Like with any small speaker, if you crank it to max volume, there is some distortion on bass-heavy songs. But the distortion is slight, and the bass sounds great if you have the volume appropriately set for the type of audio you are streaming.

On that note, there is no remote. The only way to control the volume is the `volume up’ and `volume down’ buttons on the front of the speaker or directly from streaming device if it allows it. That is, my iPhone (3G – iOS 3.1.3) cannot change the speaker’s volume while streaming, but my laptop can. In my use, I have not needed a remote. Usually I directly set the speaker’s volume for the environment (e.g., bathroom, patio) and forget it. No remote also means you must control the streaming media from your device. There are no media control buttons on the speaker.

There is an auxiliary input on the back of the speaker, if you want to hook up a non-Bluetooth device, or maybe just to save battery by not using Bluetooth.

Pairing with Bluetooth-capable devices (in my case, iPhone 3G and HP laptop) is simple and quick.

Battery life (four AA) is excellent. It is so long I cannot even put an estimate in terms of hours. It also came with an AC adapter, but I have never used it. The battery compartment is underneath the speaker.

The speaker is fairly small and very light. I actually carry it from room-to-room to enjoy while I am doing chores.

My only concern with the speaker is the build quality. The plastic casing is sturdy, but the front face of the speaker (surrounding the name plate and volume controls) is made of cloth. The cloth is spongy, but I am worried that it will inevitably tear with my heavy use of the speaker. There is no travel case included with the speaker.

Looking for a portable Bluetooth wireless speaker, I also considered the Logitech Z515. I’ve never used that Logitech speaker, but I ultimately chose the Creative D100 based on superior reviews for sound quality and bass quality.

On the front of the speaker:

• Volume up button
• Volume down button
• Bluetooth connect button

On the back of the speaker:

• Power (on/off) switch
• Aux input
• 5V AC adapter input

Underneath the speaker:

• Battery compartment (four AA)

See larger image Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black) (Personal Computers) List Price: $79.99 USD New From: $49.99 In Stock Used from: $40.99 In Stock

• Two 2 inch speakers spaced about 4 inches apart.
• 122 Hz to 20k Hz frequency response
• 50 foot range wireless signal
• 2.4 GHz broadcast frequency
• 6 foot power supply cable
• Works with USB port
• Works on A2DP Bluetooth devices
• Works with Windows or Mac
• Has 2 year limited warranty
• Comes with travel case
• Has auxiliary port for any 1/8 stereo jack equipment
• Rechargeable battery charge lasts 10 hours
• Comes with power adapter for use or recharging
• Suggested retail price around $100
• Black case
• Works with Linux Mint version 9

I found that the unit was “plug and play” on Windows XP and Windows Vista. I got it to play on this OS on two netbook computers and one desktop. On the Vista computer it switched over the audio from the original setting to the USB wireless signal USB stick that sends a signal to the unit. It did reset the video that I was watching to the beginning. The instructions say that you should have all the audio programs you are using off before plugging it in. I did find that when I pulled the unit out that the sound reverted back to the original speaker settings, however the Youtube video I was watching remained mute until I exited the browser and re-entered.

I found that I could not get the Logitech speakers and my regular computer speakers to play simultaneously. I checked through my advanced settings and played around with all the settings I could find, but either one would play or the other, but not both at the same time. I was hoping for a kind of surround sound effect, but did not achieve it. In switching back and forth, I did lose my volume control icon from my lower right hand corner. I had to go to <control panel>, <sounds and audio devices>, and click before it came back (after rebooting).

I also tested the speakers on a Crunch Bang Linux OS and found it did not work. I have found, much as I like Crunch Bang, that it has a little trouble mounting hardware compared to other Linux OS. It either mounts automatically or not at all. There are no panels to manually install or set hardware that does not mount automatically, unless it registers in the audio mixer (which it did not). It seems that many who like Crunch Bang Linux are very skillful with the Terminal program which is command line driven and can sometimes make the adjustments necessary through this route. This usually entrails finding software code online. This is beyond my skill at present and I cannot confirm that this can be done with the speakers.

