The product description emphasizing the heavy bass and ability to annoy the neighbors made me think that I might not be the target market for this product. My musical interests do not run to genres where extremely loud bass is key, like hip Hop or Electronica or club mixes for big parties. I do listen to genres where bass is appreciated (blues and rock) as well as some where over-emphasized bass might be a problem (like jazz and vocal heavy genres often characterized as Americana or Singer Songwriter). I am so glad I gave it a try!
The bass is certainly prominent, but rich and warm, unlike the fake bass boosts on some other products. More importantly for my purposes, it has beautiful, clear, well defined mids and highs. It can be very loud with minimal distortion, and still sounds great at both more normal and even low volumes.
The other feature that was a pleasant surprise was the Adaptive EQ. I assumed it would just be a gimmick. I don't know how it works, but it maintains a very consistent sound in radically different environments, from a small contained room, to a greatroom open to a loft, and even outdoors on the deck. Another good feature is the fact that there is no change in sound quality and volume between powered and battery modes.
The soundstage is amazing for a single speaker. I can't imagine why you would need more volume than this speaker produces. In terms of sound quality, I think it easily beats out the Bose Soundplay 30. I would give a slight edge to my Audio Engine HD6's, but that is to be expected from more expensive, powered, dual speakers. The Hyperboom may even handle bass better, and of course it is portable.
Other good points - it has good bluetooth range, and has never dropped or crackled. The battery life is excellent.
The app was easy to use, and set up was seamless. I did not try to connect additional speakers, so cannot speak to that function. The EQ function was a nice touch. The ability to pre-load a couple of play lists was interesting, though more would be better, and since you have to have your phone there anyway I am not sure how much it adds. But compared to the abysmal apps shipped with other products, it was a nice change of pace.
The negatives - these don't matter to me but they might to you. It is pretty heavy (maybe just awkward because of size/shape and crappy rubber handle). Plenty portable, but I wouldn't take it on a hike or public transportation. I am not sure how water resistant it really is. There is a hole on top for the Adaptive EQ (where the ads show drinks being spilled, etc.), and it only arguably splash proof when being battery operated. Attaching power or other components requires removing the rubber cover on the electronic inputs. That cover is also a little fussy to get properly reattached.
Overall, this is an excellent speaker and well worth the price.
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were measured, reduced and offset.
As certified by
Carbon Neutral Certified by SCS Global Services
Carbon Neutral Certified by SCS Global Services
Carbon Neutral Certified by SCS Global Services enables companies to demonstrate carbon neutrality for their products by reducing carbon emissions throughout their operations and offsetting their remaining carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon credits. SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices.
