LUXA2 Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker Review

Today we are taking a look at the LUXA2 Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker. As a division of Thermaltake, LUXA2's goal is to deliver aesthetically pleasing hardware without compromising on performance. So, is the LUXA2 Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker the ultimate mobile audio companion? Regular readers may remember that we recently ran a competition where a lucky few walked away with LUXA2 products. Now we are giving away one Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker. If you have not entered yet you can do so by clicking here. Specifications: Weight 556 g / 1.22 lbs Material Aluminum, Genuine Leather Color Silver Compatibility All Bluetooth enabled devices Content of delivery Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker x1 USB to micro-USB Cable x1 AUX Cable x1 Carrying Pouch x1 Leather Handles x2 (Brown, Black) User Manual x1 Bluetooth CSR V2.1+EDR Wireless range In 10meters(open area) Capacity 1,800mAh / 3.7V Li-Polymer Input 5V0.5A Micro USB Audio output 2.5W+2.5W(RMS), 3W+3W(Max.) Playing time 3.5 hours at max. volume Charging time 3.5hours Others A2DP(Audio Sink only), AVRCP(Remote Control only), Hands free(Built-in Mic) LED indicator LEDx1 Pairing : Blue & Red flashing Charging : Red Around the back we find more details in a variety of languages as well as an overview of the speaker's functions. The speaker ships in a black box with a clear image on the front alongside some of the key features. Inside the box we are presented with the speaker, a manual, an AUX cable, a micro-USB charger cable and protective pouch. A closer look at the speaker shows the brushed aluminium finish. The aluminium look has been extended to the soft cloth cover lining the front and sides. Up top we can see the leather handle and the speaker's controls. From left to right we have the following buttons at our fingertips: Power, Volume Down, Answer Call/Play/Pause, Volume up. On the far left we can see the AUX input and on the right-hand side we can find the micro-USB port. The built-in microphone has been placed on the far right. Moving towards the back shows the Groovy's full aluminium exterior has been crafted from a single piece of aluminium. Finally, underneath the speaker are four thick rubber feet to provide firm support on a variety of surfaces. Connecting the Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker is an easy and straightforward process. Simply turn the speaker on and enable Bluetooth on your mobile device. We successfully connected our Samsung Galaxy Note II and iPad Mini within a matter of seconds. To test the sound quality of the Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker we watched the first 15 minutes of The Dark Knight on the Samsung Galaxy Note II. Overall, both high and low tones were crystal clear though we did notice a clear emphasis on the lower registers. Turning the volume up to its maximum resulted in a shaky desk and slightly distorting speech in the clip. Loading up a music collection showed where the Groovy's strengths lie as, even with the volume at its maximum, it sounded crisp and clear at all times. The emphasis on lower registers became clear once more when we made a number of calls. Speaking to callers with a deeper voice made it slightly difficult to discern what was being said from time to time. However, callers with notably higher pitched voices were crystal clear. Throughout our calls the person on the other end made it clear that they had no trouble hearing us, nor did they experience any significant background noise. We measured an average of 3 hours and 15 minutes of continuous use on a single charge. An impressive result and very close to the number quoted by LUXA2. All in all, we are impressed with the LUXA2 Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker. The aluminum build contributes to its solid build quality and it is a pleasure listening to music, watching YouTube and movies or simply making calls without having to keep the phone in close proximity. As an added bonus, we feel the Groovy has an attractive design and certainly stands out in a market with predominantly plastic peripherals. Retailing for £52.44 inc vat. we believe the Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker offers excellent value for money. Pros: Attractive design. Excellent build quality. Sounds great when listening to music. Protective pouch is always a plus. Cons: Bass can be overwhelming. Slight distortion at maximum volume. KitGuru says: A worthwhile consideration for anyone who uses their tablet or phone regularly but feels underwhelmed by their mobile device's speakers.