BoomCAN X-mini RAVE - Advanced MP3 Players

www.ipadiphoneuser.co.uk/reviews
REVIEWS
X-mini RAVE
Twist-open speaker pumps out a great sound
Mini speaker
Company X-mini
T
URL www.x-mini.com
Price £40
Twist and shout The RAVE
has a neat opening mechanism
his attractive little capsule
speaker should be a
tempting buy for iPhone
and iPod owners. It kicks out
decent audio for its size, and
is ideal for scenarios where
you haven’t got access to
a full-scale music system.
The RAVE (recently
rebranded from ‘Wave’)
looks like a hockey puck
when stored. But give it a
twist and you expose the
concertina structure within.
It’s a cute, portable design. (A
basic carry bag is included.)
Portability is helped by the
integration of the audio cable
into the base. There’s a longer,
detachable USB cable as well, which
is required for charging; X-mini
claims the battery should last up to
six hours after a two-hour charge.
Audio quality was decent, with
respectable bass punch and a
pleasingly warm sound. The RAVE
justified its higher price tag by
outperforming the Scosche (below)
in most areas – it was less artificial
sounding throughout our tests, and
punchy disco tracks were noticeably
stronger on this speaker.
However, while it’s clearly
capable of producing high volumes
(the packaging warns that it is
“unbelievably loud”), we felt the
quality suffered when we pushed
the envelope. This is probably to be
expected from such a small unit,
but the Scosche seemed marginally
more comfortable when going big
on volume.
There’s a built-in FM radio,
which can be controlled using +
and – keys and a small blue display
that can be quite hard to read. The
sound quality of the radio seemed
pretty sharp, and it’s a nice extra.
And here’s one more clever
feature: you can link multiple units
THE SKINNY…
Likes: Highly portable; con
certina
design; decent sound
Dislikes: Audio degrades sligh
tly
at high volumes
Rating: 1 1 1 1
3
together, thanks to the integrated
cable and audio input. We only had
one Rave sample unit, but we were
able to run the Scosche and X-mini
off the same audio source thanks to
the X-mini’s clever feature.
iPad & iPhone User says…
The X-mini RAVE looks good, it’s
highly portable and the sound is
better than we expected at this
price and size. And the option of
being able to daisy-chain multiple
units is a handy extra for those
beach barbecues. David Price
BoomCAN
Small, cheap and portable iPod speaker
THE SKINNY…
Bass-heavy
nother marvellously
tracks were a slight
portable speaker unit
Likes: Price tag; portable size;
disappointment,
for the outward-bound
simple, stylish look
especially compared
iPhone owner, Scosche’s BoomCAN
to the X-mini, with
has a great look, petite dimensions
Dislikes: Sound quality is (perhaps
less punch than we
and a respectable sound – although
understandably) not dazzling
like, and a ‘metallic’
it can’t match the more expensive
feel. Female vocals
X-mini model we look at above.
Rating: 1 1 1 3 3
had strong clarity, and
With the proportions of a drinks
we got a nice elastic snap with
can shrunken to a height of about
some funkier recordings. But our
multiple models. The manufacturer
55mm, the BoomCAN fits into
experiments with classical piano
claims the rechargeable battery is
a pocket, handbag or rucksack,
exposed a piercing, artificial sound.
good for seven hours of play.
and feels like it will stand up to
moderate jostling. It has
an attractive matt finish
iPad & iPhone
This is an impressive little product,
over most of the body with
User says…
glossier detailing on the
All things considered
ends. It’s simultaneously
– namely the shrunken
stylish and unobtrusive.
drinks can dimensions and
With a 3.5mm
the £19 price tag – this is
Generally the audio quality is
headphone socket, the speaker is
an impressive little product, with
good for such a slimline and lowcompatible with pretty much any
decent if not dazzling sound and a
price unit, although inevitably there cute look. We rate the X-mini more
mp3 player or smartphone; and like
is less warmth and immediacy to
the X-Mini, the Scosche has been
highly, but this is half the price. You
the sound than you’d get with a
fitted out with both audio input
pays your money, you takes your
full-size speaker.
and output, so you can daisy-chain
choice. David Price
A
“with decent if not dazzling
Yes we CAN
Sound quality is solid,
considering the size
and budget price tag
sound and a cute look ”
52
iPad & iPhone User 2011
Mini speaker
Company Scosche
URL www.scosche.com
Price £19