Rocksteady XS Portable Bluetooth Speaker (V1.5)

Based on the popup description of what the stars represent I chose "I like it" at 4 stars.I wasn't as blown away as I'd expected to be after reading the other reviews, but given it's size and weight it's not bad.Of course the bass is limited, but with placement near a wall you can get a little more.It's loud enough for casual listening, sounded very nice with Bluesiana Triangle, which is piano, sax, drums, bass, and vocals.With the volume all the way up on both the speaker and the iPhone it started sounding harsh but cleaned up with a notch lower on the phone volume. The end-mounted speakers give it some discernible stereo separation but you'll need to keep the ends away from walls or other solid objects or it will negatively affect the sound.It has a couple of points that, IMHO, put it head and shoulders above the competition at this price point and below and should certainly be a top choice if this is the most you want to spend.1. Build quality is unmatched by the cheap, plastic BT speakers that all look awful. One-piece aluminum body with steel(?) grills looks great and could definitely hold up to everyday bumps. Wouldn't hesitate to throw in a backpack. Any extra weight added by using stronger materials is insignificant at this amount and toting it around certainly wouldn't be a burden.2. The battery idea is genius! I gave the Rocksteady to my son and ordered a couple extra batteries from eBay for five bucks. Of course I say genius because I've thought for years that someone should use those common, flat, li-ion batteries that were in the millions of Nokia phones for something else, the genius isn't in thinking it though, it's in doing it. The battery in most BT speakers is inaccessible and usually soldered in. IF you can even get to it most folks aren't up to speed with soldering, so an expensive trip back to the manufacturer is often the only option.The awesome thing about these batteries is that they're small and flat, it would be simple to charge a couple extra to take on a trip where you might be away from AC to plug the charger in.3. Play files from Flash Drive!4. Bike mount option.I've heard much worse bluetooth audio reproduction, and the range was acceptable. This would be great for very specific uses but don't expect to replace your 2:1 desktop speaker system. My idea of the perfect user of this system would be someone who needs a small mobile system to follow them throughout their day, could easily play their morning music or streaming radio, should be loud enough to listen to while showering, would be great in a cubicle or small office, but doesn't need it to rock out. (I don't think any of the speakers in this price range or size rock too hard anyway.) This could easily become a day to day workhorse due to the excellent battery life, ease of battery replacement, mounting options, speakerphone, and what I perceive as sturdy construction.If Killer Concepts keeps at it I'm hoping they introduce a slight larger version. Larger drivers and a little more power. There are other standard batteries that they could use that would deliver the extra oomph needed for a more powerful amplifier and retain the user swappable feature.Maybe the same length, just bigger cross-section profile.Some final random notes:*The battery compartment will come off easier if you use a small tool to push the tab. Don't push farther than is required to disengage it as it's only plastic, it doesn't seem like cheap plastic though. The cover and battery are held tightly in place, probably to keep them from vibrating during bass-heavy passages.*Includes wall-wart, charging cable, line-in cable, and decent instructions.*Packaging is nice.*Upon opening I followed the instruction to charge fully before using but the red light didn't come on. Must've shipped with a fully charged battery as it lit up as expected when I tried charging it again after some use.*A remote would be cool.

It's a nice, durable little speaker. The sound projection and loudness are okay. I haven't owned many bluetooth speakers so I'm not sure how it compares to others but I think it's a little weak for outdoor use. Indoors, the sound easily filled the house while still remaining crystal clear. Outside, however, the sound tends to dissipate in every direction and gets lost pretty quickly. I've tried use it a few times at pool parties and, unless you are within about 6-7 feet of it, you can't really hear it. Also, it becomes an issue if it's not fully charged because I have to plug it in and sit it too close to where people are trying to talk in which case it is too loud for them and not loud enough for those swimming in the pool. Also, the bluetooth is limiting because it takes another few notches out of the loudness and clarity so, for outdoor use, I prefer to use the stereo line-in. The only problem with using the line-in is that you then have to set your music source close to the speaker which, once again, can limit placement of the speaker. I'd rather not set my $750 phone out in the middle of the sunlight for hours where I get the best sound balance so I'm stuck with setting it in the covered area by the people and turning the sound down. I think the bluetooth sound quality issues are pretty standard across all bluetooth speakers in my experience. Overall, the speaker can blast clear sound using the line-in port but I feel it limits my ability to position it optimally since it's physically tied to another device.

Great price on a great bluetooth speaker. It's smaller than most comparable bluetooth speakers, which I prefer since portability was an important consideration for how I use it. This bluetooth speaker has a very good stereo effect since the two primary speakers point out from the sides which helps create a very nice open and airy stereo effect. It also has a center passive radiator, to help boost the low end. Most other bluetooth speakers have the actual speakers on the front which kills the stereo effect. This speaker has a nice solid all metal build quality, I'm assuming aluminum. It can get surprisingly loud without distortion considering it's size and all (volume is another area some other bluetooth speakers fall short). The front buttons control pretty much everything you need with the music: source, play/pause, volume and skipping tracks forward and back. Just wish they had been maybe spaced apart and grouped by function since they are all just in one row all equally spaced. It's a little hard to get to the right function quickly. The low end isn't the best but it's definitely there. I can feel the bass when I have it placed on my desk and turned up a bit. There are other speakers that sound better but they are usually larger and cost a LOT more. It has more features but I just focused on the things that concerned me most and other reviews here cover those features well enough. So overall the Rocksteady has a great price and very good sound, well worth considering.

Listen to music

The product does not meet expectations, totally disappointed with the purchase

Good product ... Bought 11 units had to return one which had charging problem. Two had battery problem, resolved the issue by replacing the battery with new (which is very cheap ... above 2 dollars ... save returning the purchases). These were for myself and friends ... all are happy to have it.

Unit did not work after charging for 5hours so I returned it. Never heard a sound from it so no idea how good it may be when it works