(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Small, portable Bluetooth speakers can sound really good, but let's be honest: if you're soundtracking a large gathering or party, a small one isn't going to cut it. You need a proper party speaker for that, one that gets incredibly loud and makes your guests feel like they're at a concert. How about one that hits a staggering 121dB, then?The Soundboks Mix is perhaps the loudest speaker I've tested yet. It's loud, but even at the highest volume, music doesn't sound too distorted, and the treble and mids remain surprisingly clear. Bass is nothing short of Earth-shaking, and the room-filling sound leaves you drooling. But...Yeah, there's always a "but." It's part and parcel of testing and reviewing products, because few (if any) are perfect. The Mix is no different. Even though I love its sound profile, its drawbacks have left me feeling shortchanged — and when $799 is on the line, you want bang for your buck. There is one speaker out there that's great value for money, and sadly, it ain't the Mix.Shake the ground
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)One of the Soundboks Mix's biggest selling points is that it's get ridiculously loud. At a whopping 121dB, the Mix sounds loud enough to vibrate a glass off a desk if you're indoors, or shake the ground when you're outdoors. Metaphorically speaking, of course — I didn't actually manage to drop a glass off a countertop.All that's to say is that you can certainly be the life of the party with the Mix. Whether you're head-banging to bass-heavy rock or dancing to electronic dance music, the Mix has you covered. Two 72W Class D amplifiers powered by a 10-inch woofer and a 1.2-inch dome tweeter cover a frequency response range of 40Hz to 20KHz — typical for a speaker of its demeanour.Regardless of the tune I listened to, I was impressed. Lana Del Rey's vocals in ‘First Light’ sat front and centre and sounded remarkably clear. The warmth, texture and emotional nuance were reproduced accurately, while subtle details in her delivery found themselves in the spotlight without sounding too clinical. The treble in rock tunes, like ‘Elma’ by Yin Yin and ‘Echoes’ by Pink Floyd, shone and sounded vibrant without cutting through the rest of the soundstage.
