Gadgets :: November 7, 2018
by Gregg Ellman
(@greggellman)
Scosche’s Boombottle MM, waterproof wireless speaker with built-in MagicMount is amazing when you look at the features packed inside. And it’s even better when you hear the sound.
With many Bluetooth speakers, when you push the button the volume keeps getting louder but most often something inside you ears tells you when the speaker hits its optimum volume level based on the sound quality and distortion.
With the Boombottle, you almost want to it keep getting louder past the maximum volume levels, it sounds that good.
The speaker is 7.2-inches high with a rounded cup holder-friendly body 2.9-inches deep and weighs 1.25 pounds. Inside is Bluetooth 4.2, a pair of 12 W (6 W x 2) 45 mm speakers and a 4000 mAh battery to keep the music playing for up to 12 hours. A 4 level LED battery indicator shows you how much power is left before a USB charge is needed.
With an IP67 waterproof rating, the speaker can withstanding being submerged in up to three feet of water and the body has a dust-proof construction. A built-in microphone is for handsfree calling.
Those features alone would be enough for a great speaker, but there’s a unique feature on the outside; the BoomBottle Opener. The built-in opener is right there on the back of the speaker, so as long as the speaker is packed for vacation, you’ll have an opener with you for your favorite beverage.
Scosche’s MagicMount technology lets the speaker magnetically attach to most metal surfaces. This lets the sound play from any direction and when you pair two of the BoomBottle speakers and mount them further apart, the true stereo sound is even more impressive.
The mounting system also lets your smartphone magnetically secure itself to the top of the speaker with the included magic plate and 3M adhesive film.
A carabiner loop is built into the top and of course a carabiner is included.
While the looks have no bearing of the sound, the black speaker grill makes it an attractive speaker. All the controls are easily accessed on a rear vertical rubber panel. A 3.5 mm aux input port is there for connecting your music source directly, but is not waterproof at that point.
www.scosche.com $129.99 available in choice of black or black camouflage
Even with some of the most functional and best computers made, the sound produced from the built-in speakers is just OK, if they even have speakers. Internal speakers are not directional; the speakers are stationary and the sound can’t be sent one way or another.
What caught my attention from the Stage Air from Creative is the functionality with a friendly cost. The soundbar, instantly solves any computer’s sound problem.
It’s designed for under-monitor use with a compact 16-by-3-by-2.75-inch size and all the controls are on the right side.
My wife uses her iMac and doesn’t like clutter and accessories all over her desk. Since she often plays music while working, I quietly set up the speaker and placed it exactly where it’s promoted to be, under the monitor.
As I sat there watching her turn on some music, she instantly turned around and said “that’s pretty cool” when the sound played from the Stage Air.
With Bluetooth pairing, the speaker isn’t limited to computer use, its ideal for using with a TV or any sound source. And if there’s no Bluetooth inside your TV, you can’t make a direct 3.5 mm connection.
There’s a standard USB port on the back, which lets the Stage Air work as a standalone music player. If you have music loaded on a USB storage device, just plug it in and the playing starts.
You get about 6 hours of playback from the 2,200mAh internal battery before a charge is needed or just plug the USB cable into your computer or an AC power source for endless power and sound.
The modern looking speaker has metal front facing grills covering a pair of 5 W speakers.
https://en.creative.com $45.54
