Braven BRV-1
Perfect for when the going gets tough
Price: $225
Ratings: 4/5
We liked the sturdy aluminum casing of the
Braven 650 we reviewed a few months ago, and Braven has taken that approach to
extremes with its new BRV-1.
The
rugged BRV-1 is water- and shock-resistant
In fact, the BRV-1 is one of the most
rugged portable speakers we’ve seen so far. The chunky little speaker measures
115mm wide, 60mm high and 85mm deep, and weighs just 338g less than a tin of
beans – so you can easily slip it into a backpack when you’re heading outdoors.
Despite its size, the BRV-1 is certified as
‘IPX5’ water resistant a test that requires it to survive “12.5 liters of water
per minute being hosed on it at 30kPA pressure from a distance of 3m”. That
means it’ll certainly cope with splashes in the bathroom, as well getting a
soaking on the beach or being dropped on a ski slope.
The ports on the back are covered with a
protective cap, and the sides of the unit are coated in shock-resistant rubber
to protect it from being damaged if dropped. It uses Bluetooth to provide a
convenient wireless connection for your music, and there’s a built-in
noise-cancelling microphone so you can use it as a speakerphone for voice
calls.
The sound quality is good too – loud enough
to be heard when your friends are mucking around on the beach, and with better
bass than most speakers of this size. The battery should last for about 12
hours at medium volume, and there’s also a USB port that allows you to top-up
your iPhone battery occasionally.
Verdict
Not everyone will need such a rugged
speaker, of course, but if you spend a lot of time on the beach, hurtling down
the Piste or tramping across the Pennines, then the BRV-1 will be the perfect
musical companion for your outdoor adventures.
Supertooth Disco Twin
Stereo bluetooth speakers that can
move from room to room
Price: $270
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.supertooth.net
Product page: bit.ly/15QXaSq
Supertooth’s
speakers offer decent audio quality
There are some great compact speaker
systems available these days, but even the best one-piece speakers still tend
to produce quite poor stereo separation. Supertooth’s Disco twin solves this
problem with a pair of compact Bluetooth speakers that provide proper stereo
separation between left and right channels.
The vase-like speakers are neatly designed
and only measure about 180mm high, so it’s easy to position them on a shelf or
table in any room. They also include rechargeable batteries, so you can pick
them up and move from room to room without having to muck about with power
cables and leads.
Each speaker provides 16W output (32W
total), and they’re more than loud enough for listening to some music at a
dinner party. Sound quality is good too – clear and detailed on higher
frequencies, and with reasonably firm bass given the compact design.
And, of course, it’s nice to hear speakers
with decent separation for a change. The batteries only last for three to four
hours at full volume, but half-volume is fine for listening to music most of
the time and that should stretch the battery life to a full 10 hours.
there’s one thing to watch out for, though
– the Disco twin speakers look almost identical to supertooth’s Disco 2, but
there are differences between the two, so don’t confuse them when you’re
ordering online.
Verdict
The Disco twin system is quite pricey for
what is, after all, a fairly modest stereo speaker system. However, the
Bluetooth connectivity and rechargeable batteries are very useful, so this is
worth considering if you’re looking for a versatile set of speakers you can use
in more than one room.
Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100
Compact, colorful speaker
Price: $495
Ratings: 4/5
From: Cambridge Audio
The
Zooka can double up as an iPad stand, but this places the controls out of easy
reach
The Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100 wireless
speaker offers both AirPlay and Bluetooth playthrough options, and is geared up
to accept audio feeds from almost any music or AV source. It certainly isn’t
small, but its girth is mitigated by the gentle curves that conceal the wired
analogue inputs and mains connection at the back.
The sturdy construction contrasts with the
bright and detailed audio it offers. Despite being a single-speaker unit, there
was plenty of volume to fill a 15 x 15ft room. You’ll need to press the squidgy
volume buttons repeatedly to make much difference to the output levels, though,
so use your iPad or iPhone volume controls instead.
Connectivity is one of this speaker’s main
strengths. Getting the Minx Air 100 to play songs from your iTunes library
couldn’t be easier. Just tap the music icon at the top left of the Minx Air app
(free, bit.ly/11yjdx2) and select speaker as the output device.
Whenever you switch between output modes,
the app searches for the Air 100 speaker, but changing radio stations or iTunes
tracks is seamless. There are 10 radio station presets available through a single
tap on the app screen, plus the option to search for online radio stations by
location or genre. Up to five presets can be added. We particularly liked the
option to specify a minimum bitrate for online radio station search results.
Superior audio codecs such as AAC are supported, too.
Verdict
Cambridge Audio has designed a fantastic
wireless speaker that produces great sound and the option of playing your music
through any device you choose. We’re not completely sold on the Minx Air 100’s
looks, but the solid build and sonic output are impressive.
Just Mobile Xtand Go
Price: $40
Ratings: 4/5
If
you’re looking for an in-car mount, then the Xtand Go is a solid option
Just Mobile’s Xtand Go is an in-car mount
for your iPhone 4, 4S or 5, and in testing we were pleased to see they fitted
securely in place. You’ll need to assemble the device when you take it out of
the box, but this doesn’t take long. Once you’ve put it together, all that’s
left is for you to decide whether you’d like it on the dashboard or the
windscreen. If you decide on the former, the Xtand comes with three sticky
pads, which you attach to the bottom of the device and then the dashboard. If
you prefer to fasten it to a windscreen, you simply use the provided suction
cup – a quick release switch on the bottom lets you change its location. If
you’re looking for an in-car mount, then the Xtand Go is a solid option.
Moshi Origo for iPad
Price: $39
Ratings: 3/5
Web: www.moshimonde.com
This
silicone soft-shell iPad case is bulky, but not heavy, and feels very
protective
Featuring a honeycomb design on the inside
for maximum shock absorption, this silicone soft-shell iPad case is bulky, but
not heavy, and feels very protective. The back has a slight curve to it, but
the added thickness and curvature provides extra grip. The Origo case comes
right up over the front bezel of the iPad for extra protection against facedown
drops, and does so without limiting functionality. There are cut-outs for all
of the ports and cameras. The volume and Sleep/Wake buttons have rubberized
push-through button overlays, which allow their full use. If you need to plug
your iPad into any kind of dock-cradle accessory, the bulky Origo may not fit,
but the soft shell is easy to take on and off.
