Iriver Blank BTS-SD1 Sound Donut Bluetooth speaker review: Iriver Blank BTS-SD1 Sound Donut Bluetooth speaker
We review the new portable Bluetooth speaker that's shaped like a breakfast treat, or a life preserver.
O-shaped wireless speakers are apparently in fashion these days. I recently reviewed Philips' Apple AirPlay-enabled
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
The portable speaker comes in a few different color variations, including the all-black model I received as a review sample. As I said, this is a Bluetooth speaker and it has a built-in microphone for making cell phone calls. It also has an integrated rechargeable battery that will enalbe you to stream audio for up to 9 hours when fully charged. The Sound Donut recharges via an included USB cable and has an auxiliary input for non-Bluetooth audio devices.
The Sound Donut has a few strong points. For starters, its ring design makes it very easy to carry around in your hand. It also looks nice sitting on your desk or wherever you choose to lay it down. It's got a rubberized bottom, so it doesn't slide around, and it features some touch-sensitive virtual buttons on top of the unit that I liked (they light up blue).
It was also easy enough to pair my iPhone 4S, iPad, and a Samsung Galaxy S3 Android phone. Like other Bluetooth speakers, this one will stream audio from almost all Bluetooth-enabled devices, including tablets, smartphones, and PCs.
In terms of performance, the Sound Donut was at its best when used as a speakerphone. It plays fairly loud, but for music, it's lacking in the bass department and sounds fairly thin. For augmenting the sound while watching a movie on your iPad, it would be fine. It's also OK for casual music listening, but just don't expect to be wowed by the sound.
To that end, I felt the
Conclusion
I liked the Sound Donut and thought it had some good attributes, such as an appealing design and solid speakerphone performance. Though it's hard to expect the world from a relatively flat, compact speaker, its distinct lack of bass made it less desirable for all but casual music listening. That said, it will definitely augment the sound of your tablet for movie watching and game playing.
I can't call this a great deal at $99.99, but it's right around what a lot of portable mini Bluetooth speakers cost. If you see it discounted a bit, closer to $75, it's definitely worth a longer look. But at $99, you'll want to do some comparison shopping before you buy.