At first glance, the Logitech UE Boombox
looks a bit like something Judy Jetson would carry to a beach party on an
asteroid. It's all smooth curves and brushed aluminum, evoking the Mac Pro's
cheese grater aesthetic, as well as mid-20th-century design.
At
first glance, the Logitech UE Boombox looks a bit like something Judy Jetson
would carry to a beach party on an asteroid.
This is the boombox of the future there’s
no Lightning or 30-pin dock. It connects to your iPhone wirelessly, or use the
stereo minijack input. Bluetooth setup is a standard "press and pair"
affair, and the Boombox makes a beep when you're successfully paired. You can
connect up to three devices at once, and switch between them on the fly, making
this a good investment for owners of multiple devices. That includes the Mac;
the UE Boombox's slim-ish 15.2-by-3.1-inch design is a good stand-in for a pair
of computer speakers on a desk, with the added advantage that we can pick it up
and go at a moment's notice. The rechargeable battery can play for up to six
hours, although we wish it were replaceable.
Logitech
UE Boombox - Angle: Behind the speaker grille,
two 0.5-inch tweeters, two 3-inch woofers, and four 2.6-inch passive radiators
deliver the audio, with the radiators playing a key role in the significantly
bass-heavy frequency response.
Under the aluminum grille, the Boobmbox
packs an impressive arsenal. Two 3-inch woofers and a pair of half-inch
tweeters are backed by four 5/8-inch passive radiators for added oomph. And
there's definitely some boom in this box. The sound is surprisingly big,
offering deep, tight bass, and good output across the spectrum. We tried
everything from classic rock to classical strings, and the results were clear
and satisfying. That said, the UE Boombox does emphasize the lower frequencies
(to good effect) but, um, you did see that it's labeled "Boombox,"
right?
Logitech
UE Boombox - Left: A
blue panel on the left has the Bluetooth pairing button, Power switch, battery
indicator, and 3.5mm aux input.
Audiophiles will of course decry the
compressed Bluetooth audio, but they’re rarely relaxing outdoors with a few
friends, a favorite playlist, and a couple of cold ones. For the vast majority
of users, the clear, loud sound will be perfect and the Boombox is much easier
to take out to the patio than a $4,000 turntable and a tube amp.
Logitech
UE Boombox – Right: The right-hand panel houses
a rubberized blue surface with large plus and minus icons for volume.
The bottom line. The aesthetics may be a
bit retro, but the UE Boombox packs a punch, and offers fantastic sound quality
for the money. Even Mr. Spacely would approve.
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Information
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http://www.logitech.com
·
Price: $249.99
·
Requirements: Bluetooth-equipped device. AC
outlet to charge.
·
(+) Portable and rechargeable. Surprisingly
deep bass. Six*hour battery life. Large volume buttons on the side.
·
(-) Kinda heavy. Battery is not replaceable,
once it eventually dies.
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