Bluetooth audio system have change into so ubiquitous and reasonably priced that you just now not have to depend on one and even two audio system to satisfy all of your cell audio wants. These days, there’s a Bluetooth speaker for practically any use case, from increase packing containers to energy your yard barbecue to ultra-portable fashions. Plus, the ever-important bathe speaker for jamming when you clear up.
If you’re after the latter, Skullcandy’s Kilo speaker is an attractive finances possibility. With strong water resistance, a sturdy clip-on design, and a full day and evening of battery per cost, the Kilo has the products for a strong lavatory 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 effectively balanced for a speaker from a model with a headphone line referred to as “Skullcrusher.” If your finances can stretch a tiny bit extra, JBL’s Clip 4 is the superior alternative, however the Kilo will get the job finished.
A Good Hang
Photograph: Skullcandy
Carabiners could look cool in Bluetooth speaker advertisements 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 measurement makes it simpler to suit into tight spots.
It’s unimaginable to not evaluate the Kilo to JBL’s Clip line. Skullcandy’s mannequin is constructed like a direct response, proper all the way down to the rubberized bottom that helps diffuse it from surfaces for much less bass rumble whenever you lay the speaker flat. The Kilo’s IPX7 score means it lacks the Clip’s dust-proofing, but it surely’s nearly waterproof, in a position to survive showers of all types or perhaps a brief 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 the whole lot from energy and pairing to quantity and tune skipping. It took thumbing by the directions to determine the elusive skip controls, finished by holding down the quantity keys as an alternative of tapping. That’s particularly very important for avoiding podcast advertisements when your cellphone’s out of attain. I most popular Skullcandy’s less complicated management format over time, offering all choices on the speaker’s accessible entrance face.
The Kilo’s function set is bare-bones in any other case. The lack of a devoted cell app means there’s no solution to modify EQ or mix a number of audio system in “Party 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 depart the speaker hung within the lavatory or out on the deck for days and even weeks. An LED show on the Kilo’s decrease bezel lets you recognize when it’s time to seize the USB-C charging cable, which is a pleasant contact.
Podcast Special
If your major use case for the Kilo is barreling by the ever-growing checklist of podcasts in your Spotify or Audible library, you’ll be in wonderful 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. Detail 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 finances standing when put too carefully 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 anticipate from a contemporary finances speaker however affords sufficient heat and heft to reverberate by furnishings with out creating undesirable buzz. Pushing the quantity too arduous can result in some muddying at each ends of the spectrum, however sound stays clear within the middle, particularly in sparser mixes.
More achieved (and pricier) audio system just like the Clip 4 and Sony SRS-XB100 supply higher readability and definition within the excessive frequencies and heftier punch down low. The older (and smaller) JBL Clip 3 is a more in-depth comparability. The Clip 3 supplied higher general 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 leap in constancy for a bit additional cash.
If you’re choosy about your sound, I recommend stepping as much as one of many above choices, each of that are normally discounted. If you simply want an excellent bathe speaker on a budget, the Kilo’s type, sturdiness, and battery life make it a strong decide, and sure a significantly better possibility than no-name Amazon specials.