I did find, however, find that Linux Mint version 9 recognized the Logitech Speakers. I still had to go into the hardware manager and select it manually over the default internal speaker and also had to select the speakers as my output choice. Once this was done, it played very well. Neither Windows nor Linux required any drivers to be loaded. Since Linux Mint version 9 has Ubuntu 10.04 and Debian behind it, I suspect that these speakers could be made to work with Ubuntu or Debian, but I am not sure. My guess is that it should work about the same for Ubuntu 10.04 and would probably require one or two manual settings in the sound controller. I suspect that Debian would also need some manual adjusting as well, but am unfamiliar with how this operating system fully works.

The speakers recharged very fast. I wanted to know whether it could play by power coming straight from the adapter and tried to use it even before it fully charged up. It passed this test and therefore can be played directly from the adapter. I did not test the batteries to see if they could go the entire 10 hours, but played them for a long time and did not find any “battery fatigue”. The sound sustained its volume and quality very well.

The wireless signal was very computer like and did not have the “signal drift” of some of the remote audio speakers that work on the 900 MHz band (these need to be often adjusted through a manual dial). I could move the Logitech speakers around the house and not experience any crackling. It kept putting out good quality sound. I was able to soak in a nice hot bath listening to music without messing with any chords.

The power handling is a little weak, but I did not expect otherwise from its size. The speakers are 2 inches in diameter and sound very good, but they are not aluminum or titanium (which power handle better than paper/plastic cones of the same size). When pushed to full volume, the sound of the bass disturbs the speakers (do not do this for too long) and when a singer goes high volume some soft crackling is heard. Most speakers are optimal when the volume is in the middle of the dial or its range. This is no exception. If you are expecting a speaker system that can belt out sound, this is not the one for you. Within their range, the sound is very good and carries a lot of detail. They have a decent volume to fill a small dorm room or to function as high quality computer speakers.

The design is elegant and intelligent. It has a soft and tight compartment that holds the USB wireless stick very well. It is right in the speaker in a small compartment under the pop out stand. This is very good, because if these two things, the transmitter and receiver, are not kept together they tend to lose each other. The softer plastic grips the USBstick very snuggly and I am confident it will not fall out. The speakers have a fold out stand that lets it rest on a flat surface in a very stable position. It has an on and off button separate from the volume controls which means it remembers your volume setting, unlike a volume dial that has to move back and forth from zero. The three buttons work well (volume up, volume down, and on/off).

There is an auxiliary jack for a 1/8th inch stereo plug, so you can play your iPod or mp3 player with it. I have not yet tested this function, but hope to soon and I will update this review when I do. I have also not tested their blue tooth capability, but have indicated that the manufacturer says that it can. I suspect it will be at least as good as the USB wireless stick signal.

There are two LEDs on the front. One tells you when the unit is on (green) and also when the battery is low (turns yellow). The other indicates that it has hooked into the wireless signal. Both turn off when the power button is turned off.

The bag has two compartments so it can carry both the power adapter and the speakers (with the USB stick inside the speakers). I would have preferred that the bag be padded for just a little extra protection, but the speakers are very sturdy and the padding is not strictly needed.

All in all, I really like these speakers. Within their power handling range they are far better than the usual notebook computer speakers and can be positioned anywhere. They seem to have great battery life and seem to recharge very quickly. They double as speakers for mp3s that handle a 1/8 stereo plug. They are very portable with no detectable signal issues. There are only two improvements that I would like for this unit: One is that it would have been a bit nicer to use titanium impregnated foam speakers and two is that it would be nice if it could somehow morph into a surround sound effect by supporting another computer speaker set plugged into the stereo output jack. I do not think the surround sound is realistic, though, without a special driver or special software. The titanium impregnated foam would make it sound better without sacrificing its size, but would probably drain the battery quicker and increase the cost of the unit. (I can still simulate the surround sound by using my two netbooks at the same time driving different speakers and manually synchronizing them to the same playlist. I also might be able to simulate a surround effect by having one USB wireless stick signal to two Logitech Z515s.)

