The Roam speaker from Sonos is compact and lightweight, making it easy to pick up and take with you around the house. It has a triangular design that can either be set horizontally or vertically on a flat service (and I just realized that the SONOS logo looks the same upside down).

There are 4 buttons on one end of the speaker: play/pause, volume up, volume down, and a microphone mute button. On the back of the unit is the power/standby button and a USB-C charging input.

Performance

I was very surprised by the strong musical performance of the Sonos Roam speaker. While it doesn’t get as loud as the Sonos One speaker for example, highs and mids come through clearly and the bass is very good! The bass isn’t as strong as Sonos larger speakers, but you can use the EQ setting in the Sonos app to increase it somewhat if you like.

Like the other speakers in the Sonos ecosystem, you can group the Sonos Roam with other Sonos speakers for synchronized playback.

Features

• WiFi: The Sonos Roam speaker connects directly to your home WiFi to stream music. You can use the Sonos app to play virtually any music you might have: Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, LiveXLive, and many more. What I like about the Sonos app is that you can set what you want to play and close it if you want. The speaker will connect and play the music on its own, so it doesn’t tie up your phone or pass along any text notifications or phone ringtones.
• Bluetooth: When you move out of range of your home WiFi, you can instead use Bluetooth to connect your phone directly to the speaker to stream music and podcasts.
• Alexa or Google Assistant: You can configure Alexa or Google Assistant on the Roam and then use voice commands to play music or do other tasks such as check the weather. Microphone performance seems to work well and can typically “hear” me over the music that is playing.
• Automatic Trueplay: This feature uses the devices built-in microphone to get a “feel” for the space it is playing in and adjusts the sound accordingly. For example, when I place the Roam speaker against a wall in a corner, which tends to overemphasis the bass, the Roam adjusted and backed off the bass slightly, which made it less “boomy”.
• Qi charging: I was surprised to learn that the Roam can be set vertically on a Qi charger to recharge! This is slower than the USB-C wired charging, but it’s a nice bonus that doesn’t require the purchase of a special base (although one is available if you so desire). Qi charging performance has been hit or miss for me: sometimes the speaker will charge up to about 70% and then seem to stall out, while other times it charges up to 100% without issue. I guess it depends on the charging pad you use and whether you hit the “sweet spot” as far as matching up the charging coils.

Battery Life

Sonos states that the speaker can provide up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge. You can press the power button on the back to place the speaker in “standby” mode, but the battery continues to drain, losing about 10-20% overnight. If you leave the speaker on standby when not in use, you’ll likely need to recharge it daily. Turning off the microphone seems to help extend battery life somewhat.

Sonos - Roam Smart Portable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Speaker with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant - White

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Video Review

Sound Quality

The sound on Soundcore Flare 2 is impressive, much like the Flare 1 model. Not only do you get crisp highs and full mids, but bass is also enhanced more on the Flare 2 compared to its predecessor. In addition, the sound is noticeably louder on the Flare 2:

Highs still become distorted at high volumes (when you reach about 80-85%), but the speaker still gets loud enough to fill a medium-sized room before hitting that point.

If you need to fill a large room or an outdoor party, you’ll likely want to look at pairing multiple Flare 2 speakers together, or check out one of Soundcore’s larger offerings such as the Soundcore Trance.

Bass Performance

As noted earlier, the bass on the Flare 2 is even better than it was on the Flare 1. It’s not quite as bass-heavy as the Sony SRS-XB32 speaker, but it will likely satisfy most listeners. If bass is not your thing, the bass boosting effect can be turned off by pressing the “Bass UP” button located on the back of the speaker.

Design

Probably the main difference you will notice on the new Flare 2 is the addition of an light ring on the top of the speaker, which the LED-lighting nerd that I am really enjoys! The light ring on the Flare 1 was located on the bottom and was sort-of hidden, especially if you set the speaker on a dark surface. Now, the LED lights are a lot more noticeable on the Flare 2.

