Era 10 from our best wireless speakers list, you might like the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) from the best Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, or you could go for the more affordable route and pick up the UE Wonderboom 3 (or recently released Wonderboom 4) for $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149. 

Then again, the Ultimate Ears Everboom does stand up for itself, boasting a ruggedness and performance combination that many rivals can’t match. Whether you’re after a new best party speaker, or simply want an all rounder audio gadget then you’ll find the Everboom won’t steer you wrong. 

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Price & availability

  • Released in US and UK June 26, 2024
  • Released in Australia July 22, 2024
  • $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349

The Ultimate Ears Everboom launched in June 2024 in the US and UK at $249.99 / £249.99, landing a little later on July 22 in Australia at AU$349. 

This places the speaker firmly between the UE Megaboom models at $199.99 / £169.99 / $349.95 (at least in the US and UK, we’re not sure why the Australian prices of the two models are the same) and the pricier UE Epicboom that released at $349 / £340 / AU$499 in terms of cost, performance, and size.

There are currently two color options to choose from: the Charcoal Black with lime accents, and Azure Blue with light blue accents. Later in the year Ultimate Ears will launch two further colorways: Raspberry Red with light blue accents and Enchanting Lilac with lime accents.

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Specs

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Design

  • Big but still portable
  • IP67 dust and waterproof rating
  • Carabiner clip is a useful tool

As with all other current Ultimate Ear speakers (and plenty of rival options these days), the Everboom has an IP67 waterproof rating. This means it’s dustproof and can survive for up to 30 minutes submerged in water at depth of up to 1m – though because this speaker also floats (I checked; it does in my bathtub) you shouldn’t ever have to go diving deep to find it.

We wouldn’t recommend using the speaker while it’s floating, as the audio quality takes a noticeable hit, but this feature makes it a perfect option for outdoor parties. Has someone accidentally kicked the Everboom into the pool? Has it fallen off your boat into the lake, or has the sky let loose a torrential downpour? With these features it’s easy to rescue the speaker well before it can get damaged – just remember to give it a rinse in clean freshwater if it's taken a dip, to prevent long-term salt or chlorine damage.

The Ultimate Ears Everboom floating in a bath

(Image credit: Future)

It also has a familiar aesthetic design – especially to the ovaloid Epicboom. It features the same iconic large volume buttons on its front face, and basic controls on its top face – one button each for power, Bluetooth, Outdoor Boost, and play/pause. The USB-C port can be found at the back on its base with a nifty guard to keep water out.

Though the similarities with the Epicboom end when it comes to portability. The Everboom is smaller than UE’s Epicboom at just 11.0 cm x 8.5 cm x 20.5 cm and  fairly light – coming in at 960g – though it is nevertheless going to be a challenge to shove this speaker into an already well-stocked bag if you want to travel with it – which is where the nifty carabiner clip comes in.

You can either secure it to a rucksack’s exterior, or (as I’ve frequently used it) clip it onto a belt loop to easily carry the Ultimate Ears Everboom with you wherever you go; with the added benefit of simultaneously enjoying music or podcasts through your speaker without giving up a free hand to carry it.

  • Design score: 5/5

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Features

  • 20-hour battery life
  • App unlocks a megaphone and equalizer
  • No 3.5mm port, or microphones

The Ultimate Ears Everboom is full of neat features, though to access a lot of them you’ll need to install the UE Boom app on your phone (it’s available on iPhone and Android).

This is true for the equalizer – a control panel that lets you choose presets for specific listening experiences such as “Bass Boost” or “Podcast/Vocal”,  and gives you the option to customize the Everboom’s sound profile as you see fit; PartyUp that lets you pair multiple compatible Ultimate Ears speakers to play music through them all at the same time, and if you have two Everbooms they’ll work as a stereo pair; and the new Megaphone feature (which has arrived to other UE speakers too) which lets you talk into your phone’s mic to blast a message through your Everboom.

The Ultimate Ears Everboom in the UE Boom app

(Image credit: Future)

You don’t need the app for every tool though. An in-built NFC feature lets you instantly pair the Everboom to an NFC-compatible smartphone (running Android 8.0 or later) by touching it to the speaker’s top. There’s also an Outdoor Boost mode which diverts power away from frequencies that don’t travel well outdoors so the speaker can get a little louder (reaching a max of 91dBC instead of 90dBC).

The UE Everboom does lack a few features. You won’t find a 3.5mm port, or any microphones (removing any potential for this doubling as a smart speaker) – and it also lacks Wi-Fi connectivity.

Lacking these tools won’t be a deal breaker for many, but the Ultimate Ears Everboom doesn’t do a lot beyond being 'just' a Bluetooth speaker – albeit a great one.

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Sound quality

Having a neat design and nifty features is certainly a bonus to any sound system, but we all know the most important factor to any speaker is its sound; on this front the Ultimate Ears Everboom serves up a storm.

Firstly, this thing can get monstrously loud with its max 90dBC volume (91dBC using Outdoor Boost, more on that in the Features section). This is louder than you’ll ever really need – for context, while using the Everboom in my flat I hover around two-fifths of the max volume and have only ever cranked it louder while I’m outdoors ignoring some tests I did for this review (apologies to my neighbors if you’re reading this weren’t out at work like I hoped you all were when I cranked the Everboom up).

The Ultimate Ears Everboom's carabiner says

This carabiner is 'Not For Climbing' (Image credit: Future)

Secondly, the Ultimate Ears Everboom delivers a very compelling audio performance, proving it can deliver quality not just quantity. Admittedly at the loudest volumes we detected a little distortion creeping in, but at most normal listening levels you're served a well mixed sound buffet.

