HMDX Jam Plus review: Popular wireless speaker can now pair up
The $50 Jam Plus version improves on the original Jam and it 'parties in stereo' if you buy two.
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Now the company is back with a new, improved edition, the Jam Plus, which retails for around $50 and comes in multiple colors. The speaker's slightly bigger than the original and also sounds slightly better, but its other selling point is that if you buy two of them, you can combine the two speakers and create a pair of left/right wireless stereo speakers. The Jam Plus is among the first Bluetooth speakers to include such a stereo option and it certainly creates a better listening experience, though it doesn't cover up the speakers' shortcomings in the bass department.
Design and features The original or "classic" Jam is sold in six "flavors"-- Strawberry, Grape, Blueberry, Blackberry, Apricot, and Apple -- that refer to its various color options. This model eschews the fruit reference, but it does come in five different colors. Interestingly, the Plus is slightly larger than the original but weighs a bit less (8 ounces vs. 9.6 ounces).
The speaker is attractively styled in a fun way and seems geared toward tweens and younger tech users who might, say, have an iPod Touch (yes, the iPod Touch skews toward a younger audience). It's easy to pick up and carry around from room to room, and while no carrying case is included for transportation, you could use the plastic jar as a case.
Like all Bluetooth speakers, the HMDX Jam connects wirelessly up to 30 feet away and works with all Bluetooth-enabled smartphones, tablets, and laptops/desktops. The rechargeable, lithium-ion battery is rated to deliver up to 4 hours of wireless play, which is OK, but not great (your battery life will vary according to volume level, so you may be able to do better at lower volumes). It charges via USB and has an audio input for playing audio from non-Bluetooth devices.
There's no speakerphone capabilities, but as noted, you can combine two speakers to create a stereo pair. If you take a quick look at the instructions, it's easy enough to pair the two speakers (you set the switch on the bottom to left for one speaker and right for the other).
HMDX also sells the ruggedized Jam Extreme ($59.99), which is "splash proof, drop proof, and dirt proof." However, that model does not offer the stereo pairing feature.
Performance The Jam Plus does sound better than the original, with a bit more bass. Despite users high regard for the original Jam, I thought it sounded very thin. By contrast, this model merely sounds thin, which is an improvement.
With all these mini Bluetooth speakers, I try to review them in their larger context. If an audiophile were listening to them, he or she would be none too impressed (dismayed might be a more accurate description), but mainstream users should be fairly satisfied with the sound.
The Jam Plus does play larger than its size would indicate and its sound can be improved a bit by placing it near a wall to get some reflection. It will distort with bass-heavy material, particularly at higher volumes, so you're best off not cranking the speaker and listening at more moderate volume levels.
As I've noted in many of my reviews of tiny wireless speakers (and even some larger units), they offer no stereo separation. The good news here is that combining two of these speakers remedies that problem. And by creating a wider sound stage, your music will sound fuller. The only issue is that the speakers don't serve up a ton of bass, so the sound comes across as somewhat thin. To be clear, virtually all these tiny speakers sound thin, though the Jawbone Jambox and JBL Flip (and JBL Charge) do deliver noticeably more bass. The Philips SoundShooter is a bit smaller speaker that retails for the same price (around $50). It offers double the battery life, a touch more bass, and has speakerphone capabilities. But the Jam Plus seems like the more durable speaker.
Conclusion The Jam Plus has some nice pluses working in its favor. I liked its design, the speaker sounds better than the original, and you have the option to buy a second speaker and create a stereo pair. Oh, and at around $50, it's pretty affordable.
There are plenty of other options to choose from, including the Philips SoundShooter and the more expensive JBL Flip and