Recently, we’ve seen floor-standing speakers- not the sort of thing you can easily hide under the Christmas tree. And we’ve checked out bookshelf speakers, ideal for a library or entertainment center. But one of the most popular items for holidays are more portable Bluetooth speakers, the kind that can almost fit inside a stocking, and can help get your party in the spirit with carols (or something completely different).
The Creative iRoar Go is the latest in their line- it’s 25% lighter and 40% smaller than the Creative iRoar but still boasts five drivers. Inside the compact unit are dual tweeters, a subwoofer, two passive radiators… as well as two distinct amplifiers, one for the lows and mids, and another for the higher frequencies. Unlike the predecessors, this one also is IPX6 splashproof rated for use even in the rain, or safely in the bathroom or at the beach. And the company touts their “SuperWide” technology, which aims to create a larger sound stage, and certainly there was plenty of presence.
As with most similar speakers, there is a rechargeable battery, and this one features 12 hours of playtime between charges. Weighing in at less than a svelte two pounds, it can be oriented in either a horizontal or vertical position. There’s a microphone, so you can make or take calls, and the iRoar Go is NFC-capable for easy connectivity to Android smartphones. If you want, you can even connect and play music via USB, or the traditional 3.5mm minijack auxiliary connection. More unusually, there’s even a microSD slot, like the iRoar that we checked out a few months ago (and it can serve as a voice recorder too). We liked the color scheme a little better, metallic instead of red accents for a little more of a restrained aesthetic.
We liked that there was an app for easy EQ adjustment, allowing you to boost . Some portable speakers require you to grab your device to control the music, but this one has built-in controls for everything (though they are somewhat oddly separated between two sections). With Bluetooth 4.2, the range is easy, pairing is simple, and music was rich and full. There is some distortion at higher volumes, but there is plenty of power for small rooms, and it’s great for hip-hop or pop music, snappy and punchy. Available now, online and in stores, expect to spend around $179.99 for the friendly and fun new Creative iRoar Go.