Other than the LED rings, the cylinder shape is very much the same as the first generation of the Flare speaker.

The buttons have also been changed around a bit. You’ll now find the power button on top of the speaker and the Bass Up button on the back of the speaker.

The dimensions for the Flare 2 are very similar to the first generation: 3.5 x 3.5 x 6.3 inches.

Features

• Additional lighting modes: Now that the Flare 2 has two LED light rings, Soundcore has added some additional lighting effects to the speaker. You can access most of them by pressing the “light” button on the top of the speaker. They can also be accessed and further customized by using the Soundcore app.
  The lighting modes are: Party Time, Phasing Beats, Bouncing Beats, Circle Beam, Cool Breath, and “Who’s Next?” (which is a bit of a “spin the bottle” game).
• Party Chain: On the Flare 1, you could only pair the speaker to one other Flare 1 speaker. With the Flare 2, you can pair the speaker to up to 100 other Flare 2 speakers. However, please note that the Flare 2 cannot be paired to the Flare 1.
• Water Resistant: The Flare 2 has an IPX7 rating, meaning that it can be submerged in shallow water (up to 3.3 feet) for up to 30 minutes. Oddly, there is no “dust” rating (hence the “X”) on the Flare 2 whereas the Flare 1 had an IP67 (dust-tight) rating.

Battery Life

Battery life is still rated up to 12 hours on the Flare 2, which is the same as the Flare 1. Normal usage (with the lights) tends to net about 9-10 hours of play time.

The Bad

The speaker itself sounds and looks great, but one thing that agitated me was the accompanying Soundcore app. The first time I launched the app in order to explore the features of the Flare 2, the Soundcore app displayed a full page ad for Soundcore’s new wireless headphones. While I can appreciate the discount it advertised, disrupting my workflow to show a full screen ad that I need to manually close in order to get to the speaker settings is a big no-no in my book.

Anker Soundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth Speaker, with IPX7 Waterproof Protection and 360° Sound for...

Anker Soundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth Speaker, with IPX7 Waterproof Protection and 360° Sound for...

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Price history

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Price history for Bose® - Portable Home Speaker with built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, Google Assistant and Alexa Voice Control - Luxe Silver
Latest updates: $399.99 - May 18, 2023 $319.99 - May 9, 2023 $399.99 - May 9, 2023 Since: May 9, 2023	Highest Price: $399.99 - May 9, 2023 Lowest Price: $319.99 - May 9, 2023

Setup

Unfortunately, setting up the Bose speaker required two things that annoy me: a separate account and a separate app. After installing the special “Bose Music” app, which is a different app from the “Bose Connect” app needed for headphones, I was prompted to sign in with my Bose ID (or I could have linked it Facebook instead, grrrr…).  Apple’s brand new “Sign In With Apple” was nowhere to be found at this time.

However, after jumping through those hoops, the device’s discovery and connection to my home Wifi was easy.  I was also happy to fine that the Bose Portable Speaker can connect to 5Ghz Wifi networks.

Setting up the voice assistant was straight forward (I had to sign in to Amazon to link it), but annoyingly, I was also prompted to enter my brand new Bose ID credentials again.

Sound Quality

All of the setup hassles are worth it in the end: the sound quality on this speaker is incredible.  Often, I wonder how so much sound can be coming out of a speaker this size!  It can definitely fill a medium to large size room and would be adequate for backyard gatherings as well.

The speaker has excellent bass, which can be further adjusted by using the audio controls on the app (-100 to 100 in increments of 10).  When carrying the speaker, the bass diminishes somewhat until it is set on a solid service, which seems to reflect the bass back at you.

Design

The cylinder shape of the unit provides 360 degree sound, which in theory would mean that everyone sitting around the table should have a similar listening experience.  However, I have found that sitting directly in front or behind the speaker seems to be the “sweet spot” for sound.

The speaker is splash proof but not completely waterproof.  So while a light rain shower or splash from the garden hose should be fine, the speaker cannot be fully submerged in water.