As stated before, I am committed to testing products on Linux OS (mainly on Crunch Bang and Linux Mint) and reporting which ones work and do not work. I would like the Amazon review system to be an indirect data base so that Linux users can know which products are Linux friendly. I am happy to add these USB speakers to the list of “Linux Mint compatibles” (and probably therefore Ubuntu and Debian). The Linux Mint version 9 OS was successfully tested on a Dell i5 laptop.

See larger image Logitech Wireless USB Speaker Z515 (Personal Computers) List Price: $99.99 USD New From: $64.99 In Stock Used from: $57.29 In Stock

The sound on this box is phenomenal given the size. As another reviewed mentions, you need to take size in to consideration. This isn’t going to compete against a classic stereo system, but I challenge you to find another portable sound device that performs as well as this one. The highs/mids are very crisp and the bass packs a punch. The portability of this product is really the key advantage, as I can bring it with me to the park, or toss it on my overnight bag to use in my hotel room while on a business trip. The included protective case with magnetic clasps is a really cool too!

This device can also act as a Bluetooth speaker phone. This was novel to use a few times, but the quality is not superior to other Bluetooth headsets out there, so I don’t use it for that purpose. But it’s a nice bonus for anyone who might want to use that feature.

I agree the current $200 price tag is a little steep. Hopefully this product will come down in price.

Rock on!

See larger image Jawbone JAMBOX (Black Diamond) (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $139.99 In Stock

To summarize:

• Reliable Auto On/Auto Off.
• Reliable connection.
• Works with multiple phones. When it is turned on, it will always try to connect to the last connected phone. If that phone isn’t present, it will look for other paired phones. Works perfectly for my Blackberry Tour, Nexus One and my wife’s Samsung Alias 2. It always connects to the phone whoever is carrying, making car switching easier. It is actually better than the factory Bluetooth in my wife’s 2010 Prius. Prius doesn’t connect to a different phone automatically. You have to go down 5 levels of menu to select the phone if you switch phones. T325 doesn’t connect to multiple phones simultaneously though.
• Love the auto announcement feature. When you enter the car, it announces itself: “Battery level is high. Connected to XXXXXX”. You will know when to charge the speakerphone, and never find it out of battery when you need it. One of the reason I don’t like these ear pieces is because when I get a phone call and ready to use it, half of the time the battery has died. The auto announcement provides some passive feedback rather than yourself actively checking battery status on the device, which we always forget to do.
• Loud and clear speaker. Sound quality is a lot better than the speakerphone on Blackberry, much better than the one on iPhone. The person on the other end cannot tell I’m on a speakerphone.
• Easy pair with phones. No need to put the speaker into pair mode. Just turn off all the already paired phones. Turn on the speakerphone, do a search from your phone, and connect.
• Good battery life. After 4 weeks of daily usage (about 2-3 phone calls a day, a total of 10 minutes maybe), battery level just dropped to “medium”.
• It downloads phonebook quickly, and announces caller ID for incoming calls.
• Like the micro-USB port. I can share the same charging cable with Blackberry and Nexus One.
• Supports voice command if your phone can do it. When you press the big button, it basically activates voice command on your phone.

Things wish could be better:

• Kind of big. Not obnoxiously big, but bigger than I thought.
• Wish it had a screen, but for the price, it is expected. The auto announcement feature makes up for it though.
• Volume buttons difficult to reach, but I don’t change volume often.

See larger image Motorola T325 Bluetooth Portable Car Speaker (Black, Retail Packaging) (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $33.79 In Stock

The reviews overall on this unit were positive. There are a few out there that say it does not work with iPhone. Well from what I have found that was the early first generation of the model. Software changes to later current production models have fixed this.

