Bose SoundLink Air
Price: $350
Ratings:
3.5/5
Web: www.bose.com
Once
the SoundLink Air is on your wireless network, you can send audio to it from
any compatible AirPlay device
The SoundLink Air Digital Music System, an
AirPlay version of Bose’s SoundDock speaker docks, is a somewhat portable
speaker system. It can run on a battery, but doesn’t include one – Bose’s
rechargeable lithium-ion battery is a $90 option.
Once the SoundLink Air is on your wireless
network, you can send audio to it from any compatible AirPlay device. When you
do, you’ll hear satisfying, room-filling sound. The SoundLink seems tuned to
boost bass levels relative to other frequencies; if you like a little extra
kick, you’ll enjoy the effect. The overall sound is otherwise crisp and clean.
I did notice a bit of low-end distortion at peal volumes on bass-heavy music, but
dialing own the volume a smidgen alleviated that distortion.
The SoundLink Air is easy to configure and
sounds good in general use. I’m disappointed isn’t included. But if you prefer
your music to be a little bass-heavy and won’t need the peak volume the speaker
offers, the SoundLink Air is a fine AirPlay speaker to consider.
Westinghouse Unplug
Price: $100
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.westinghousedigital.com
At
normal and reasonably loud volumes, it offers pretty good performance across
the frequency range
The Unplug Wireless Bluetooth Sound System
UM100 (available in black, white, or gray) is a portable, rechargeable speaker
that streams audio from your phone, tablet, or computer over Bluetooth.
A short, wide vent in the face maximizes
the effect of what Westinghouse calls the Unplug’s “ultra-bass booster passive
radiator subwoofer.” Obviously, the Unplug is too small to house a true
subwoofer; in reality, the design aims to coax whatever bass presence is possible
from a unit of this size. The Unplug also employs a pair of 3-watt, 40mm,
full-range drivers.
At normal and reasonably loud volumes, it
offers pretty good performance across the frequency range. But even at its
best, it sounds a bit small. Still, it fares well next to the popular Jambox
speaker: The Unplug can get significantly louder than the Jambox, and its bass
presence, at least at louder volumes, outshines that of the Jambox.
The Unplug works acceptably as a
speakerphone. Callers said the quality was passable, and I could hear them loud
and clear. You can answer calls from the speaker, but you can’t initiate calls
(or trigger Siri) from it.
As an affordable, portable, rechargeable
speaker, the Unplug has plenty of things going for it.
Scosche RH656
Price: $130
Ratings: 3/5
Web: www.scosche.com
The
first time you crank up the volume, the big sound will impress you
Near the top of Scosche’s audio lineup is
the RH656 On Ear Headphones with TapLine Remote & Mic, a handsome,
full-size, on-ear headphone, available in black or white.
The RH656’s grip on the head is firm. One
big comfort issue, though, is the headband, whose underside has two parallel
ridges.
The first time you crank up the volume, the
big sound will impress you. But what at first seems like real bass is mostly a
healthy boost of mid-bass frequencies; the lowest octave gives the Rh656
trouble, resulting in audible distortion.
Like several similar headphones, the RH656
offers a full, exciting sound that emphasizes a “fun” experience. If you value
sonic accuracy or a brighter sound signature, you can find better choices.
Logitech UE Smart Radio
Price: $180
Ratings:
3.5/5
Web: www.logitech.com
The
Smart Radio supports a long list of streaming-audio services
A music streamer, alarm clock, and speaker
wrapped up in compact, nightstand-friendly package, the Logitech UE Smart Radio
is essentially an updated version of the company’s Squeezebox Radio (3.5/5,
go.macworld.com/squeezebox), with the same 0.75-inch tweeter and 3-inch driver.
The unit’s sound quality is not
outstanding, but it’s pretty good if you take the device’s size and shape into
consideration. It’s loud enough for a small room. As before, the Smart Radio
supports a long list of streaming-audio services. You can also stream music
from your Mac or Windows PC in a range of formats.
One big difference is that the Smart Radio
includes a rechargeable battery (with up to 6 hours on a charge, according to
Logitech). That’s quite a useful feature for a streaming-music player that
otherwise requires no wires (it features 802.11g Wi-Fi).
The mobile app, Logitech UE Smart Radio
Controller (for iOS, Android, or Kindle Fire), is both attractive and intuitive
– which is great, since using the Smart Radio’s physical buttons and
click-and-scroll wheel is unpleasant. It’s a shame that the pretty new iOS app
isn’t designed to run natively on an iPad and isn’t always responsive.
Also on the negative side, I couldn’t get
the new UE Music Library server software to properly scan my Mac mini’s entire
iTunes library or to present my playlists on the Smart Radio, though installing
the new server on my iMac (with its not-quite-so-large library) worked fine.
The server software has some rough edges too, such as no visual indication when
you clear the cache folder or delete preferences. Finally, the new server,
online accounts, and mobile apps aren’t compatible with the older Squeezebox.
The Logitech UE Smart Radio is a capable
streamer. What holds it back is the sometimes flaky desktop and mobile
software.
