Monday, 11 November 2024

Expedition Kit: This little Bluetooth speaker could get you into trouble.

#expeditioncruising .


Review: Ultimate Ears MINIROLL Bluetooth Speaker



Once upon a time, those little add-on speakers for your Walkman, Apple iPod or MP3 player were tinny, rattly little things that had all the HiFi quality of fingernails down a blackboard.

As a longtime audiophile, I am intrigued by the technology now packed into these little units about the size of a squashed tennis ball. A size that is perfect for travel and sharing your audio with pals.

I’d been quite satisfied with my old Logitech X100 which I’d used for nearly ten years. I’d connected it to my laptop to give my Netflix some ‘oomph’ even though the $50 device certainly wasn’t audiophile standard.

So imagine my astonishment when I added this 280g MINIROLL for the same task. The pens and pencils in my desk tidy rattled as if there were a minor earth tremor and I quickly scrolled for the volume control. Phew!


It’s about the same size as the X100 but 120g heavier, which gives some insight into the larger magnet driving the speaker using the latest tech to deliver a truly full and balanced sound with surprisingly deep bass.

Drawing from the press release, I see it uses “a custom driver, bass radiators and extensive EQ tuning for optimal sound outdoors, MINIROLL’s innovative design delivers powerful, high-fidelity sound.”

The Bluetooth range is up to 40 metres, up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and a USB-C port for quick charging. A stretchy back strap allows you to easily attach it to yourself or a piece of furniture.

There is also substantial amounts of recycled plastics used in the manufacture.  

Another cool feature is the ability to “party up” multiple devices for a full house gig that will definitely send the pooch scrambling under the couch. It’s even drop, dust and waterproof, so you can annoy the neighbours too.

It certainly is a marked step up from the X100 and I recommend this punchy little Bluetooth speaker with the caveat that you may startle your pets or flatmates if you don’t moderate the volume on start-up. You were warned.


RRP $99.00 from JB HiFi

More info
www.ultimateears.com

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