The unit arrived as promised and was fully charged upon receipt (week and a half and still haven’t charged it). I took it out of the box and pushed the power button…within literally 2 minutes it was ready to go in the car with the phone book loaded. I am sure to ask every call I get how it sounds on their end and the phrase that keeps coming back is – “you’re on a bluetooth? I thought you were just on your phone” voice announce is clear (use British English – just sounds cooler!) and accurate…ok…one little thing…a couple of the people in my book either have a name that is not recognized or I have a goofy name listed for them in my phone, so it simply says ‘voicemail contact’ vs. their name. but so far only a couple. I can see my phone anyway so I always know who is calling prior to the unit actually being announced on the speaker. With the windows down it is a bit tough to hear but apparently only on my end – the other callers did not even notice the road noise – I just couldn’t hear them rolling 80 on the freeway with the windows down and the sunroof open. The voice connect works great on accepting calls…I find “OK” works best for receiving calls and I don’t have to scream it…normal talking voice works fine. The auto detection when you return to your car is a great feature…my car has auto closing doors so very little vibration for the unit to sense and yet it never misses reconnecting. I cannot verify the voice dialing of contacts as the iPhone 3G does not have this ability but the 3GS does and should not be an issue. If that works as good as everything else – it will work great.

Talking – no screaming, no yelling, no breakup…just normal talk and normal conversations – So overall – simple to use, simple to set up, and the clearest sounds on both end out there. Does what it is supposed to do – allow me to easily and safely communicate with people without taking my eyes off the road. great buy for the technologically savvy and really great buy for those that are not so techie! Yes the answer is this is the one for my wife.

See larger image BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Hands-Free Speakerphone (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $129.99 USD New From: $64.99 In Stock Used from: $27.93 In Stock

Technical Details

• Hands-free speakerphone for a safer, legal alternative to talking on your cell phone while driving; affix to the sun-visor via a two sided magnetic clip
• Uploads contacts from your mobile device and announces who is calling via TTS (Text To Speech)
• Full duplex, high-performance speaker; DSP noise cancellation/echo cancellation adjusts sound levels to compensate for loud engine noise, wind
• Bluetooth version 2.0; up to 15 hours of talk time, up to 800 hours of standby
• What’s in the Box: Bluetooth handsfree unit, travel/wall charger, 2 sun visor clips, user manual

This speaker is powerful, really powerful – a little bit of distortion when you really crank it up but otherwise very good sound. It paired to my iPhone quickly with no hassle – you can even use the pause, forward and back buttons as well with not only your iPod but with Pandora. Also has a bass boost but found it unnecessary as it has a bass port in back that works good.

Has a nicely designed carrying case made of neoprene as well. Highly recommended. Oh, not sure what the difference is between this and the BlueAnt version, but they look identical and this once is $60 cheaper.

Technical Details

• Stereo streaming of music files via Bluetooth A2DP profile, from any mobile phone or PC equipped with the same technology
• 3.5mm stereo cable included
• Portable, listen to your music anywhere with outstanding quality thanks to premium speaker technology and its rechargeable battery
• Play / Pause / Previous / Next / Stop / Volume up and down functions can be controlled from a Bluetooth A2DP / AVRCP enabled mobile phone

See larger image SuperTooth Disco High Power Bluetooth Stereo Speaker - Black (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $149.95 USD New From: $117.99 In Stock Used from: $104.00 In Stock

The sound quality is great. I haven’t had a complaint on my end or from the people on the other end.

As far as the issues other people had with this that concerned me, I haven’t found the same issues to be true in my case. Some people complained that it was hard to know if it was on or off and that the buttons were confusing. The power on and off noises are easy to distinguish and I never have an issue knowing if it is on or off. I don’t have any issue with any of the buttons. The big button for answering and disconnecting calls is easy to find without having to look it up. The blinking light also seemed to annoy people. I drive often at night or early in the morning and the flashing blue indicator light doesn’t bother me at all. My visor is somewhat right above my head and I could see that if it was further in front of me that it might be annoying. I also live in the city and could possibly understand that if you are driving a dark road it might seem annoyingly bright.