On the back fo the unit is a single USB-C port for charging, which I was happy to see it was not Micro USB.  There is not Aux input (nor does the USB-C port accept audio input). A wall charger is included.  An optional charging base is also available as a separate purchase.

Features

• Amazon Alexa: I was happy to see that Alexa is onboard the Bose Portable Speaker as I already own several Echo devices and I’m familiar with the commands.  This Bose speaker supports the Alexa ESP feature, meaning that the Bose speaker will not respond if another Alexa device is closer to you (i.e. you won’t have multiple Alexa devices responding at once, which is sometimes an issue on 3rd party speakers). 
  There are some limitations with Alexa on the Bose Portable Home Speaker: at launch time, Alexa calling and “drop-ins” are not supported, nor is Apple Music supported via Alexa (although, you could use AirPlay 2 instead).
• Google Assistant: If you prefer Google’s voice assistant, you can set the speaker to use it instead.
• Apple AirPlay 2: This allows you to stream music from your iPhone, iPad or Mac computer without needing to pair the speaker to your device first.  As long as both devices are on the same WiFi network, the Bose speaker will show up as an AirPlay device.
• Bluetooth: Of course, you can use the Bose Portable Speaker as a regular Bluetooth speaker for times when you’re away from WiFi.

Battery Life

Depending on how loud you play your music, the battery can last up to 12 hours of music playback.  It can also last up to 24 hours on standby where the speaker is not actively playing, but it is still “listening” for voice commands.

The post Bose Portable Home Speaker Review appeared first on Technically Well.

JBL - LINK 20 Smart Portable Bluetooth Speaker with the...

Listen to music for up to 10 hours with this black JBL portable speaker. It has a built-in Google Assistant that responds to voice commands, and it delivers rich stereo sound while you stream music via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This water-resistant JBL portable speaker is made of durable materials, so...

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Sound Quality

The JBL Link 20 features two 10W drivers and can get loud enough to fill a large room with music without distortion. As is typical with many JBL products, the sound quality is very good with crisp mids and highs and adequate bass, although I was expecting a stronger bass response from a speaker this size. That’s not to say the bass is bad: the lows are enhanced nicely and do not muddy the sound. But it won’t give you a strong “thud” like the bass-enhancement feature of the Sony SRS-XB30. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any type of EQ setting or bass enhancement feature for the speaker.

Design

The JBL Link 20 sits tall (8.3 x 3.7-inch) and can easily be carried from room to room, although holding it is a little awkward due to the wide size. A fabric mesh surrounds the speaker. The power and mute buttons are located on the back of the speaker while the Google Assistant and volume controls are located on the top as well as two microphones.

Four white LEDs on the front of the speaker indicate when Google Assistant is listening. Near the bottom of the front, 3 white LEDs in the shape of the classic WiFi symbol show you the signal strength (and seem to flash if it temporarily loses connection). There are also 5 white LEDs located on the back of the speaker, directly above the power button, to show you how much power is remaining.

Features

The most notable feature of this speaker is that it is powered by Google Assistant. The Google Home app guides you through the setup process of connecting it to your WiFi, giving the speaker a name, learning your voice and connecting it to your speakers. The Google Home app also installs JBL’s software updates to the speaker, which is nice as you do not need to download a specific JBL app to manage the speaker.

The Google Assistant does an excellent job of hearing my “Hey Google” command from across the room, even if it is already playing music. You can ask Google to play music from supported services such as Google’s own music service, Pandora and Spotify. Unfortunately, Slacker Radio (one of my favorite streaming music services) is not directly supported by Google Assistant, so I can not activate Slacker Radio by voice. However, the JBL Link 20 acts as a Chromecast Audio receiver, so if I have the Slacker Radio app open on my phone, I can cast the music to the speaker without needing to pair via Bluetooth. Slacker Radio will continue to play on the Link 20 via WiFi, even if I kill the Slacker Radio app on my phone. The JBL Link 20 can also be linked to other Google Home speakers for multi-room sound.

