Review: Logitech Mini Boombox
Filed under Reviews by Will Verduzco on January 22, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Logitech Mini Boombox
Not too long ago, we took a look at the Satechi BT Portable Wireless Speaker—yes, quite the mouthful. While we were huge fans of its diminutive dimensions and light weight, we couldn’t help but think that adding another octave or two to the bottom end would improve the listening experience for most.
Today, we take a look at the Logtech Mini Boombox. Like the other portable speaker, the Mini Boombox features Bluetooth and 3.5 mm connectivity and is geared towards augmenting your smartphone or tablet arsenal. However, unlike the Satechi, this one comes to the table packing much more heat. Is the Mini Boombox worthy of $99 of your hard-earned cash? Jump past the break to find out!
- Attractive and functional design
- Specially designed acoustic chamber delivers great sound with enhanced bass.
- Connects via Bluetooth or 3.5 mm headphone jack.
- Long-lasting Lithium Ion battery plays for up to 10 hours!
- The back-lit, touch panel controls are easy to see at night or in daylight.
In The Box...
In addition to the Mini Boombox itself, the box contains a standard USB wall wart and mini USB cable. Unfortunately, and unlike the Satechi, the Logitech does not come with a carry pouch.
Innovative Back-Lit Touch Controls
On the front panel, you can find a blue indicator light and a mesh grille that protects the two front-facing mid-treble drivers.
On the top panel, you’ll find capacitive controls for play/pause, track selection, volume adjustment, and phone. The capacitive buttons light up when touched, and are extremely responsive. This solution is both sleek and functional.
One might worry that the plastic top panel is prone to scratching. This seems to be the case, as gently wiping the top with a microfiber cloth resulted in several micro-scratches on this reviewer’s unit. This is unfortunate because the glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet. That said, the micro-scratches are indeed micro, and can only be seen through careful examination in harsh and revealing lighting.
Rear Panel
The rear panel is home to the on-off switch, the mini USB charging port, and the auxiliary input. Additionally, you can see the rear firing vent that partially exposes a vertical-firing mid-bass driver that spans practically the entire width of the device! This clever design clearly foreshadows excellent dynamics and bass response.
Despite its relatively small dimensions, the Logitech Mini Boombox achieves impressive bass response. Not only is this heard, but it is also seen in the measured frequency response plot below. We attribute its category-defining performance to the unique layout of the top/rear-firing mid-bass driver described above.
Treble extension and clarity is quite astonishing for a portable device—certainly much more so than the frequency response plot suggests. Vocal tracks are natural and clear at seemingly any reasonable volume. The two front-facing drivers certainly do their part to deliver solid performance that this reviewer has never heard in such a small size.
Dynamics are similarly impressive. The low noise floor combined with almost excessively loud maximum output lead to a signal-to-noise ratio unheard of in a portable speaker. And unlike the Satechi, I was unable to administer the frequency response testing at maximum volume for the safety of my own hearing!
Measured Frequency Response
Subjective listening tests proved even more impressive than the objective measurements. Music just sounded natural through the Mini Boombox. And unlike the much smaller Satechi, dynamics and bass response were not compressed. This resulted in a very pleasing experience in a wide variety of genres.
Ultimately no portable speaker, especially one such as this with roughly one centimeter of channel separation, can achieve truly audiophile-grade sound quality and imaging. That said, the Logitech Mini Boombox is a seriously impressive upgrade for your smartphone or tablet, and easily the best Bluetooth-enabled portable speaker this reviewer has ever heard.
The Logitech Mini Boombox is truly a fantastic device. Small dimensions (though certainly not pocket-friendly) and excellent sound quality are mated with clean aesthetics and phenomenal battery life. Coming in at just under $100, the Logitech Mini Boombox is simply a steal.
Pros
- Best-in-class sonic performance
- Excellent bass response for its size
- Gorgeous looks
- Abundant power
- Innovative control panel
Cons
- Perhaps too large for small “gear bags”
- No carry pouch
- Top panel is prone to scratching
-
Daniel Espinosa