Morel Biggie Bluetooth Speaker Review Leave a comment

Internally, there’s a 60-watt Class D (45-W woofer + 15-W tweeter) amplifier with a frequency response of 40 Hz to twenty kHz. Morel makes use of a personalized DSP with dynamic EQ, however there’s no smartphone app, no Wi-Fi streaming, no room calibration, no Dolby Atmos, no voice management, no EQ tweaking. And day-to-day I didn’t miss any of it.

The controls will really feel a bit antiquated to app-control lovers, with loads of press-and-hold choices to entry TWS and alter sources. However foolish battery degree indicator management apart (it’s important to press and maintain each quantity buttons to mild up a proportion of stated buttons to indicate you the remaining juice), they’re simple to disregard.

Sound High quality

Setup was so simple as you’d anticipate from a Bluetooth speaker with out smarts, and remained rock strong all through many hours of testing. As a shopper tech journalist I do know I needs to be aghast on the lack of bells and whistles right here, however the mixture of strong audio efficiency and an entire lack of technological friction was a pleasure. Insert your individual Sonos joke right here.

The Biggie shouldn’t be going to unearth sonic subtleties out of your favourite Blue Be aware recordings, nevertheless it gained’t offend you both. It’s an impressively punchy sounding mono speaker with actual presence and quantity. On condition that it weighs simply 5.7 kilos and measures a mere H7 x W7 x D4.5 inches, its room-filling talents are critically spectacular.

Listening to “The Look” by Metronomy, there’s an interesting crispness to the excessive finish, with a well-organized center that thrives on the observe’s enthusiasm. Bass is managed right here, too, however the speaker does favor decrease frequencies. Kick drums and bass guitars can sound a bit too ahead within the combine, however it’s managed—helped, little doubt, by the standard cabinetry and drivers.

This profile sounded nice listening to the basic rat-a-tat opening to Paul Simon’s “50 Methods to Go away Your Lover.” Nevertheless, with dance and hip-hop, it may really feel a contact thunderous in a small house. Take it exterior although and the punch works on the patio. It’s not IP-rated, thoughts you , so look ahead to pool events and showers.

Would a smartphone app with adjustable EQ assist right here? Possibly, however when you like your bass ahead within the combine, you’ll in all probability love listening to “Juicy” on the aptly named Biggie.

Alternate options

The Biggie’s building is a revelation, providing basic hi-fi bookshelf construct high quality in a compact Bluetooth design. That is the place your cash is being spent. It’s moveable, and the battery life is appropriate, nevertheless it seems to be extra at dwelling on a desk than being carried round.

Whereas it lacks the bass-forward presentation, the fashionable Audio Pro T3+ ($200) affords a greater battery life and extra balanced sound high quality, plus it has Airplay for iPhone customers. This is perhaps higher when you’re on the lookout for a extra nuanced efficiency and nonetheless need to keep away from good options.

If portability isn’t a problem, the Sonos Period (9/10 WIRED Recommends) and JBL Authentics 200 (9/10 WIRED Recommends) take up an analogous quantity of house, sound excellent, and are available stuffed filled with good controls. However if you wish to preserve issues easy and have a wholesome respect for each bass and construct high quality, you’ll love the Biggie.