Google Assistant can also do things like check your Google Calendar, play the news and control smarthome devices. However, the JBL Link 20 cannot make phone calls at this time like the Google Home speaker.

Battery Life and Portability

The built-in 6000mAh battery gives you up to 10 hours of sound and portability, allowing you to carry it around the house or even out in the yard, if your WiFi extends that far. For times when you’re away from home, you can pair the speaker via Bluetooth to your phone to play music. However, without a WiFi internet connection, the Google Assistant will not operate. It can not “tether” off your phone’s mobile internet connection via Bluetooth (but it could if you set up your phone as a mobile hotspot and used another phone to configure the JBL Link 20 to connect to that hotspot… a somewhat convoluted process). The battery can be recharged in about 4.5 hours using the included 2 amp Micro USB charger.

JBL - LINK 20 Smart Portable Bluetooth Speaker with the...

Listen to music for up to 10 hours with this black JBL portable speaker. It has a built-in Google Assistant that responds to voice commands, and it delivers rich stereo sound while you stream music via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This water-resistant JBL portable speaker is made of durable materials, so...

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The post JBL Link 20 Speaker Review appeared first on Technically Well.

Sound Quality

As is typical with Anker’s other SoundCore speakers, the sound quality of the Boost model builds upon the already great sound of the Anker SoundCore 2.  The Boost also features clear mids and highs and takes bass to the next level with the BassUp enhancement feature.  Turning this on gives you surprisingly strong bass performance that may annoy your neighbors!  If you’re not a fan of bass, turning off the BassUp feature will still enhance the lows nicely but for a more relaxed listening experienced.  Sound quality is almost as good as the Flip 4 speaker (some people may not notice a difference).

Bass Performance

I was very surprised by the amount of bass this unit can put out given its somewhat small size.  With the BassUp feature on, the unit gives a satisfying, thudding bass effect that sounds great with a wide variety of music.  I tested it out with rock, pop and hip hop and the music sounded great and was not muddied by the strong bass at normal volume levels (it gets a little muddier the higher you go).

Features

Like the SoundCore 2, the SoundCore Boost also has a water resistant rating of IPX5 means you don’t need to worry about splashes if you’re listening poolside (just don’t take it in the pool).

Like the JBL Charge speaker, the Anker SoundCore Boost has a full-sized USB port that you can use to charge your your phone.  However, you will need to bring along your own charging cable.

The SoundCore Boost also has NFC pairing, making it easy to pair (and switch between) NFC-enabled Android phones.

If you receive a phone call while using the speaker, it can act like a speakerphone.  However, callers claimed that I sounded too far away while using the speaker, so this would be more ideal for a quick call rather than using it as a conference room speaker.

Battery Life

The SoundCore Boost can achieve up to 12 hours of battery life, but battery life decreases as your turn up the volume on the speaker.  The speaker can be charged by a standard Micro USB port (some the Sony SRS-XB30 lacks).  Charging your phone from the built-in port on the Boost will also subtract from the speaker’s built-in 5200mAh battery.

Anker SoundCore Boost 20W Bluetooth Speaker with BassUp Technology - 12h Playtime, IPX5...

Anker SoundCore Boost 20W Bluetooth Speaker with BassUp Technology - 12h Playtime, IPX5...

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The Creative Metallix has surprisingly well-balanced sound given its small size. Music sounds clear and there is even some bass. It won’t rattle the windows, but it does enhance the lows nicely. It can even get loud enough to fill a medium size room with minimal distortion. It may not be ideal for large gatherings, but works great if you’re having a few people over for dinner, for example,

Design

The Creative Metallix speaker is about half as tall as a can of soda. The speaker is located on the top of the unit.  The controls are near the bottom along the side.  the bottom of the unit is somewhat tacky to help keep the speaker secure on your desk (but it also collects a lot of dirt).

