A Punchy Bluetooth Speaker That Won't Bruise Your Wallet

Anyone who cringes at the shouted phrase "It's showtime!" may understand why I'm fearful of a device whose manufacturer claims it's the "boombox evolved." Certainly, subway performers will soon replace their boombox-tethered iPods with Bluetooth speakers and iPhones to accompany their acrobatics and requests for tips. And with suitably loud, handily portable speakers like the OontZ XL, these kids' music will be well heard.

The OontZ XL's loudness and portability has everything to do with its design. The speaker's face is slightly curved, thereby reducing distortion typically encountered by boxy speakers due to air diffraction, according to Cambridge SoundWorks's representatives. Similarly, the speaker chassis is rounded, minimizing vibration and distortion. The resulting sound is clear and crisp even at high volumes, especially at the mid and high ranges. Bass, though, seems a bit tempered compared to the strength of the higher registers. Read more...

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