Michal Ždanský Bluetooth speakers are becoming more and more popular and are slowly displacing the previously popular iPhone or iPod dock speakers. Among the well-known manufacturers of these devices is Logitech, which, although it does not have a reputation as a premium manufacturer of audio equipment, is able to offer very decent solutions at an often lower price than the competition.
Already in 2011, Logitech celebrated success with Mini Boombox, a compact speaker with great sound and long battery life. In the second half of last year, he introduced the successor to the Mobile UE Boombox, which will soon premiere here as well. We had the opportunity to thoroughly test the speaker and even the new generation of the small Boombox did not disappoint us.
Processing and construction
Even the first version of the small Boombox stood out especially for its compact dimensions, thanks to which the device could fit into any bag or purse and was thus an excellent musical companion for traveling or on vacation. The Mobile Boombox continues in the set direction, although it is slightly larger than the previous model, but the difference is very slight. At 111 x 61 x 67 mm and weighing under 300 grams, the Boombox continues to be one of the most compact portable speakers on the market.
The previous version suffered from one interesting design defect - due to the low weight and narrow legs, the Boombox often "danced" on the table during bass songs, Logitech probably decided for that reason to use rubberized material around the entire speaker, therefore it does not stand on the legs, but on the entire bottom surface, which almost eliminates movement on the surface. Thanks to this, the Mobile Boombox also looks more complete and elegant. The front and back are then covered by a colored metal grid, under which a pair of speakers is hidden.
While the previous generation offered the ability to control music thanks to a touch panel on the top, the Mobile EU Boombox is more modest in this regard. On the upper rubber part you will find only three large buttons for volume control and for pairing the device via Bluetooth. In addition to the three buttons, there is also a small hole that hides a built-in microphone, which allows the speaker to be used as a loud headset. The microphone is quite sensitive and often picks up noises in the nearby area. However, there is no need to be in the immediate vicinity of the speaker during the call. It should be noted that the Boombox does not have an answer button.
On the back there is a recess for BassFlex and a small plastic panel with a slide switch to turn it off, a microUSB port for charging and a 3,5 mm audio input, thanks to which you can connect basically any device to the Boombox, even without Bluetooth. Logitech also supplies the device with a charger that looks a bit like a charger for a large iPad, even allowing you to change the plug for American and European outlets. The charger also includes a detachable USB cable that can be connected to a computer for charging.
Logitech says the Bluetooth range is up to 15 meters. I can confirm this figure, even at a distance of between 14 and 15 meters the Boombox had no problem maintaining the connection with no sign of dropouts. The speaker's built-in battery lasts for about 10 hours of continuous music, which is comparable to the previous generation.
Sound reproduction
The Mobile Boombox now belongs to the new Ultimate Ears family, which should be characterized by good sound performance. The first mini Boombox was already characterized by surprisingly good sound, and the new version sets the bar even higher. The reproduction is slightly different from its predecessor, the sound has fewer centers, but the bass and treble are more readable. Lowering the center frequencies results in a slightly lower punch, so it may seem that the speaker is less loud, but the difference is not particularly striking.
The bass frequencies are taken care of by the rear-mounted BassFlex, which shows a significant improvement. The previous model had a problem with more bass at higher volumes, resulting in distorted sound. The engineers at Logitech have done a great job this time and the distortion at high volume is no longer present.
Due to the dimensions of the Boombox and the speakers in it, brilliant and rich sound cannot be expected from a similar device. Here, it has a rather "narrow" character, and in tracks with strong bass it is sometimes "hushed", but you will probably encounter this problem with all speakers of a similar size. More acoustic music sounds best on the Boombox, but I can also warmly recommend it for listening to harder genres or watching movies.
Considering the size, the volume of the Boombox is above standard, it will sound a smaller room without any problem and it can also be used in an open space for relaxing listening, but for parties and similar events you will have to look for something more powerful. Reproduction is ideal up to about 80% volume, after which there is a slight degradation, when certain frequencies cease to be distinct.
even buy a compact portable speaker, you probably won't find a better device in the same price category than the current Mobile UE Boombox. Its elegant design will match Apple products perfectly. The sound is excellent for its size and price, and its size makes the device an ideal travel companion.
Compared to the previous model, this is a rather moderate progress, especially in terms of design, owners of the older version probably won't need to update, for all others looking for something similar, it's a good choice anyway. The Logitech boombox is available in five color variants (white, white/blue, black, black/green and black/red). It should be available on the Czech market in March at a recommended price of around 2 CZK.
[one_half last="no"]
advantages:
[Checklist]
- Design
- Compact dimensions
- Sound reproduction[/checklist][/one_half]
[one_half last="yes"]
Disadvantages:
[bad list]
- Higher price compared to the previous model
- Lower volume via 3,5mm jack[/badlist][/one_half]
We thank the company for the loan Dataconsult.cz.
