There are a number of bluetooth speakers out there. From budget to Bose, there’s something for everyone. I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Kinivo BTX450 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, and I think you’ll be able to tell that I was pleasantly surprised at the sound quality and features that are packed into this rechargeable speaker.
Overview
The Kinivo BTX450 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker comes with a 3ft. auxiliary cable for connecting non-Bluetooth devices, an AC power adapter, and the speaker itself has a built-in rechargeable battery. A booklet of instructions is also included in the box.
The Kinivo BTX450 is an attractive unit, with cloth covering the front of the unit, and it weighs in at approximately 2 pounds, and is 12-inches long, 3-Inches deep, and is about 3.5-inches high in front, down to 2.5-inches in the back of the unit. The 4 buttons on top supply all of the controls you’ll need to operate the BTX450: power, volume up, volume down, and Bluetooth pairing. The back side sports a 3.5mm auxiliary audio port, a power port, and a USB port.
The USB port allows you to charge your iPhone while listening to music via Bluetooth, or the supplied auxiliary cable. The port is supplied only for charging, and works only when the speaker is plugged into AC power, and does NOT allow you to plug in a USB drive full of MP3 files to play on the speaker.
The Kinivo came with a 3 ft. auxiliary audio cable and a power charger. Inside the speaker itself is a 3,600 mAh rechargable Lithium-Ion battery. A small booklet of instructions was also in the box. Bluetooth is the standard A2DP Bluetooth.
I was able to sync the BTX450 with my iPhone 5, my wife’s iPhone 4, our third-generation iPad, and a Nexus 7 tablet with no problems. I have a 2-bedroom apartment, and when I placed the BTX450 in my living room, which is the approximate center of my living space, I was able to walk around with my iPhone 5 in my pocket, and never lost connection to the speaker.
The sound from the BTX450 is about what you would expect from a speaker this size. It does lack deep bass, but when considering a speaker of this type, I’m not so sure that should weigh heavily when considering which speaker to buy. That said, the sound coming from the speaker is rich and full with little distortion. The speaker was easily heard throughout the apartment. Music of all types and also podcasts were a pleasure to listen to using the speaker.
I especially appreciate the rechargeable battery on the BTX450. I was able to get a little over 5 hours out of a charge of the unit’s 3,600 mAh battery at a moderate volume level. I was able to use it on my patio, where there is no AC outlet, and thus able to enjoy my music without the need of headphones or wired speakers.
Verdict
The BTX450 is a speaker that should definitely be on your list when you are considering a rechargeable bluetooth speaker. While it is a bit larger than other rechargeable speakers I’ve tried, the sound quality and long period between charges make the speaker a truly worthwhile purchase.
Audiophiles may find fault with its sound output, however anyone wanting to be able to listen to their music while out on the patio, or on the beach will find the BTX450 a great value, and I believe they will also be quite pleased with the sound quality.
The Kinivo BTX450 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is a great value at $59.00, and is currently available at Amazon.com, and at the Kinivo website.
Rating:4/5[rating:4.0]
Price: $59.00 – Available on Amazon.com, and at the Kinivo website.
Pros:
- Great sound for the size of the speaker.
- Good battery life from the unit’s rechargeable battery.
- Loved the USB recharging port on the back of the unit.
Cons:
- Music controls to allow jumping to the previous or next track would be welcome.
- It also doesn’t support handsfree calling, but that would be a lot to ask for from a speaker in this price range.
