Bluetooth audio system have grow to be so ubiquitous and inexpensive that you just not have to depend on one and even two audio system to fulfill all of your cellular audio wants. Today, there’s a Bluetooth speaker for practically any use case, from growth containers to energy your yard barbecue to ultra-portable fashions. Plus, the ever-important bathe speaker for jamming whilst you clear up.
For those who’re after the latter, Skullcandy’s Kilo speaker is an attractive funds possibility. With strong water resistance, a sturdy clip-on design, and a full day and night time of battery per cost, the Kilo has the products for a strong toilet grasp or a ride-along Bluetooth speaker. It will not get you best-in-class sound, because it struggles with definition on the prime and backside of the frequency vary, but it surely’s surprisingly nicely balanced for a speaker from a model with a headphone line referred to as “Skullcrusher.” In case your funds can stretch a tiny bit extra, JBL’s Clip 4 is the superior alternative, however the Kilo will get the job performed.
A Good Hold
{Photograph}: Skullcandy
Carabiners might look cool in Bluetooth speaker adverts dangling from a backpack, however in observe, they’re most helpful for affixing your speaker to a bathe basket or hook for a extra everlasting residency. In that respect, the Kilo’s compact carabiner clip works nice. It’s not as versatile because the bigger clips you’ll discover on JBL’s Clip 4 and even the smaller Clip 3, however its compact dimension makes it simpler to suit into tight spots.
It’s unimaginable to not examine the Kilo to JBL’s Clip line. Skullcandy’s mannequin is constructed like a direct response, proper right down to the rubberized bottom that helps diffuse it from surfaces for much less bass rumble if you lay the speaker flat. The Kilo’s IPX7 ranking means it lacks the Clip’s dust-proofing, but it surely’s nearly waterproof, in a position to survive showers of every kind or perhaps a quick dunk within the pool.
The Kilo has related onboard controls, although it distills the JBL Clip 4’s 5 buttons into three multi-keys that deal with every little thing from energy and pairing to quantity and music skipping. It took thumbing by way of the directions to determine the elusive skip controls, performed by holding down the amount keys as an alternative of tapping. That’s particularly important for avoiding podcast adverts when your telephone’s out of attain. I most well-liked Skullcandy’s easier management format over time, offering all choices on the speaker’s accessible entrance face.
The Kilo’s characteristic set is bare-bones in any other case. The shortage of a devoted cellular app means there’s no technique to modify EQ or mix a number of audio system in “Social gathering Mode” as on JBL’s newest audio system. You can pair two Kilo audio system collectively for stereo playback, however that is about it.
The largest plus on this package deal is the Kilo’s distinctive 24-hour battery life, which greater than doubles related JBL fashions and meets or beats absolutely anything else I’ve examined. You don’t strictly want that a lot battery, but it surely makes charging a rarity, so you possibly can go away the speaker hung within the toilet or out on the deck for days and even weeks. An LED show on the Kilo’s decrease bezel lets you already know when it’s time to seize the USB-C charging cable, which is a pleasant contact.
Podcast Particular
In case your major use case for the Kilo is barreling by way of the ever-growing record of podcasts in your Spotify or Audible library, you’ll be in glorious form. The speaker does its greatest work within the center frequencies, providing clear and current dialog out of your favourite comedy, thriller, and nonfiction casters. Element is strong, with no offensive sharpness or sibilance to talk of, leaving little to complain about when listening close to.
It does an honest job with music, as soon as once more shining within the midrange the place devices like vocals and guitar are rendered with crisp presence, but it surely readily reveals its funds standing when put too intently underneath the microscope. There’s a tinny, nickel-glaze to brighter devices like cymbals and high-register synths. On the opposite finish, the bass cuts off about as early as you’d count on from a contemporary funds speaker however presents sufficient heat and heft to reverberate by way of furnishings with out creating undesirable buzz. Pushing the amount too arduous can result in some muddying at each ends of the spectrum, however sound stays clear within the middle, particularly in sparser mixes.
Extra achieved (and pricier) audio system just like the Clip 4 and Sony SRS-XB100 provide higher readability and definition within the excessive frequencies and heftier punch down low. The older (and smaller) JBL Clip 3 is a better comparability. The Clip 3 offered higher total definition and readability in my A/B testing, however the Kilo serves up a weightier soundstage. None of those audio system are going to blow you away, however you’ll get a large soar in constancy for a bit more money.
For those who’re choosy about your sound, I counsel stepping as much as one of many above choices, each of that are normally discounted. For those who simply want bathe speaker on a budget, the Kilo’s model, sturdiness, and battery life make it a strong choose, and certain a significantly better possibility than no-name Amazon specials.