Sabrina Carpenter’s pop hit Please, Please, Please is crafted with precision – her vocals are bright and crisp; the bombastic Tokyo Drifting by Glass Animals is delivered with an emphatic albeit not overpowering bass; meanwhile the instrumental layers in the jazz standard Caravan (I recently rewatched Whiplash, and the soundtrack has been a recent musical obsession of mine) are simultaneously distinct yet not at war with each other. Though there were occasions I felt the sound could be fuller and more warm.

Lastly, this speaker’s 360-degree soundstage can’t go unnoticed. It’s hardly a unique feature of modern Bluetooth speakers, but its ability to serve the same high-quality performance in every direction is nevertheless commendable.

  • Sound quality score: 4/5

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Value

At $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349 isn't the priciest Bluetooth speaker out there, but isn't what we'd call budget either. Materials and design-wise it does look and feel premium, and while it lacks high-end fetaures like Wi-Fi connectivity, that's hardly the end of the world.

In terms of sound there are speakers that offer a better overall performance at this price (even though the Everboom does a great job), but they lack the portability and/or the ruggedness and waterproofness afforded by the the Everboom making it something of a jack of all trades. 

If that's what you're after it's solid value, but if you're searching for a speaker that is better for at-home sound and can piggyback on your home's Wi-Fi network, you'll want something different – perhaps from Sonos, perhaps one of our best wireless speakers recommendations. 

  • Value score: 4/5

Should you buy the Ultimate Ears Everboom?

Buy it if… 

You want a waterproof speaker that sounds great
Looking for a speaker that’ll keep you entertained and survive accidental dips into the pool/ sea / lake? The Everboom could be just what you need. 

You need something portable
This speaker isn’t the smallest, but it weighs less than 1kg and with its carabiner clip it’s exceptionally easy to carry around.

You after something that looks fun
I don't know what it is, but the UE speakers’ iconic huge + and - volume controls and colorful fabric-jacketed designs scream fun to me – and a lot of us here at TechRadar – and we could all do with more fun in our lives. 

Don’t buy it if… 

You want one of the best wireless speakers
This speaker has Bluetooth connectivity but lacks the ability to connect to Wi-Fi to stream music directly from your favorite music streaming services like some rivals. 

You need something wired
If you’re after a speaker that can support a wired 3.5mm connection, this is the gadget you need. 

You’re on a budget
The Everboom is one of UE’s pricier speakers, and while it does offer decent value for money options like the Wonderboom 3 (or new Wonderboom 4) could be a better option if you’re on a budget. 

Also Consider

Ultimate Ears Epicboom
If you can afford to splash out a little more and value sound quality over portability then the UE Epicboom might be more up your street with its bulkier design but more impactful audio drivers.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
At the time of writing we’ve not yet tested the new gen 4 model that recently launched, but the Wonderboom 3 is our pick for the best waterproof speaker out there. It’s cheaper than the Everboom and smaller, but won’t match its performance abilities. 

Sonos Roam 2
Sonos is a well-known name in the audio game for a reason, and you can’t go wrong with its Wi-Fi enabled speakers. Not only can the Roam 2 fit into any existing Sonos setup, it’s also portable and Bluetooth compatible. 

How I tested the Ultimate Ears Everboom

  • Tested for two weeks
  • Listened against the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and Sonos Sub
  • Used at home, in a garden, and on the beach

To get a sense of this portable speaker's energy and stamina, I made sure to test it in a variety of environments to match up with how you might want to use it. I spent a lot of time with it at home but also took it outside into my garden and on a quick trip to the beach to see how it fared sonically and how often it needed charging.

This also included dropping it into a filled bathtub to make sure it floats as Ultimate Ears had promised  –  and thankfully it did, otherwise this would have been a short review. Quick note, make sure you dry it before leaving it on your desk as I came back to quite the puddle.

Music-wise I made sure to put the Ultimate Ears Everboom through its paces using a wide array of genres – everything from hip-hop to metal, as well as podcasts and a couple of films – to see if this speaker would get tripped up anywhere.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: July 2024
Pro-Ject E1 review: a low-price, beginner-friendly turntable that looks as good as it sounds
1:09 pm | July 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Turntables | Comments: Off

Pro-Ject E1: Two-minute review

The Pro-Ject E1 is a very capable, but affordable, turntable that's a particularly good option for people who are new to vinyl or who just want a fuss-free turntable that won't break the bank. It looks good, it sounds good and it comes with everything pre-set so you can simply assemble it, plug it in, and start playing.

The simplicity means that the Pro-Ject E1 lacks features you'll find in some rivals, such as a 78rpm speed setting, a phono stage pre-amp, a USB port or Bluetooth streaming – so if you want to stream old shellac singles to your Bluetooth headphones or rip them to digital this may not be the best turntable for you. But its simplicity is its strength: the focus is on delivering an involving sonic performance, and the E1 does that very well.

For this price, you won't really get any better sound than this has to offer. And it comes basically ready to out of the box – you won't need to have any fears over the set-up process, which makes it fantastic for beginners. It lacks automatic operation, which is a bit of a shame, but not a big deal. It's also quite lightweight, so make sure it's not positioned somewhere vulnerable to vibrations.

Aside from these notes, it's hard to fault this for what it delivers – it's designed to make great sound analogue sound easy, and it 100% achieves that.

The version we tested here is the plain Pro-Ject E1, which does not have its own phono stage – it's designed to be connected to an amplifier or to a system that has a phono stage before the amp. It's also available as the Pro-Ject E1 Phono with an integrated pre-amp, enabling you to use it with self-powered speakers, and as the E1 BT, which has the same pre-amp and adds Bluetooth transmission.