Features

What I like about this speaker is that it can do more than just Bluetooth. If you attach the charging cable and press the M button, it can be used as an FM radio. Hold down the Play button for 2 seconds to scan for channels, then hold down the plus and minus buttons to navigate through the stations. Unfortunately, there’s no a way to see what station you’re on, but it’s nice to be able to use the speaker without a phone.

You can also load up a Micro SD card with MP3 files and play music directly from the card, but please note that it only seems to play the files in alphabetical order. I would have preferred that it played in a random order.

The Metallix also has an Aux connection to directly connect the speaker to your phone or another music source.

You can access Siri and Google Assistant by double-tapping the Play button while in Bluetooth mode. This is useful if you need to make a quick call or simply want to check the weather.

Battery Life

The Metallix gets up to 24 hours of battery life, which is good given its size. This makes it ideal for someone who is always on the go and doesn’t want to be bogged down by a heavier option (the Metallix weighs less than a pound). The speaker is recharged with a standard Micro USB charging cable (included) but requires that you use your own AC wall adapter (your phone’s charger will likely work fine).

Creative Metallix Portable Mini Speaker with Bluetooth 4.2 Wireless, 24-Hour Playtime, 4-Way...

Creative Metallix Portable Mini Speaker with Bluetooth 4.2 Wireless, 24-Hour Playtime, 4-Way...

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The post Creative Metallix Speaker Review appeared first on Technically Well.

If you’re wondering what’s different between the SoundCore 2 and the SoundCore 1, check out this comparison chart of the two speakers.

PROs

• NEW! Enhanced bass: The bass response on the original SoundCore was good, but it has been enhanced even further on the SoundCore 2. There is a larger bass radiator on the front-center of the SoundCore 2 that boosts lows and makes both music and podcasts sound great. The bass is not heavy, so don’t expect window-rattling sound that would annoy the neighbors. However, it is a nice boost from the original model.
• NEW! Covered ports: On the original SoundCore model, the charging and Aux input ports were exposed. There is now a cover over these ports on the SoundCore 2, with a small protrusion on the cover to aid in opening it. This provides some additional protection to the speaker to keep out dust and light water droplets, but the speaker is not completely waterproof.
• Clarity: I’m pleased to find that the music clarity of the mids and highs was maintained from the original SoundCore model, which was one of the features that made the original model so popular. Therefore, you will find similar sound quality with a further enhancement to the bass.
• Speakerphone: I tested out the speakerphone feature of this speaker and the caller found the sound quality to be very good and could hear me well, but he could definitely tell that I was not on my iPhone. There was some background hiss due to the lack of noise cancellation, so you will not be able to use the speakerphone effectively in a noisy environment.
• Siri control: You can call up Siri by holding the “Play” button for 2 seconds. This allows you to ask Siri to pull up your favorite playlist or to send a text message without picking up your iPhone.
• Long battery life: Like the original SoundCore, the SoundCore 2 can run up to 24 hours on a single charge. I found this to accurate as I was able to use the speaker a few hours each day and I only found myself charging the speaker about once a week. You can keep tabs on the battery status with the indicator on the iOS status bar.
• Form factor: The speaker retains virtually the same form factor of the original SoundCore, but with rounded corners.

CONs

• High volume: At high volumes (at about 75% of the max volume according to the iPhone volume control), the speaker emphasizes highs and begins to sound “tinny” and even a little “screechy” at times. This issue is actually worse than what I found on the original SoundCore. So this speaker would not be ideal for large parties or for using outdoors. However, this shouldn’t be expected given the speaker’s size.

Overall. if you loved the original SoundCore, you’ll love the SoundCore 2. You can expect similar sound quality with a little more kick to the bass, as well as long battery life and great portability.

Check out the Anker SoundCore 2 on Amazon

Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Better Bass, 24-Hour Playtime, 66ft Bluetooth...

Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Better Bass, 24-Hour Playtime, 66ft Bluetooth...

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The post Anker SoundCore 2 Bluetooth Speaker Review 2017 appeared first on Technically Well.

