January 4, 2013

• Satechi BTS-69 review

    

  Satechi ST-69BTS Audio Cube Portable Bluetooth Speaker System
  ( for iPhone / Android Smart Phones / iPad / Tablets / Macbook / Notebooks)

  The first question I had was "What is the difference between this ST-69BTS $50 vs. the Audio Cube  portable (ST-66BTA) which is $5 less and a misnomer as well?"
  Well now the difference is more obvious since they've redesigned the ST-69BTS to be completely cube shaped while the 'audio cube portable' is in actuality an audio cylinder - think soda can but smaller. The main difference is that the ST-69BTS has a bass component, hence the B designation, while both models have dual speakers outputting 2 Watts each. On the ST-69BTS they are positioned facing back to back outwards from each other in a 180 degree position.

  Design
  The ST-69BTS is covered on all sides with a rubber coating, which can be a good thing as I found out it was 1-year-old-nephew-proof. It can take a tumble and still be okay at least on carpeting.
  The top portion is finished in smooth plastic which does attract dust, but is easily cleaned off.
  One thing that you can't tell from the pictures is that once activated, there is an intense blue ring of light around the power button. Normally I'm watching a movie in the dark with this portable speaker and it is super very annoying to have this glaring blue light which you cannot turn off while the speaker is in operation. Obviously that isn't much of an issue with proper lightning, but I found an ingenious solution: turn the thing upside down while so that the light is covered. The slight difference is that I can tell the sound also appears to be inverted with the bass creating an umbrella of sound from the top down.

  The power button. I don't know if it is still new and I haven't 'broken' it in yet, but the power button is difficult to use. You'd think you can just press it to turn it on, but you'd be wrong. You have to actually hold down the power button for a few seconds until the unit beeps to notify you that it is ready for pairing mode. Holding the button down isn't the issue but I would say there is a 50% chance you can hold it all you want and nothing happens. Perhaps it is not making contact properly, but after a few tries of holding it down I can usually start the device up. I have a suspicion if you don't press the penny-sized button directly in the center it won't start.

  There is the standard audio in jack to connect it to an audio source with wires, plus the old style micro USB charging input.

  As a side note the Beacon Audio Phoenix Portable bluetooth speaker looks suspiciously exactly the same (as the pre-redesigned ST-69BTS) with different branding of course, and more than double the price.

  Bluetooth
  This device appears to be able to hold one bluetooth connection at a time. This means that even if the previous device (call it device A) that you had connected is turned off this speaker will still be 'attached' to device A while you are trying to connect device B to the speaker. You have to turn on device A, manually remove the speaker or turn off bluetooth, then B will connect.
  On the plus side, once it makes a connection there is a ringtone which sounds to let you know it has made a successful connection. You can also control stop and play functions from either device or the speaker. On my previous wireless bluetooth speaker, the Veho, doing so will cause a delayed lag in the controls, meaning you press stop, the video still plays then a few seconds later the video stops while the audio literally screeches to a halt, but you've already pressed stop more than one time because it took so long and now the video is playing again. Thankfully this doesn't happen with the ST-69BTS.

  The device does support incoming calls but I haven't tested that since I was mainly using it for the speaker features.

  Sound quality
  What can I say, it is a small 2watt speaker the size of a large apple but lighter such that you can hold in the palm of your hand. The audio is good enough that someone from upstairs complained that she thought I was watching TV or some show and wanted me to turn it down at 6AM in the morning.

  Battery
  The battery life is pretty good. No I didn't sit there to time it with a stopwatch, but I rate it by how many movies I can watch. I can watch back to back tv episodes and two movies at a time with plenty left to spare. It is rated for around 6 hours and that sounds about right. In comparison to my previous Veho, which lasted less than two hours it was annoying that after one movie it required a few hours recharge.

  The blue circle can turn an amber color while charging so I assume it will take this color when it also has low battery status, I haven't hit it during normal use since I recharge it per viewing session.

  Also of note: if the device is left in pairing mode -the blue circle lights flashing- it will eventually time out and shut down by itself after a few minutes.

  Conclusion
  I would rate this a high "low end" and low "mid-range" type of bluetooth speaker.
  I'm pretty sure it doesn't sound as good as the 200 150 100 dollar Jawbone Jambox, and it certainly won't be doing the Mexican jumping bean on full volume, but for a speaker in this price range and size, it is hard to beat for the quality and features provided despite the premium $50.

  

  • 8:37 pm
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