Pro-Ject E1 review: price and release date

  • Released in May 2022
  • $349 / £299 / AU$649
  • Usually available for less

This isn't Pro-Ject's cheapest turntable – that honour goes to the Primary E, which is about a third cheaper – but it's still priced keenly. The Pro-Ject E1 has a recommended retail price of $349 / £299 / AU$649, but at the time of writing it was available in the UK for as little as £209 and AU$494 in Australia, so buy at the right time and you can get a serious bargain. It was launched in 2022.

Pro-Ject E1 with raised lid

The Pro-Ject E1 is very light, so much so that you'll probably want to loosen the hinges for the acrylic cover. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject E1 review: design

  • Beautiful in an understated way
  • No need to adjust tracking force
  • Very lightweight

The Pro-Ject E1 is beautiful in the way that a classic Swiss watch or a really good tailored suit are: understated rather than look-at-me flashy. The version I tested was entirely black with a gloss black plinth and matte black hardware, a look that reminded me of Hotblack Desiato's spaceship in The Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy or the cover of Spinal Tap's Smell The Glove.The other colors retain the black hardware but replace the black composite fibre plinth with gloss white and walnut versions respectively.

The tonearm is rigid but lightweight aluminium with tracking force and its anti-skid pre-set and the 8.6-inch platter is lightweight ABS polymer with ridges designed to reduce unwanted resonance. The power supply plugs into the back, where you'll also find the decently long phono cables and ground wire. Unlike other Pro-Ject turntables, the RCA cable here is pre-soldered directly to the turntable. The cable length is 1.23m.

This is a very light turntable, so much so that lifting the lid can move the entire thing. You'll want to use the supplied hex key to loosen the hinges a little, and ensure your turntable isn't close to the speakers, or anything else that shakes the room, because it's likely to pick up some vibrations when it's this lightweight. High-end turntables are often seriously heavy in order to absorb unwanted vibrations, but this one is slight.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Pro-Ject E1 close up cartridge

Our turntable came with an Ortofon OM 5E cartridge, which is a good all-rounder. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject E1 review: Features

  • No flashy bells or whistles
  • No need to do a belt change
  • Fully manual operation

This is a very zen turntable: if it's not necessary, it isn't here. It's a fully manual turntable without bells and whistles, which helps explain how Pro-Ject has managed to keep the price down.

Unlike many belt-driven turntables, there's no need to do an awkward belt change when you want to change speeds: the E1 has an electronic speed switch with three positions, 45, off, and 33.

Although the Pro-Ject website currently lists the E1 with an Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge, our review unit came with an Ortofon OM 5E. That cartridge is known for its neutral sound, making it a good choice for eclectic music tastes. It's upgradeable to Ortofon's other Super OM styluses.

As mentioned above, you don't get a built-in phono stage here either, so pay attention to whether your amp has one, or whether you might be better off getting the E1 Phono model.

  • Features score: 3/5

Pro-Ject E1 power socket

It doesn't get much simpler than this: plug the power supply in here, connect the cables to your amp and you're good to go. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject E1: Audio performance

  • Exciting and involving sound
  • Great clarity and separation
  • Bass is big without being baggy

Belt-driven turntables are typically quieter than direct drive ones, and that's definitely the case here. The E1 is very quiet in operation, enabling the music to shine. And it really does. After reviewing some much cheaper turntables, listening to the same records on the E1 was like the bit in The Wizard of Oz where everything goes into technicolor. 

The stereo stage was much better defined, the high frequencies were airier, and the low end was thrilling and tight rather than merely thumpy. Although the Ortofon cartridge is known for its neutrality it still delivered what I'd describe as a warm and lively sound, especially on vocals and acoustic instruments.

This is a very musical turntable. Old classics such as Fleetwood Mac's Rumours were a delight, the backing vocals and keyboards taking their rightful place without overpowering those lush vocals; Billy Duffy's guitar on The Cult's Electric growled and soared; Sigrid and Pet Shop Boys' electronic pop was propulsive without becoming crowded. If the mark of a good audio product is its ability to let you hear things that were previously buried, the E1 passes with flying colors: it makes room for details that you simply can't hear on lesser turntables.

Obviously, at this price, they're not the last word in turntable sound. If you spend more, and have the amp and speakers to make the most of it, you can get even more dynamic range and crisp detail. But you won't feel wanting as a result of listening to the Pro-Ject with a suitable setup, and an affordable pair of the best stereo speakers to match,

I also have one of the E1's main rivals here, the Audio-Technica AT-LP120X-USB, which has a similar price. And while the rival turntable has more features, such as Bluetooth and USB connectivity, I think the Pro-Ject E1 is the better sounding of the two. The AT is a very good affordable turntable but the E1 is more involving.

  • Audio score: 4/5

Pro-Ject E1 belt

You'll only need to see the belt when you first assemble your turntable: speed changes in this model are electronic, not manual. (Image credit: Future)

Pro-Ject E1 review: Usability and setup

  • Everything's been done for you
  • You'll be up and running in no time
  • No automation

The Pro-ject E1 has been designed to be effortless to set up. The tracking force is already set, as is the anti-skid, so getting organized is just a matter of following the simple instructions to put the belt onto the pulley, the platter on top, and the felt mat on top of that. Run the cables to your amp or phono stage, plug in the power, and you're good to go. 

That super simplicity does mean some sacrifices, though: there's no automation, so you'll need to manually lift the tonearm when you reach the end of a side. 

Although the tracking force is pre-set, you can adjust it: the counterweight is locked but the supplied hex key loosens it should you wish to increase the downward force. 

  • Usability & setup score: 4.5/5

Pro-Ject E1 review: Value for money

  • You're not paying for features you won't use
  • Sounds more expensive than it is

At this price, the E1 is excellent value for money: you're not paying for bells and whistles you won't use (how many people are really ripping vinyl to USB these days?), so pretty much every penny is going on how your records will sound. So while lacking the extra flexibility of a phono stage or Bluetooth connection knocks this score down a little (though you can always get the E1 BT model instead!), it's still superb value overall.

