I review lots of gadgets, and I like quite a few. But it’s a rare treat when one earns an immediate spot in my computer bag.
This review subject, the Divoom Bluetune Solo Bluetooth speaker, won me over in a matter of minutes.
In fact, within an hour after I unboxed the Bluetune Solo, two co-workers bought one after seeing it in use.
The little speaker is about half the size of a soda can, and it has some heft to it. It’s not heavy, but it’s substantial enough to feel like there’s more than just plastic inside the matte orange case.
The Bluetune Solo ($49.99) also comes in black, white, blue and red.
The Bluetune Solo’s single speaker points upward and sits behind a small grill on top. Also on the top is the speaker’s only button, used to answer or end phone calls and to put the speaker in pairing mode. An on/off switch on the bottom is the only other control. Volume is controlled from the music source (your phone, tablet or computer).
There is another small grill around the bottom that helps bring out the low end when the speaker is placed on a flat surface.
Divoom says the speaker has an “X-bass sound system featuring patented PO-Bass Technology.” I’m not sure what that means, but I like how it sounds.
The Bluetune Solo is powered by an internal rechargeable battery that will play for eight hours. Recharging is done via mini-USB.
Out of the box, you switch on the power, and the Bluetune Solo blinks to show it’s in pairing mode. Connecting was simple on my iPhone and laptop. Hold down the button for a few seconds to put it in pairing mode again.
The speaker plays a 1-second-long beep when it’s powered on. Since there’s no volume control on the unit, there’s no making that beep any quieter. I wish the beep were shorter and quieter.
Music sounds surprisingly good for such a small speaker. My co-workers and I really enjoyed the sound.
If your music is coming from a phone, you can use the Bluetune Solo’s built-in microphone to make or take calls, which sounded great.
I spent the past two weeks in a small conference room working on a project. The room didn’t have a speakerphone, so the Bluetune Solo was put to use on more than a few calls. We had no problem placing it in the middle of the conference table and making conference calls.
The Bluetune Solo can also act as a Bluetooth receiver for your home stereo or powered computer speakers by connecting it to your system via its 3.5 mm output.
That same output lets users connect two speakers together for bigger sound, although not left/right stereo sound.
There are a lot of things to like about the Bluetune Solo. I can recommend it without reservation.
The website is www.divoomusa.com.