Travel speakers are lot like Bluetooth headsets: Just a smaller, less-satisfying approximation of the real thing. So leave it to Jawbone to design a pocket-sized Bluetooth boombox that actually kinda rocks.
Sure the headset maker knows how to create crisp, intimate sound — they’re responsible for the best earring-aids we’ve ever tested. But that’s in-ear. So needless to say, we weren’t expecting this bedside speaker-box to muster decent, let alone kick-ass sound. Boy, were we wrong. We blasted everything from raucous punk and “indie rock” to mellow folk and classical, and were pretty jazzed by the output and dynamic range pumping from this little 12-ouncer. The biggest surprise: legit bass (as evidenced by Dead Prez’s “Hip-Hop,” on repeat).
Of course the Jambox isn’t a replacement for a full-fledged — albeit larger — dock capable of stereo-separation. This guy is meant for a bedroom or hotel room — but not the Presidential Suite. Still, the respectable 85 decibels with a frequency response of 60 Hz – 20 kHz is just the beginning. This “Bluebox” system has phenomenal range: We clocked a good 40 feet between the device and our phone, without any signal problems. Pairing was a breeze. An internal mic transforms the box into a not-half-horrible speakerphone. And visually, designer Yves Béhar imbues the Jambox with an elegant minimalism that’s eye-catching, but not distracting.
By far, the most impressive aspect of the Jambox is its marathon battery life. After four days of intermittent iPhone streaming — up to four hours at a time — our battery was still reading “about 3/4 full.” Coaxing more than 11 hours (with juice to spare) from a device that claims a max of eight hours, we can’t help but reiterate just how thrilling it can be when a device, quite literally, out-performs expectation. Which is about as rare as a double rainbow.
WIRED Literally small enough to fit in jacket pocket. Front/rear speaker projects 360-degrees. Metal casing feels substantial, but not too weighty. Rubber trim and bottom are excellent for gripping and setting on slippery surfaces. Press the Call button on top, and a voice reads off the remaining battery life. Voice dialing is as easy as it is with an iPhone. Bundled with two different lengths of micro-USB and a 3.5mm cable for non-Bluetooth devices. Call button can be set as speed dial. 2.6-watt rated audio amplifiers deliver thump that belies their diminutive size.
TIRED $200 feels like $50 too much. Power/pairing light doesn’t always stop flashing (spoils the calm serenity of a pitch-black room). Device beeps every single time you raise or lower the volume with the topside controls. Travel case doesn’t have room for the charger or cables. Speakerphone quality is average — i.e. you probably won’t use it (without annoying your caller).
(Photos by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)