It's a similar kind of thing with its lack of automatic operation – it would be even better for beginners if it had this option, but it's not a big deal that it doesn't have it. The really important thing is the quality, and it has that in spades.

If you're looking for a fuss-free turntable that looks good and sounds even better this is a Pro-Ject you'll want to join.

  • Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Pro-Ject E1?

Buy it if...

You’re time-poor
Setting this turntable up is incredibly quick and simple.


You don't need shiny things
The E1 is focused on sound, not on adding extra features. 

You like it simple
Minimalism is the order of the day here, in features and design.

Don't buy it if...

You want to stream
This turntable isn't Bluetooth, although there is a Bluetooth model in the range – look for the Pro-Ject E1 BT.

You're not familiar with hi-fi terms at all
This particular E1 needs to be connected to an amp with a phono stage, or you need a separate phono stage. If you don't know what this means, you'll need to learn – or get the E1 Phono, which has this built-in.

You want to tinker
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon would be the better option for anyone who thinks they might want to upgrade parts in the future.

Pro-Ject E1 review: Also consider

Fluance RT81
Fluance's turntable is similarly priced, and like the Pro-Ject is belt driven for low noise. The stylus is an Audio-Technica AT95E and there's a built-in Texas Instruments phono stage. It's also heavier than the Pro-Ject. In our Fluance RT81 review we said it was the best starter turntable you can buy. It's been out for many years now but remains a superb performer.View Deal

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
It's a bit more expensive than the E1, but this sibling turntable is a superb all-rounder with a better cartridge and a metal platter, and in our Pro-Ject Debut Carbon review we said it's well suited to people who might want to upgrade its parts over time. The only negative is that it has a manual speed change.View Deal

How I tested the Pro-Ject E1

  • Tested over several weeks alongside the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1
  • Tested with Onkyo amp and Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers / Beyer-Dynamic headphones

I tested the Pro-Ject E1 at home over several weeks, connecting it to my Onkyo amplifier (with the direct setting enabled to completely bypass the amp's EQ circuit) which in turn powered twin Bowers & Wilkins bookshelf speakers and Beyer-Dynamic studio headphones. 

I listened carefully to albums I already know inside out across a wide range of genres to assess how well the turntable delivered not just spacious, well-recorded music but also much more rowdy and crowded recordings.

Tribit XSound Plus 2 review: a budget Bluetooth speaker with booming, well-rounded sound
3:00 pm | July 6, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Tribit XSound Plus 2: Two-minute review

The Tribit XSound Plus 2 is an impressive Bluetooth speaker, especially given its modest price. Into its slight frame, Tribit has managed to squeeze two 15W, neodymium full-range drivers, as well as a battery that it says will last a healthy 24 hours. You also get IPX7 weatherproofing, which means it’ll see off any splashes or showers, and Tribit’s app offers nine-band EQ, enabling you to fully customize the sound. Not bad for $69.99 / £63 (about AU$105).

When it comes to performance, the Tribit Xsound Plus 2 isn’t short of enthusiasm. It’s able to produce a ridiculous amount of sound for a relatively small unit: it can happily fill a room with energetic, full-bodied sound, and doesn’t skimp on detail just because you’re sitting outside the sweet spot of its stereo field. And it can reach ear-splitting volumes if pushed: I’d urge you to use caution when hitting that volume button, lest it upsets your neighbors or audiologist.

But it’s not just a blunt instrument – it’s capable of some surprisingly sophisticated sound for a speaker of the price. Producing decent, well-rounded and expressive mids, as well as pumping bass, it makes certain genres shine. However, higher frequencies don’t fare quite as well as they do with some of the best Bluetooth speakers – these sometimes sound a little thin and fragile, and tracks that lean on a full, treble-heavy mix, can end up feeling a bit glassy.

Fortunately, the Tribit XSound Plus 2 has a secret weapon here. That nine-band EQ means you can tailor the sound it produces to suit your favorite songs and genres, create your own presets, and assign them to one of the three settings on the programmable EQ button atop the speaker. Given how much the sound profile of the speaker can vary though, any genre-hoppers among you might find yourselves needing to chop and change the EQ pretty regularly to ensure it keeps sounding its best.

Design-wise, the XSound Plus 2 is pretty conservative, with a matte-black plastic casing and slightly convex grille. Behind a rubber plug on its rear is a 3.5mm jack to use as a line-in, and a USB-C port for charging the device. There are buttons on the top for turning it on, activating pairing mode, changing the volume, playing, pausing and skipping music, changing EQ presets, and pairing with another Tribit speaker. It’s maybe not quite as robustly built as rivals like the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, so bear that in mind if you’re looking for something that can cope with a proper adventure out in the wilderness.

All things considered, the Tribit XSound Plus 2 can produce sound that its size and – more importantly – its price would belie. If you’re willing to really ride the EQ settings, you can get a lot out of it for such an affordable speaker. But if you’re looking for something that’s a true jack – or, preferably, master – of all trades, you'll likely want to spend a bit more on something that has more range, like the JBL Flip 6, which you'll be able to rely on for great sound regardless of the genre you play.

'XSound Plus 2' is engraved on the reverse side of the Tribit XSound Plus 2

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit XSound Plus 2 review: Price & release date

  • Released April 2024
  • Costs $69.99 / £63 (about AU$105)

Released in April 2024, the Tribit XSound Plus 2 is available to buy in both the US and the UK, although it doesn’t seem to be available in Australia at the time of writing.