Sony - XB30 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black

Get an instant party started with this Sony XB Bluetooth speaker. It quickly pairs with your NFC-enabled device at just a single touch, and it enhances upbeat tunes with its EXTRA BASS mode and flashing multicolored line light. This Sony XB Bluetooth speaker withstands splashes and is suitable...

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PROs

• Sound quality: Obviously, one of the most important features of a speaker is the sound quality. The Sony XB30 certainly does not disappoint. Highs and mids come through clear and bass had some kick to it (if it’s not enough for you, you can press the “Extra Bass” button for an enhanced effect). I tested streaming music from Apple Music, Pandora and Slacker Radio and was not disappointed with the sound quality of this speaker.
• Lights: I know some may find this gimmicky, but I really like the lights on this speaker. There is the outer ring that surrounds the speaker on the front that changes different colors and two white LED “strobe” lights on either side. You can set the lights to dance with the music, set a more calming lighting effect or turn off the lights completely by using the SongPal app. The lights really to add a bit of a party atmosphere and helps this speaker stand out from other brands.
• Bass booster: A quick press of “Extra Bass” button substantially increases lows and adds a great bass effect, especially considering the size of this speaker. However, it can make some songs sound a little “muddy” with an overemphasis on lows.
• NFC pairing: If your phone features an NFC chip, it can be used to quickly pair to this speaker with a tap.
• Speakerphone support: You can answer incoming calls on this speaker by tapping the “phone” button. I tested this out and my friend said the sound quality was very good and he could hear me fine. However, if I stepped too far to one side, the noise cancellation feature seems to kick in and makes my voice harder to hear, so be sure you’re in front of the speaker while using the phone feature.
• Siri/Google Assistant support: You can also call up Siri or Google Assistant by tapping the phone button and speaking a command.
• Bluetooth standby: A unique feature of this speaker is that you can leave it plugged in to an AC outlet and it will automatically turn on when you start playing music on your phone. It will go into standby mode (waiting for the next time you play music) if nothing plays for a period of time. This feature can be enabled in SongPal app.
• Charge your phone: The speaker has a USB port on the back. You can use your own charging cable to plug into this port and charge your phone while the speaker is on. This would obviously decrease the runtime of the speaker, but it can come in handy in a pinch.
• Pair with other Sony XB30 speakers: Another unique feature is the ability to pair this Bluetooth speaker with another similar Sony Bluetooth speaker. The other speakers must support the “Wireless Party Chain” function, which currently includes the SRS-XB20, SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40. Up to 10 speakers can be connected.
• Aux in: Non-Bluetooth devices can be used by using an audio cable with stereo mini plugs (not included).

CONs

• Proprietary charger: Unfortunately, this speaker cannot be recharged with a standard Micro USB or USB-C charger. It uses a barrel connector, meaning that you need to remember to bring the included charger with you (and make sure you don’t lose it!). Fully charging the speaker takes about 4 hours.
• No battery life indicator on iOS: Many newer Bluetooth speakers display their battery level on the iPhone/iPad status bar, so you can see when your speaker needs recharged. This Sony XB30 speaker does not do that, although you can use the SongPal app to find it (it’s buried under the Settings option in the app). You can also hold down the “phone” button for about 3 seconds and the speaker will announce its current charge.
• Buggy SongPal app: This speaker seems to use a separate Bluetooth connection when using the app, as I frequently receive messages from the SongPal app that my speaker needs to be paired even while it is currently streaming music from the same device. I’ve also seen multiple instances of the speaker appear in the app even though I’m only using one, so it looks like the SongPal app has some kinks to work out.

Overall, the sound quality and built-in lights of the Sony SRS-XB30 Bluetooth speaker are sure to keep you entertained.  You can start the party anywhere!

Sony - XB30 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black

Get an instant party started with this Sony XB Bluetooth speaker. It quickly pairs with your NFC-enabled device at just a single touch, and it enhances upbeat tunes with its EXTRA BASS mode and flashing multicolored line light. This Sony XB Bluetooth speaker withstands splashes and is suitable...

