Take your music everywhere with Bluetooth speakers
R.O. GNT Portable Bluetooth MP3 Capsule Speaker. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
Choosing a Bluetooth speaker - Determine whether you will use your speakers indoors or outdoors.
While the size may not be a guarantee of good sound, you need to consider how portable the device is.
As the speakers connect via Bluetooth, you need to know how many devices it can be paired with.
Choose one with good quality sound that is clear and audible.
As with all other electronics, choose manufacturers of repute that offer the best warranty
In an era where music can be stored in iPods or micro SD cards in phones, more and more people are choosing the kind of music that they listen to on the go. Applications like Kleek, Vimeo, and YouTube also enable users to stream online videos on their phones.
It is not surprising, therefore, that a large number of people within Nairobi are taking advantage of portable devices and plugging in their earphones as they walk on the streets.
The trend, which is popular among the youth, is also fast catching up with the older generation who are increasingly becoming more tech-savvy.
For a long time, listening to music on portable devices has been a single user experience with people having to plug in their earphones to listen to the music or putting the device on loud speaker or sharing their ear piece to enable someone else to enjoy the music.
But the emergence of wireless portable speakers has raised the enjoyment of music a notch higher by enabling people to carry their music and play it in a more audible manner where more people can enjoy the music without sharing earphones. This is through Bluetooth speakers.
These relatively small speakers vary in shape, size and the quality of sound they produce. They also vary in functionality, with some designed to provide good sound quality indoors while others are better suited for livening up the party in your backyard. However, a few are designed to serve both indoor and outdoor functions.
Most mini Bluetooth speakers weigh less than 400g and can literally be carried in one’s pocket, put on a desk or on the dashboard of your car.
They can be connected to a number of devices which have Bluetooth connectivity such as phones, tablets and personal computers thereby amplifying the sound of the music or video being played.
They have an average working range of 10 metres and being able to connect to devices within this radius means you don’t have to put the two gadgets close together.
Flying saucers
When it comes to design, manufacturers have sought to get creative with some speakers looking like small cylinders, capsules, bricks or even flying saucers.
Some of the stereo mini speakers contain a slot for micro SD cards enabling one to play music directly from the speaker without using Bluetooth to connect it to other devices. Others also have an in-built FM radio making it ideal to tune in to one’s favourite radio station when on a picnic, in the country side or driving in a vehicle with no radio.
In other words, this is a device that will give you music just about anywhere in the world, no matter how remote. It is also the best alternative to having a stereo in office receptions for people who are conscious about utilisation of office space.
It can also work well in the boardroom especially for video conference calls as there is no chance of tripping over wires and disconnecting the audio.
Rechargeable batteries
Most mini speakers are compatible with Blackberry, Android and Apple devices as long as they are Bluetooth enabled. They can easily be purchased from electronics and computer accessories shops with the price ranging from between Sh1,500 to Sh4,500 dependent on their size and the quality of sound they produce.
The speakers have rechargeable batteries and come with a USB charging cable. When fully charged, most devices can play music for between five to eight hours depending on the battery capacity.
Outdoor Bluetooth speakers also vary in size with the output of most devices ranging between 40W and 80W. Most of them also have a range of up to 100 metres. If you are a constant traveller or an adventure seeker, then Bluetooth speakers will help you to carry your music around with you wherever you go.