It's priced at a very reasonable $69.99 / £63 (around AU$105). Perhaps its closest rival at this size and spec is the JBL Flip 6, which costs $99.95 / £129.99 / AU$149.95; even Tribit’s more pocket-sized Bluetooth speaker, the StormBox Micro 2, costs $59.99 / £54 (about AU$90), making the XSound Plus 2 look like something of a bargain.

Tribit XSound Plus 2 review: Specs

Power, Bluetooth, and volume down button on the top of the Tribit XSound Plus 2

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit XSound Plus 2 review: Features

  • Supremely customizable 9-band EQ
  • Rock-solid Bluetooth connection with easy pairing
  • Epic battery life

Surprisingly for a speaker of this price, the Tribit XSound Plus 2 has an impressive feature set. While you’re not going to get top-of-the-range features like lossless audio Dolby Atmos, or fancy automatic room-correction algorithms, this speaker does offer plenty of attributes that rivals twice its price don't.

Across the top, a band of buttons allows you to control most aspects of the speaker. The power and pairing switches behave exactly how you’d expect, while there's also a button to toggle between the three assignable EQ presets, and one to toggle Party Mode. There are also volume controls and the play button, which can be tapped once to play / pause, twice to skip forward, and thrice to skip back.

Fire up the Tribit app and not only does it allow you to toggle the speaker's auto-shutdown feature on and off, it gives you access to a pretty comprehensive EQ. This comes with six pre-programmed presets – XBass, XBass Off, Audiobook, MaxSound Traditional, Rock and Jazz – but also allows you to create your own profiles with its nine-band EQ. As a result, you can seriously customize the sound it produces, based on your tastes and the genre you’re listening to.

By default you can quickly switch between XBass, XBass Off, and Audiobook mode using the physical EQ button on the speaker, with the light above it turning white, off, or blue respectively to indicate which mode you’re in. But what if your tastes extend beyond just ‘bassy’, ‘less bassy’ and ‘books’? Then you’re in luck: you can assign any of the presets, or your custom profiles, to each setting. Personally, as someone with absurdly eclectic tastes, I’m a big fan of any speaker that allows me to quickly fire up dedicated sound profiles for witch house, UK drill, and psychobilly at the press of a button.

Thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.3, the XSound Plus 2 also has rock-solid connectivity. The connection can in theory extend as far as 150 feet and, while I rarely stretched it this far, it was able to cover the full 46-foot length of my apartment through walls without breaking a sweat. And the multi-device pairing that's built into more recent versions of Bluetooth meant it was always consistently quick to pair and swap between devices – you won’t need to spend 10 minutes forgetting and repairing connections just to get the speaker to swap from your phone to your laptop.

This also means the XSound Plus 2 supports pairing with other Tribit speakers. Once it's paired with your phone, all you need to do is tap the TWS button on the right-hand side of the speaker and the two speakers form a stereo pair. Alternatively, if you’re just looking to boost the volume for a larger space, you can press the TWS button on a stereo pair to switch the speakers into Party Mode, turning them into an ersatz multi-room setup.

If you throw particularly epic parties, perhaps the XSound Plus 2’s most attractive feature is going to be its battery life, especially for such a small unit. Tribit claims it will last 24 hours at 60% volume, which is a life long enough to make Methuselah envious. Putting this to the test, I set it to play at that volume until it had dropped down from 100% to 60%, which took eight hours and 45 minutes – that means it should last almost 22 hours on a full charge. That’s a little shy of what Tribit promises, but very few Bluetooth speakers are going to give you this much juice, especially for this kind of budget.

  • Features score: 4/5

Various button controls on top of the Tribit XSound Plus 2

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit XSound Plus 2 review: Sound quality

  • Seriously loud, room-filling sound
  • Punchy bass and warm mids…
  • …but you’ll really need to ride the EQ to make some tracks shine

The Tribit XSound Plus 2 offers shockingly good sound considering its cost; both in terms of dynamics and how well rounded its lower frequencies are, it can hold its own against speakers twice its price. It's tuned to play to its strengths, and it smashes any music that matches its preferred sonic profile. Unfortunately, this also means it can rapidly come unstuck when served something outside its wheelhouse.

Despite its relatively small footprint, it can pack a pretty decent punch when it comes to anything with dynamic bass, especially when you enable XBass. When I dropped Cirrus by Bonobo, I was genuinely impressed by how effortlessly the XSound Plus 2 was able to shift between the punchy kicks and the organic melodies of the kalimbas. The sound felt very cohesive, and while it didn’t have quite the outrageous levels of bass that the more party-focused Bluetooth speakers can muster, the bass response was tight and well-integrated with the rest of the frequency range.

But there are definitely some compromises going on in order to enable such a cohesive, well-integrated sound. Listening to Paul Simon's vocals and Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s choral hook during the intro of Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes feels like you’re being immersed in honey and, when the drums kick in, they rise through the mix without overpowering it. However, I could detect some undeniable sharpness in the treble of elements like those jangly guitar chords, suggesting the XSound Plus 2 is less proficient when it comes to handling transients.

Some songs clash with the XSound Plus 2’s processing, coming off much worse. Initially, when I played Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, I was rather taken aback – it sounded tinnier than my hearing after a week-long festival. Both the high-mids and trebles sounded surprisingly brittle and, unlike with other genres, the band’s leaner soft-rock sound didn’t serve up enough bass to stop things from sounding seriously top-heavy. Playing the same song on the JBL Charge 5 really showed me what I was missing – the tom tom fills that were almost entirely neutered on the XSound Plus 2 added much more body. Clearly the cohesive sound the Tribit delivers while playing some genres means that certain frequencies are ducked and, to me, those low-mids seem to be one of the areas that are squeezed out.

