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Get a DBest Duo Bluetooth mini speaker set for $49.99

These cool little portable speakers offer much better stereo separation than most Bluetooth bricks -- and for a lower price. Cheapskate exclusive!

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read
The DBest Duo Bluetooth mini-speakers sound pretty good for their size.
The DBest Duo Bluetooth mini-speakers sound pretty good for their size. Abe's of Maine

When it comes to portable speakers, most products cram a couple drivers into a small brick of the Jawbone Jambox or Logitech Mini Boombox variety.

Many of them sound pretty good for their size, but the best stereo comes when you've got two speakers spaced farther apart.

On the other hand, you still want portability, and, ideally, Bluetooth.

Problem solved: Abe's of Maine has the DBest Duo Bluetooth mini speaker set for $49.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code CNET20 at checkout. (That's right: This is another fine exclusive just for Cheapskate readers.)

Update: The code is not currently working. I'm checking with the company and will update again as soon as I get some news. Stay tuned!

Update No. 2: Code is now working! Sorry for the hassle.

As you can see in the photo, this isn't your typical portable Bluetooth speaker setup. The aptly named Duo consists of a pair of speakers that, to my thinking, resemble a couple Pac-Man ghosts -- only way sexier.

What's interesting about this pair is that they magnetically interlock at their bases to form a neat little tube, the idea being to make them easier to transport when not in use.

Pull them apart, however, and you've got a tethered twosome that can sit about 3 feet apart -- much better for listening to music than speakers that might only be 2 inches apart.

To charge the Duo, you need a powered USB port; the set doesn't come with an AC adapter, a minor hassle. On the plus side, it comes with a microUSB-to-USB charging cable that also has a 3.5mm stereo plug, meaning you can wire it to any player or device that lacks Bluetooth.

My loaner pair paired easily with my iPhone. Truth be told, I didn't expect much from such tiny speakers, but the Duo impressed me with its loud, room-filling sound. Some tunes sounded a bit shrill at top volume, and unsurprisingly, there wasn't much bass. But overall, this is a great little set to pack along in a bag when you want audio that goes beyond your earphones.

And given that the aforementioned Jawbone and Logitech products sell for $199.99 and $99.99, respectively, this is a mighty attractive deal on portable Bluetooth speakers.

The coupon code expires August 22 -- unless the Duo sells out before then.

Bonus deal: Speaking of CNET exclusives, here's a sweet one: the Kensington KeyFolio Expert keyboard case for iPad. It has a list price of $99, but from now until August 23, you can score one for $65 shipped. (Best bet elsewhere is around $80.) It's a combination Bluetooth keyboard/iPad case.

Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

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