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Computerworld on
foxL
By
Mark Gibbs, Computerworld
Sound advice:
Three speakers for mobility
Mark Gibbs
25.05.2011
Gibbs looks
at three portable speaker systems that will enhance your mobile pleasure
If you travel light, with, say, just an iPad, you may need some good quality
sound for presentations and I have some solutions for you.
Making portable speakers is easy but, unless you can move enough air when
generating bass frequencies -- something that requires a large speaker
surface area -- most music will be dominated by high frequencies and sound
anemic. Even for just speech, a lack of bass fidelity creates a weak sound
without presence, so arguably the most important aspect by which portable
speakers should be judged is the quality of bass rendition.
My final choice is the
foxL v2
Bluetooth produced by Soundmatters International. The foxL, another
Bluetooth device, is small (5.6-inches by 2.2-inches by 1.4-inches and 9.5
ounces), with a 3.5mm input jack, a 3.5mm subwoofer output, and a
rechargeable battery with an 8 hour life. Its power output is 4 watts when a
wall adapter is used and 2 watts on battery power.
Of all three products, the foxL has, by far, the best sound reproduction; in
fact, when you show it to people who have any knowledge about audio they are
shocked! My only complaint is when you use the foxL on a smooth surface and
crank up the volume, the device "walks" forward due to the vibration. No
matter, the foxL is terrific and at $199, considerably more expensive than
the other devices, but it still gets a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
So, the foxL would be my travel choice while the Disco would be my picnic
choice and the Wowee One, my "I don't want too spend much" choice. That, my
friends, is sound advice.
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