This is where those EQ settings come in handy. When I flipped the XSound Plus 2 to its rock setting, Fleetwood Mac’s breakup anthem sounded much more like the song I recognized – the treble had a bit more oomph across the spectrum, while the bass was less subby, prioritizing the register of those toms and bass kicks. And finding the right setting can make other tracks shine too: Kamasi Washington’s Clair de Lune already sounded solid, but when I popped it into jazz mode, it gave due deference to that double bass, while giving more timbral depth to rest of the instruments, particularly that sultry trombone solo.

Ultimately, though, there isn’t any set-it-and-forget-it EQ setting that shows all tracks off in their best light. That may be less of an issue if you tend to only listen to one or two specific genres, but if you have diverse tastes or chop and change a lot, you may find yourself having to pull out the app more often than you’d like to ensure you’re getting the absolute best sound for your favorite tunes.

Given that it only has two forward-facing drivers, I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about the kind of presence that the XSound Plus 2 could deliver. But blow me down: it’s actually a solid little performer when it comes to soundstage. Naturally, it’s very much a point source of sound, but I tried sitting with it at a range of angles, and I didn’t find that the audio suffered when I was outside of the optimum stereo field. Even with the speaker pointing directly away from me, the treble didn’t significantly diminish, so when you have guests round they won’t all be jostling for the one seat from which they can actually hear the tunes playing.

And it’s just absurdly loud when you push it. Not only could it happily fill my living room with sound – which is no small feat given that I have cavernously high ceilings – but while running the above battery test at 60% volume in our offices, I could still hear it two rooms away despite the fact that it was wrapped in a jumper, stuffed in my rucksack, and in a room with acoustic damping on the walls. Inevitably, there’s a fair amount of distortion when you really crank it up to its eardrum-melting maximum, but you’re never going to be left wanting when it comes to sheer volume.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

Tribit XSound Plus 2 with attached lanyard on gray surface

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit XSound Plus 2 review: Design

  • Pleasant (if slightly anodyne) matte plastic finish
  • IPX7 rating protects it from rain and puddles
  • Lanyard feels a bit flimsy for a speaker of this weight

All told, the Tribit XSound Plus 2 is a likeable enough package. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not an objet d’art, but equally it doesn’t look conspicuously cheap. It’s far from the most flamboyantly hued Bluetooth speaker ever: your choices here are black or… erm… black. But plenty of brands offer brightly colored speakers; the XSound Plus 2 is clearly aiming for a subtler aesthetic, and I’d say it nails it.

Its body is made of a matte-black plastic that feels pleasingly soft to the touch, while the round curves on its rear make it comfortable to grasp in a single hand. On the front of the device, the drivers are covered by a convex metal grille, which is a bit more visually distinguishable than the cloth-covered cylinders that seem pretty much ubiquitous these day. If there’s any speaker the Tribit resembles, it's the Beats Pill, but less rounded overall.

If you’re wanting to take the Tribit XSound Plus 2 into the great outdoors, it will easily be able to handle the elements. Thanks to its IPX7 rating, it should be able to cope with being dunked in water up to 3ft / 1m for up to 30 minutes, which means it’ll shrug off splashes with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever. But, beyond this, it’s probably not as hardy as some of its rivals: it’s not been tested for dust and grit ingress, and I’d argue its relatively dainty build won’t handle accidental drops quite as well as more robust portable speakers on the market.

And that last point really makes me question one design choice. The XSound Plus 2 comes with a lanyard on one end that allows you to wrap it around a wrist or attach it to a backpack, but it feels pretty flimsy, especially given the speaker’s 1.76lbs / 0.8kg weight – leaving it dangling and pirouetting around at the end of this string felt like I was hanging a $70 speaker from a 50¢ cord. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to hold in a single hand or stick in a pocket that I never really needed to trust the Tribit to this tenuous lifeline.

  • Design score: 4/5

Removable tab on reverse side of the Tribit XSound Plus 2 open to reveal an AUX and USB-C port

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit XSound Plus 2 review: Value

  • Produces sound almost as good as speakers twice its price
  • Offers a broader range of features than many budget rivals
  • IPX7 weatherproofing make it a wise purchase for outdoor use

With the Tribit XSound Plus 2, you’re getting a lot of speaker for not very much money. The features it offers exceed what I’d expect for a speaker at this price. Sure, you’re not getting cutting-edge features like lossless audio or Dolby Atmos, but its EQ settings are super-customizable, and the ability to network multiple speakers together should give you a much more impressive soundstage than you’d get from one single $140 / £130 / AU$200 speaker.

And design-wise, its utilitarian looks are still pleasing enough, while that IPX7 rating will shrug off most of what the great outdoors can throw at it, making it a wise purchase for anyone looking for a cheap, durable speaker to take trekking or camping.

Admittedly, it’s hardly the most neutral listen, and this does cause some inconsistencies, depending on what you’re listening to. In comparison, the similarly sized JBL Flip 6 offers superior sound – but it also costs more than double the price. So in terms of bang for your buck, you’re getting a pretty sweet deal here.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Tribit XSound Plus 2?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

Tribit Xsound Plus 2 review: Also consider

How I tested the Tribit Xsound Plus 2

  • I tested for two weeks, and I tested it against the JBL Charge 5
  • I used it in the office and at home
  •  listened to Spotify, Apple Music and Pocket Casts on an iPhone 13 Pro and a MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019)

I tested the Tribit XSound Plus 2 over the course of two weeks. Not only did I listen to a wide range of different genres and styles on it, but I also tested it using TechRadar’s reference playlist, which helped me assess the speaker’s full range and how it handled specific frequencies.

As well as connecting the XSound Plus 2 to multiple devices, including my iPhone 13 Pro and my MacBook Pro, I also directly compared how it performed relative to the JBL Charge 5, testing each speaker side by side. To test the speaker’s battery life, I set it to play continuously at 60% volume, and measured the battery drop over time.