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The post Sony SRS-XB30 Bluetooth Speaker Review appeared first on Technically Well.

PROs

• Levitating effect: Obviously the coolest feature of this speaker is the fact that it levitates above the base station. The base station needs to be connected to AC power in order for the levitation to work. You then gently place the speaker over the center of the base. I recommend holding it lightly with your two pointer fingers and thumbs and gently lower it down until it feels like it is floating on its own. It may take a couple tries, but it is fairly easy to do.
• LED lights: The base has a cool blue glow along the bottom and the top. The Bluetooth speaker also occasionally flashes blue while it is on. If you tap and hold the lightbulb icon on the speaker, some colorful LEDs come on near the bottom of the speaker, but they are dim compared to the lights on the base.
• Sound quality: Bass is not very strong, but the sound quality overall is very good on this speaker. It can also get fairly loud, making it ideal for small parties.
• Built-in mic: You can also use the speaker as a speakerphone thanks to the built-in microphone.
• Touch controls: When the speaker is levitating, pressing buttons would normally be difficult. But on this speaker, the “buttons” are touch sensitive, so you only need to lightly tap them to play/pause your music, for example.

CONs

• Charging: The levitating Bluetooth speaker needs to be charged via a Micro USB cable when it gets low, requiring you to remove it from its levitating position.

Overall, this is a very cool effect and definitely makes the unit a nice conversation starter or centerpiece at your next get-together. It takes a little patience to learn how to get the speaker to levitate, but once you get the hang of it, the process is easy.

Check out the Music Angel Levitating Bluetooth Speaker on Amazon

The post Music Angel Levitating Bluetooth Speaker Review appeared first on Technically Well.

PROs

• Sound quality: The sound quality on this speaker is very good overall. Mids and highs are clear and there is some bass, although the bass is a little on the light side. However, sound quality overall is still very good and well balanced.
• WiFi: One of the biggest advantages that a WiFi speaker has over Bluetooth speakers is the ability to easily stream from any device on your network without the hassle of pairing and unpairing. You can download the GGMM app to your iPhone or Android device and it will help walk you through the setup process. You can also setup the speaker manually using the instructions in my accompanying video review. Once connected to your home network, you can easily stream music from your Apple devices by using the AirPlay option. Android users can use a DLNA-supported music app, such as the GGMM app itself.
• Aux: If you don’t want to bother with WiFi configuration, you can also connect your phone directly to the speaker with the included 3.5mm audio cable. This also makes it compatible with devices such as the Chromecast Audio dongle.
• AC power: I was happy to see that the power adapter for this unit has the UL certification logo on it.
• Design: I really like the brushed aluminum front and the soft leather exterior of the speaker. The retro design also looks great on a bookshelf.
• Apple users will likely have the best experience: The AirPlay music streaming technology is one of those things that “just works” in the Apple ecosystem. While the speaker also support DLNA streaming (a supposed media streaming standard), I’ve never had much luck with DLNA streaming among Windows, Android and Sony devices in the past. This is not the fault of this speaker, but more of an issue with DLNA and UPnP.

CONs

• No Bluetooth: This speaker does not contain Bluetooth connectivity.
• No built-in apps: If you’re familiar with Sonos speakers, you’re probably aware that the speakers can directly connect to Pandora, Spotify, etc even when your phone leaves the network. That is not the case with this speaker and it does need to be connected to a device for streaming playback.
• No built-in battery: This speaker must be connected to an AC outlet. It does not have a built-in battery.

Overall, the GGMM M-Freedom definitely has great sound quality and incorporates network music streaming. The retro design makes it a great addition to your bookshelf.

Check out the GGMM M-Freedom WiFi Speaker on Amazon

— Sample provided for review

The post GGMM M-Freedom WiFi AirPlay DLNA Speaker Review appeared first on Technically Well.