A big bonus for me was that I discovered that my blackberry charger fit the Motorola T305. So now I have a car phone charger and I can charge my Motorola at home. I have made calls regularly using my device and it is on for about 1 to 2 hours a day and I have found that I only have needed to charge it every other week or so.

My husband also likes his and thinks it is very easy to use. Much nicer than headsets, period!

I would totally recommend this product.

See larger image Motorola T305 Bluetooth Portable Car Speaker (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $79.99 USD New From: $37.99 In Stock Used from: $19.99 In Stock

Product Features

• Palm-sized Bluetooth handsfree speaker for using in the car
• Clips to your sun visor; powerful 1-watt speaker
• Effortless controls–press a button for power, another for calls, and 2 more for volume
• Includes mini USB vehicle power adaptor for easy charging
• Up to 14 hours talk or 200 hours standby time from a single charge
• Easy to remove and use in another vehicle
• Echo and noise reduction technology minimizes background noise
• Effortless controls–press a button for power, another for calls, and 2 more for volume
• Version 2.0 Bluetooth wireless technology

Both my wife and I have LG enV2 phones, which have an MP3 player, small onboard speakers, a 2.5mm jack (smaller, non-standard size), and support bluetooth stereo. We love to flip it open and have on-the-fly, decent sounding music through the onboard speakers (tinny sound, but loud). We also share a pair of Motorola Rokr S9 bluetooth headphones that we wear on the go, to work out, run, etc. and we love that as well.

So the last thing we needed to run our entire world of music from our phones was a bluetooth speaker to station in our living room for better open-air sound than the phone’s onboard speakers.

Well, this is it! Pairing the speaker to the phones was perfectly straightforward, as is connecting for each use. You can either turn the speaker on each use and it just finds the phone and is ready to go, or you can leave the speaker on all the time and connect/drop with the phones. We do the latter for two reasons: 1) When you turn on the speaker and both our phones are around, it’s random which phone it connects to (an issue with our diverging musical tastes!) and 2) We have it tucked away on a hard-to-get-to shelf.

Aesthetically speaking, it’s very sleak-looking, not too big (or small I guess — looks high-end, very Bose-like). The sound is strong considering it’s bluetooth. Bass hangs in there, though it didn’t blow me away. It certainly destroys the tinny sound of the enV2′s onboard speakers. The sound fills the room rather than the “blaring from the counter” effect, just the difference we were hoping for.

I found it just a little pricey, but because it was the missing link for us to do all our music off of our phones I never thought twice. So all that said, for our situation, it’s a clear 5 stars.

As for other reviews I’m reading, I don’t doubt them. We have no other bluetooth devices around to get crossed with this, but I’ve heard plenty of stories about ANY two bluetooth devices in close proximity not playing nice.

Also, I wouldn’t bother with this product if I was going to use it for any stationary music source, like a reciever or computer, unless I was really desperate to get it across the room without a cord. The bit I read about walls impeding the connection is true — same for us but not an issue, we just leave the phone sitting in the same room. But in the future we might double it’s use: it does come with a corded input and might make a nice center channel if we took this room in that direction. Or it might be a decent upgrade in sound over our TV’s onboard speakers and I may try that. The corded input was smart, you never know what you might do with it. As another reviewer with bluetooth contention issues noted, it could salvage it if you give up on the bluetooth.

If I had to pick on it, I would say it might be nice to be able to run it off batteries. While for now we keep it stationary, the cordless nature of it would make it perfect to pick up off the shelf and take anywhere, but, you’ll always need an outlet. It would also be nice if the left/right speakers were separate and I could split them into separate corners of the room. But of course then you’d need the phone to talk to both speakers, or to one speaker and then that speaker to stream to the other, which would then present timing issues. Bluetooth just isn’t there yet.

So, I’d recommend highly if your situation is similar. But think it through if you have more constraints, you may want to let bluetooth mature some more.