I’ve been reviewing gadgets and technology for nearly 10 years, particularly headphones, speakers, and music hardware. I also regularly produce audio and music in my spare time, giving me a strong understanding of sound dynamics and frequencies.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: June 2024
Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: poised, informative stereo speakers with detail and dynamism in equal measure
11:00 am | July 1, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Comments: Off

Monitor Audio Studio 89: Two minute review

Back in the day, ‘Studio’ was Monitor Audio’s most expensive, most aspirational range of loudspeakers. And now the name is back, with an ‘89’ attached for good measure, in a loudspeaker the company reckons is more ‘Formula 1’ than ‘sports car’.

It’s a distinctive looker, that’s for sure – whether or not you find the proportions attractive is one thing, but there’s no denying the gloss-black cabinet with its vertical, copper-colored driver array is dramatic. Bolt the speakers to the matching stands (if you don’t mind the extra outlay) and the look is coherent and, to me at least, striking.

Using driver and crossover technology originally developed for a loudspeaker that costs $92K / £70K per pair is pretty promising, too – and the way it’s been deployed shows similarly little inclination to compromise. Heck, even the speaker terminals on the rear of the cabinets are rhodium-plated and quite extravagantly shaped. 

How does this more affordable option stack up against the best stereo speakers on the market? Well, the star-rating above is a good start isn't it? But let's delve into the nuts and bolts of the thing – and also, of course, the sound. 

Monitor Audio Studio 89 in a hi-fi listening room

(Image credit: Future)

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: Price and release date

  • Released July 1, 2024
  • $2,500 / £2,000 / AU$4,000

The Monitor Audio Studio 89 are available now, and in the United Kingdom they’re yours for £2,000 a pair. In the United States they go for $2,500, while in Australia the asking price is AU$4,000. 

When you consider that Monitor Audio is perhaps most-noted of late for releasing a $92K Hyphn proposition (once called the Concept 50, initially unveiled at High End Munich 2022), it's affordable territory.

That’s just for the speakers though, you understand – if you fancy the bespoke stands too (and they have a lot to recommend them beyond a harmonious aesthetic) you’re looking at an additional $625 / £500 / AU$1,000.

The majority of this test is conducted with the Studio 89 bolted to their matching stands – but not entirely. I also positioned the speakers on my reference Atacama Moseco 6 stands, where they are perfectly happy (although don’t look quite as swish). This review, then, is purely an appraisal of the loudspeakers and the loudspeakers only.  

Monitor Audio Studio 89 in a hi-fi listening room

(Image credit: Future)

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: Features

  • MPD III tweeter; 2 x 108mm RDT III mid/bass driver
  • Rear-facing bass reflex slots
  • 48Hz - 60kHz frequency response

These are passive loudspeakers, of course, and consequently ‘features’ are fairly thin on the ground. What features the Studio 89 have, though, are thoroughly researched and thoughtfully applied.

The front baffle of the speaker, for instance, is a slice of aluminium that’s isolated from the main body of the cabinet by a dense layer of foam. The baffle and the drive units it houses are then secured using ‘through-both’ technology running from the rear of the drivers to the rear of the cabinet. The intention is to create a very rigid cabinet structure in which the drive units can operate in isolation – and consequently offer cleaner and less coloured sound. The fact that this methodology means there are no visible fixings or screw-heads doesn’t do the look of the Studio 89 any harm, either.

The drive units themselves are arranged vertically – a couple of 108mm RDT III mid/bass drivers are positioned with an MPD III tweeter between them. This ‘MTM’ (mid/tweeter/mid) arrangement, says Monitor Audio, offers the advantage of large sound dispersion thanks to its ‘vertical symmetry’.

The RDT III mid/bass drivers are the latest refinement of the ‘C-CAM’ technology Monitor Audio has been enamoured of for years now. A combination of three very thin layers of ceramic-coated aluminium/magnesium, carbon weave and Nomex honeycomb core combine to produce a light, responsive driver that’s positioned ahead of a powerful motor system that uses a magnet that’s larger than the cone itself. 

The MPD III tweeter, meanwhile, uses its low-mass diaphragm pleats a bit like an accordion for smooth and rapid high-frequency response. Its square radiating area is designed for equal directivity both horizontally and vertically. Its carefully designed waveguide contributes to its directivity and soundstaging abilities, too – and the fact that it looks quite dramatic doesn’t do any harm, either.

Underpinning this driver array, sonically speaking, are a couple of narrow velocity ports positioned at the top and the bottom of the rear of each cabinet. The relatively large port area keeps both internal pressure and airflow within the cabinet balanced, and reduces turbulences – with the result, says Monitor Audio, that airflow is smooth and bass response is significant.

Elsewhere, the crossover that delivers the electrical signals to the drivers is a careful new design that uses polypropylene and polyester capacitors. Along with air-core and low-loss laminated steel-core inductors, the design is intended for optimal signal transfer and minimal distortion. Chunky rhodium-plated, precision-machined speaker terminals complete the impression of some thoroughly uncompromised engineering.      

Features score: 5/5

Monitor Audio Studio 89 in a hi-fi listening room

(Image credit: Future)

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: Sound quality

  • Poised and informative sound
  • Detail and dynamism in equal measure
  • Express rhythms expertly

There are plenty of loudspeakers that can peer deep into a mix and return with every scrap of information that’s in there. There are plenty of loudspeakers that can entertain with the vigorous nature of their presentation. Loudspeaker that can do both, though, are in rather more short supply. So it’s nice to be able to add the Studio 89 to the list.

