Logitech's Mini Boombox review: Small audio dynamite
The Logitech Mini Boombox Bluetooth speaker doesn't sound quite as good as the Jawbone Jambox--or look quite as slick--but it can play loud and has identical features for about half the price.
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
Jawbone has had some success in the market with the Jambox, a small Bluetooth speaker with speakerphone capabilities. Designed to augment the sound of smartphones and tablets such the iPad, the nice thing about the Jambox is that it plays loudly and takes up little room in your bag, so it makes for an excellent traveling companion.
Logitech's Mini Boombox does exactly the same thing as the $175 Jambox, and while it doesn't do it quite as well--and isn't as slickly designed--it only costs half as much.
The Mini Boombox is smaller than the Jambox and about the same size and weight (1 pound) as the Monster iClarityHD, which also sells for around $100 ($75 online). The Mini Boombox has touch-sensitive buttons on the top of speaker and an auxiliary input for plugging in audio devices that aren't Bluetooth-enabled (optional cable not included).
The first word that comes to mind when you see this is "cute." Yes, this little guy has an understated but perky design that's sure to get some curious glances from onlookers. My only gripe is that the dark, glossy plastic finish on top of the unit seems prone to showing scratches and fingerprints, so you'll have to be careful to protect the speaker or else it may start to look a little beat up. Alas, Logitech doesn't include any sort of cheap pouch or cover for storing the device, but that's not the end of the world.
Read the full review of the Mini Boombox to find out just how good it sounds for its tiny size.