See larger image Sony SRSBT100 Bluetooth Stereo Speakers (Electronics) List Price: $159.99 USD Used from: $144.95 In Stock

Product Features

• Audio Features:
  • Bass : Mega Bass
• Inputs and Outputs:
  • Input(s) : Stereo minijack x1
  • Input(s) : 1kHz (4,7k ohms)-(Impedance)
• Networking/Modem:
  • Bluetooth® Technology : Bluetooth specification version 2.0, EDR
• Power:
  • Rated Input : 15W
  • Input Power : Maximum: 30W
  • Rated Output : 10% T.H.D.,1kHz,4ohms; 15W + 15W;
  • AC Power : DC12V (Via supplied AC power adaptor)
• Speaker:
  • Speaker System : 90mm,Full Range, Magnetically Shielded
  • Impedance : 4 ohms
• Weights and Measurements:
  • Dimensions (Approx.) : W:400 x H:160 x D:175mm
  • Weight (Approx.) : 2.5kg

Technical Details

• Brand Name: Sony
• Model: SRSBT100
• Color Name: Black

I was able to unpack it, pair it with my laptop, and listen to music in about 10-15 minutes (most of the time was getting my laptop bluetooth turned on and ready to pair). The unit is very simple to set up and operate. I read another review that objected to the tones it gives when you setup pairing mode for bluetooth, but they are not that loud and they are very helpful. You only have to pair once with any device anyway. It paired easily and works like a champ.

I have not tried the phone functions yet, but other reviewers gave them good marks, so I expect they’ll work fine. The unit seems well made and feels solid. Comes with a little slipcase cover, aux cable, and A/C adapter. Some ask why not a rechargeable battery and that would be nice, but I am happy that it uses AA batteries. I use rechargeable AA’s and I can have a fresh pack charging and 6 in the unit and swap ‘em out easily. And internal rechargeable batteries do eventually die and have to be replaced. Remember the ipod fiasco?

But, it’s the sound, baby! This little unit rocks. It’s not a boom box, but for normal listening it is quite fine and the tonal quality is excellent. All in all, a great product. I like it so much, I’m buying a second one. Thumbs up!

See larger image Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker/Speakerphone (Black) (Personal Computers) List Price: $129.95 USD

Product Features

• Bluetooth speaker untethers you from your cell phone, letting you take a call or listen to music in comfort
• Two custom-built 2.5-inch full-range speakers deliver a strong performance; voice-activated dialing picks up your voice from several feet away
• No cables to connect; automatic pairing between your Bluetooth mobile phone and the speaker
• Auxiliary input allows you to connect other MP3, CD, and DVD players
• Runs on either 6 AA batteries (not included) or via included power adapter; 1-year warranty

Technical Details

• Model Number: iMT525
• Speaker driver: 2 x 2.5-inch full-range drivers
• Input: 3.5-millimeter aux input
• Wireless technology: Bluetooth
• Microphone: Built-in microphone
• Power supply: AC power adapter (included) or 6 x AA batteries (not included)
• Battery life: Up to 24 hours (operation), up to 3 days (stand-by with Bluetooth feature off)
• Dimensions: 11.125 x 6.125 x 1.0 inches (W x H x D)
• Weight: 16 ounces
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

What’s in the Box?

• SoundBlade wireless speaker system
• AC power adapter
• Carrying case
• 3.5-millimeter stereo cable
• Registration card
• User’s manual

I bluetooth them to my cell phone, which I use as my ipod, and listen that way. I hang them on my fridge–the built in magnet’s a neat feature–and listen when I’m in the kitchen, or use them in my hotel room as I travel frequently.

So far I haven’t had the battery run down on me but I follow the instructions and turn them off (on/off switch on back) when not using them. I also have yet to sample the speaker phone capability but am anxious to do so.

Overall, they are a great little item and great for the price. They are cheaper than the Altech speakers Cingular is offering on their site, and just as good I bet.

Product Features

See larger image BlueAnt UNOTPBASN3 Sonic Bluetooth Speakers (Black) (Wireless Phone Accessory) List Price: $149.99 USD Used from: $26.99 In Stock Release date May 25, 2006.