Braven BRV-X Review

June 7, 2016
GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
84
Sound Quality
6
Volume
5
Durability
9
Features
7
Power
7

The Good

  • Durable
  • Great battery life

The Bad

  • Average sound quality
  • Poor volume
THE VERDICT

The Braven BRV-X is a rugged, tough-as-nails Bluetooth speaker that may be the most durable of all the devices we tested.  Although the BRV-X delivers outstanding battery life for its size and weight, the sound quality and volume were not as impressive in head-to-head tests against competing devices.

FULL REVIEW

Sound Quality
The Braven BRV-X delivers average sound quality and good range, and can be switched between indoor and outdoor modes to improve sound quality in each setting. Bass notes register well, though higher range sounds appear more limited, and overall sound does not seem as full or large as many competitors. Under the hood, the BRV-X has dual drivers and a passive radiator, and produces a frequency range between 150 Hz–18 kHz. 

Volume
The Braven BRV-X delivers poor volume, and registered only 88db in our tests — the lowest amount of volume produced by devices tested. For comparison, the average sound output among competing devices was 92db.

Durability
What Braven’s BRV-X may lack in volume is made up for in durability: the BRV-X is rugged, constructed from thick, rubberized high-density plastics, metal speaker grills, and reinforced allow tie-down bars. It is IPX7 rated for water and dust resistance. Power and audio port are covered with a lock-tight screw cap, and seal better than any other device tested.

In our drop and impact tests, the BRV-X passed with flying colors. When held, the BRV-X actually feels rugged enough to be thrown against a brick wall. Though not part of our standard tests and not something we recommend, we actually tried it. The BRV-X passed without issue or incident, and only minor cosmetic damage.

Features
The BRV-X comes with some great features: a built-in 3.5mm (AUX) jack, a USB port to charge external devices, and Bluetooth 2.1. Though Bluetooth range is 12 feet less than any other device tested, the BRV-X comes with TrueWireless™ technology, which allows multiple Braven speakers to be paired together for full stereo or surround sound. The BRV-X also comes with multiple power adapters compatible with any outlet in the world, an 1/8” audio auxiliary cable, a wrist strap, and a very rugged tie-down strap.

Power
The Braven BRV-X delivers about 12 hours of continuous music — outstanding for its size and weight, especially when compared to competitors. Under the hood, the BRV-X sports a 5,200mAh battery.

 


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