What’s perhaps most immediately enjoyable about the way the Monitor Audio sound is how much they seem to be enjoying themselves. When playing an uncomplicatedly good-time recording like You! Me! Dancing! By Los Campesinos! there’s proper energy and vitality to the presentation, a sense of engagement that’s by no means a given no matter how much you spend on your speakers.

But this is not at the expense of insight. The Studio 89 create a large, well-organised soundstage that allows even a rather compressed and hazy mix like this one to stretch out and give each individual element a bt of space in which to operate. Detail levels are high at every turn, and the Monitor Audio manage to put even the most fleeting, transient occurrences into convincing context. Without making any part of the recording sound remote or estranged, the Studio 89 makes it easy to identify individual stands - yet the unity and togetherness of its presentation gives a genuine sensation of ‘performance’.

Something a bit less headrush-y and a bit more considered – Bad Kingdom by Moderat, say – allows the Studio 89 to demonstrate a nicely neutral tonal balance and extremely smooth integration of the frequency range. The handover between drivers is imperceptible, and no part of the frequency range is unduly underplayed or overstated. Low frequencies are deep, properly varied and textured, and controlled to the extent that rhythmic expression is never in doubt and momentum levels are always high. The opposite end of the scale is bright and substantial, so treble sounds shine without veering anywhere near hardness. And in between, the midrange is open and eloquent to the point that vocalists of all types, all techniques, all characters and all emotional states, are able to communicate fully.

Dynamic headroom is considerable, so big shifts in volume and/or intensity are tracked faithfully. And the less obvious, but no less crucial, dynamics of harmonic variation are given just the right amount of emphasis too. No matter how spare or how complex a recording, the Monitor Audio exercise authority over it.

About the only area in which the Syudio 89 might conceivably be described as ‘deficient’ is where simple attack is concerned. There’s nothing matter-of-fact about the way these speakers deliver a recording, you understand – but there are some alternative designs that have greater bite and assertiveness. But the more I think about it, the more I’d describe this as a ‘trait’ rather than a ‘deficiency’. If you’re one of those listeners who likes maximum drive and attack, you may find the judicious and balanced nature of the presentation here to be just slightly on the tentative side. The rest of us, though, will just admire what a thoroughly convincing sound is available.   

Sound quality score: 5/5

Monitor Audio Studio 89 in a hi-fi listening room

(Image credit: Future)

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: Design

  • Gloss black finish
  • 340 x 157 x 361mm (HxWxD)
  • 7.6kg (each)

There’s a disproportionately tall, thin elephant in the room where the design of the Monitor Audio Studio 89 is concerned – so I may as well get right to it. At 340 x 157 x 361mm (HxWxD) these are, without doubt, quite strangely proportioned loudspeakers. Seen from dead ahead they look quite tall and thin, because they are. But move around them and you realise they’re even deeper than they are tall. It’s an unusual effect, and it makes the bespoke stands Monitor Audio has developed for use with these speakers seem more like an essential than an option.

Rather gawky proportions aside, though, these are beautifully finished and quite good-looking speakers. The driver arrangement in the aluminium front baffle somehow makes them look rather startled, but the gloss black finish (your only option) is lustrous and deep – and it contrasts nicely with the copper/bronze color of the mid/bass drivers. The little badges that wrap around the bottom of each speaker, with their none-more-80s Ford Sierra typeface, are nicely judged too.

Design score: 4.5/5

Monitor Audio Studio 89 in a hi-fi listening room

(Image credit: Future)

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: Value

The usual caveats apply here, of course – you should really only consider the Studio 89 if you’re going to use them in a similarly expensive and capable system, and you are almost certain to have to find the money for the matching stands. But as long as you can live with these Ts & Cs, there’s no denying the value for money these speakers represent both as objects and, most importantly, where the sound they make is concerned.

Value score: 5/5 

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: Should you buy them?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

You like a sound with its eyes out on stalks
They’re an assertive listen without doubt, but it’s equally true to say that some alternative designs will attack a recording even more readily. 

Monitor Audio Studio 89 in a hi-fi listening room

(Image credit: Future)

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: Also consider

You have a lot of choice, from a lot of very well-regarded manufacturers, if you have this sort of money to spend on a pair of compact passive loudspeakers. 

The R3 Meta by KEF, for instance, are maybe $120 cheaper than the Studio 89 – and while they don’t look as dramatic, they certainly have plenty to recommend them where sound quality is concerned. 

Or you may decide to chuck even more money at it and check out the 705 S3 by Bowers & Wilkins – there’s nothing retro about they way they look, and the stands will cost you even more money than the Monitor Audio equivalent – but if you’ve the readies, these speakers are among the most rewarding around. 

(And if you've not? It's perhaps worth giving the B&W 600 Series a look). 

Monitor Audio Studio 89 review: How I tested

  • Using the extra-cost stands – and using my stands
  • Connected to a Naim Uniti Nova, listening to Qobuz and Tidal tracks
  • Also hooked up a Rega Apollo for CDs; Cambridge Audio/Clearaudio for vinyl

My time listening to the Monitor Audio Studio 89 was split pretty much 50/50 between their being bolted to their bespoke, quite expensive, stands and sitting on more affordable (but eminently capable) Atacama Moseco 6 alternatives. 

They were powered by a Naim Uniti Nova streamer/amplifier capable of twisting out 70 watts of power per channel. As it’s a streamer as well as an amplifier, I used the Naim for listening to Qobuz and TIDAL. 

I used a Rega Apollo for listening to compact discs, and both Cambridge Audio Alva TT v2 and Clearaudio Concept turntables for vinyl listening. 

The speakers stayed in my listening space for the entirety of the test – the space is nothing esoteric, it’s fairly ordinary (although not especially reflective) room that works very well for my purposes. And I listened to a great many different recordings via these different sources, of a great many genres and from a wide range of eras.  

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