Anyone have a good portable speaker?

[1fastdoc]

I got the Klipsch kmc3 yesterday. It sports a pair of 2" drivers and a 5 1/2" woofer. I've always been a huge fan of the tight base and accurate mids and highs of Klipsch so I was really, really looking forward to getting this.

Unfortunately, it's quite disappointing. Even my wife, who is far from an audiophile, called it muddy. The sound is very one dimensional and the bright clear mids I'm used to from Klipsch are totally absent.

It basically sounds like a $100 portable with the Base Boost button stuck on. For $400 I expect a lot better. I read a lot of reviews and most people are very happy with it. I have a hard time believing theirs sounds like this. I tried Pandora One and I also tried some high bit rate mp3's. One of the girls at work has the $300 Bose and I recall it sounding at least as good as this with the regular Pandora and with 128 bit rate mp3's.

My first thought was the tweeter wasn't functioning until I looked it up and found it has a pair of 2" full range drivers. I wish I could find one at a brick and mortar to see if that one sounds any better but no luck. Got this one on Amazon.com.

Anyone have any other suggestions? It will primarily be used to stream Pandora in the OR and is replacing the stupid little boom boxes we have. The whole point is to have more accurate sound and better base. Price range is $400. It has to be easily portable and also fit in a locker. The size of this one was perfect for that.

The one I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Center.../dp/B00BAQJ94Q

[DSB335d]

Check out Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth speaker. Might find this @ a local bestbuy. Has good reviews and looks as good as it sounds.

I've also listened to both the beats by Dre portable speaker and the jawbone big jambox, they are ok. The beats by Dre has more bass, I'm not a fan though.

[Ehwnnc]

I have this one and i love it.

http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-...table+speakers

[P1]

If you find a used IM7, WOW! I have two.

[1fastdoc]

Originally Posted by DSB335d

Check out Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth speaker. Might find this @ a local bestbuy. Has good reviews and looks as good as it sounds.

I've also listened to both the beats by Dre portable speaker and the jawbone big jambox, they are ok. The beats by Dre has more bass, I'm not a fan though.

Only found one at the Apple store and they had no demo so I bought it since they have a 2 week open box return policy.

It really made it obvious that the Klipsch is seriously lacking on the mids. The Marshall is a little too strong in the midrange though.

I'm going to call Klipsch tomorrow and see if they think this one is defective.

Still haven't found "just right" yet. Need to click on that Harmon link.

[bolinp78]

Check out the JBL Charge. Got it for my wife for Xmas, I like it.

(It definitely has better sound than the Jawbones)

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

Only found one at the Apple store and they had no demo so I bought it since they have a 2 week open box return policy.

It really made it obvious that the Klipsch is seriously lacking on the mids. The Marshall is a little too strong in the midrange though.

I'm going to call Klipsch tomorrow and see if they think this one is defective.

Still haven't found "just right" yet. Need to click on that Harmon link.

I wonder if Klipsch has your mindset but took it a little too far? I mean, what do you really expect from a couple of 2"-4" full range drivers? It seems to me that the midrange will always be a bit strong as those speakers lend them selves to the midrange. So maybe they have a crossover in there limiting the midrange?

Anyhow, i'm no audiophile (not anymore at least) but the Big Jambox does the trick. Maybe i'm just not expecting the world from a small portable wireless speaker. Or maybe it's because the first one i heard was the Jambox i got for my wife which makes the Big Jambox sound that much better. ??

Someone needs to come up with a (iTunes type) music app that will allow you to store EQ settings to your music based on the device it's sending the music to. That would be pretty cool. Car audio is vastly different from home audio and obviously a portable speaker is different from both. To have a customizable EQ set for your car, home, and portable speakers would be pretty awesome. Fine tune your music for all environments. Yeah, someone should get on that.

All i ask for is 2% royalties.

[koreez88]

I bought my gf a JBL Flip, the sound is pretty good, especially for the unit of its size.

[f30nynj]

Bose Soundlink Mini - $199

I tried JBL and Dr Dre Beats Pill but didn't like it. Then I switched to Bose Soundlink Mini and was surprised by how good the sound was. The bass was good too.

I know lot of ppl here hate Bose for being too pricey. I prefer quality to cost.

PS: It also depends on the type of music you listen to.

[Vanmarsenille]

I recently bought this one and have no complaints.....

http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-spe...-35765418.html

[i dunno]

http://www.amazon.com/Leading-Edge-I...water+speakers

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Vanmarsenille

I recently bought this one and have no complaints.....

http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-spe...-35765418.html

Got one too, it's perfect for what I wanted, something to use when I'm away from stereos that are linked to my wifi. Battery life is very impressive and even shows up on my iPhone when it's connected.

[twin fed]

I have the bose soundlink. works and sounds great

[1fastdoc]

Tried calling Klipsch today, they weren't accepting phone calls due to "an internal problem."

I'll probably bring the Marshall into work tomorrow and compare it to a Bose that someone else has.

In case I didn't specify, this is primarily going to be used in the operating room, where I listen to the music loud enough that I can enjoy it but not so loud that I can't talk to my staff. The OR is about 15 x 20 feet.

There are ample little boom boxes that we can plug our phones into, which is what I use right now. I'm looking for something that truly kicks ass. Solid bass and superb clarity. I'm to the point that I don't care what it costs as long as it's under 4 figures and will fit in my locker. Anticipated spending range though is about $400-500.

Tried calling the local high end stereo place today. The one market they don't bother with is portable speakers. They leave that to Best Buy and online retailers. Dammit.

[ChuckBMW3]

I've had my Oontz speaker for a few months now with no complaints. Can't beat the price either at $99!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Oontz-Camb...ref=pd_sim_e_4

[Wakka]

Im the kind of guy that hates BOSE a lot. but their top end portable speakers are actually really good.

http://www.amazon.com/Bose%C2%AE-Sou...bose+sounddock

I got that one for when i went to Ibiza a few years ago. It was exactly what i wanted. Now it sits in my bathroom as my shower music player, and does a great job at that as well. Big sound from a small speaker.

Edit: That may not be the wireless one. But the wireless one is the one that i have. It came with 2 back up batteries and a little carrying case. was a good purchase.

[P1]

Originally Posted by f30nynj

Bose Soundlink Mini - $199

I tried JBL and Dr Dre Beats Pill but didn't like it. Then I switched to Bose Soundlink Mini and was surprised by how good the sound was. The bass was good too.

I know lot of ppl here hate Bose for being too pricey. I prefer quality to cost.

PS: It also depends on the type of music you listen to.

Anyone who buys Dr Dre stuff should be slapped. I agree with you on the Bose Soundlink. My father has one and the sound it produces is huge compared to its size.

['Cane]

I have tried many different bluetooth speakers, but I ended up buying a BOSE Soundlink Mini. The battery life could be better, but the sound is great. Very crisp with good bass.

[Wakka]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

I have tried many different bluetooth speakers, but I ended up buying a BOSE Soundlink Mini. The battery life could be better, but the sound is great. Very crisp with good bass.

Its bigger brother is vastly more impressive. the sounddock.

['Cane]

Originally Posted by Wakka

Its bigger brother is vastly more impressive. the sounddock.

I wanted something more portable, and I already have a B&W Zeppelin Air.

[TXSTYLE]

Here's what I use: http://www.amazon.com/SuperTooth-Dis.../dp/B002G1Y7LO

Very impressive for my needs. Now it's not gonna jam out a poolside party. But it is pretty loud for what it is and very simple to connect.