X

DBest debuts 'world's smallest Bluetooth hi-fi system'

British company DBest London is showing off a tiny Bluetooth speaker at CES that sounds surprisingly decent.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
See full bio
David Carnoy
2 min read
DBest PS4001BT Solo Bluetooth Rechargeable Mini-Speaker retails for $59.99 and actually sounds decent for its tiny size. David Carnoy/CNET

In the past, we've tested out tiny spherical accordion-style portable speakers and have always been a bit underwhelmed.

Enter the DBest London PS4001BT Solo Bluetooth Rechargeable Mini-Speaker ($59.99), which the U.K.-based company bills as the "world's smallest Bluetooth hi-fi system." It weighs a mere 2.3 ounces and measures smaller than a lot of Christmas ornaments (1.7x2.3 inches).

Of course, it's not hard to make a small speaker, but the trick is to make it sound decent, and the DBest Solo manages to do that. OK, we're not talking great sound, but the thing actually plays pretty loud, sounds clear enough, and offers some bass.

You can set it down on a table or hang it somewhere using that built-in hole you see at the top (the hole does make the speaker look a little too much like a Christmas ornament, but hey, maybe some people will like the idea of having music emanate from their trees next year).

 
You can lay the Solo flat on a surface or hang it up with a string or wire (not included). David Carnoy/CNET

Here are the key specs:

  • Wireless music streaming up to 45 feet
  • Battery life: Up to 20 hours of continuous wireless or up to 40 hours wired playback
  • Charges via USB (compatible with standard USB chargers) and includes a travel pouch
  • Compatible with all devices featuring 2.1+EDR Bluetooth
  • Line input for audio sources without Bluetooth connectivity
  • Price: $59.99

DBest is also showing off a dual Bluetooth speaker option called the PS4003BT Duo Bluetooth Rechargeable Mini-Speaker Set that retails for $10 more ($69.99) and offers the same battery life and similar features but obviously allows for stereo sound.

 
The DBest PS4003BT includes two speakers and retails for $10 more ($69.99). David Carnoy/CNET

While there's a cord that runs between the speakers, they adhere magnetically at their bases to form a capsule for transport.

Both DBest models have just started shipping in the U.S.