Soundmatters foxLv2 Bluetooth Loudspeaker System (Black) (Old Version)

This tiny speaker sounds great. It was the final design of Dr. Godehard Guenther, the legendary a/d/s/ speaker designer. I love it in spite of its flaws. Connecting with bluetooth is clunky, the USB power connector doesn't fully charge the battery, and two very different connectors are the same size. But I put up with these quirks because it's sturdy and beautifully made, it fits in my pocket, and it sounds better than any other small speaker. Even the many other speakers that license its drivers and technology don't sound as good as this, the original. I actually have three different versions of this speaker, the V1 "audiophile" (with no bluetooth), the V2 audiophile, and this one, the V2 with bluetooth. I rarely use the bluetooth connectivity, and all three of the speakers sound exactly the same, but this one is my favorite because of the extra labeling. With earlier versions, it was hard to tell the audio-in port from the microphone-in port, but with this one the audio port is clearly labeled. Note that my unconditional recommendation for the sound of this speaker is only at reasonable volume levels. It will play stupidly loud, but it will not sound very good if you crank it. It sounds best at low to medium levels! If you want to play very loud, particularly with bass-heavy music, you should get a larger speaker.

Your browser does not support HTML5 video. I've been looking for a good portable external speaker for my laptop for quite some time. I thought I had found the answer in the Logitech USB 305 Laptop Speaker Z305, but when that Logitech speaker died just after using it for two months, I decided to invest in something of higher quality. So when I found the Soundmatters foxLv2 Bluetooth Pocket-sized Audiophile Loudspeaker System with Bluetooth and Hands-free Microphone, I realized I'd found not just a good speaker, but a great one.The foxLv2 portable speaker, developed by Dr. Godehard Guenther and named after his grandson, is exceptional in almost every respect. First, it seems a quality unit and is very solid--no cheap plastic on this speaker. It's built like a tank so I'm not too worried about breaking it if it drops. Second, the sound from the speaker is great--clean and loud (much better than the Logitech speaker I tested). Third, the unit is very portable--smaller than the Logitech--the foxLv2 is 5.6 inches by 2.2 inches by 1.4 inches. Fourth the speaker is packed with features, like optional Bluetooth and a real stereo mini-jack.You can power the speaker using battery power, wall AC power, or via USB cable. Battery life is about 5 hours. When powering the speaker using wall AC or USB, the audio volume is much greater than when using battery power.There are two ways to input audio to the speaker, via a 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack or optional Bluetooth. The mini-jack input makes the foxL speaker much more versatile than, say, the Logitech USB Z305 speaker, because you can use the foxLv2 with any device that has a headphone out jack, such as your laptop, iPhone, or iPad. Moreover, with the optional Bluetooth model, you can play audio over the speaker without needing any cable connections. Note, however, that the quality of the audio coming through the stereo mini-jack is much better than the quality of the audio played via Bluetooth.So then why use Bluetooth? The Bluetooth option also includes a Bluetooth microphone, which means you can use the foxLv2 as a hands-free microphone for a conference call.The speaker is even ready for international travel--it comes with a set of foreign AC plugs.I like most everything about the speaker, except for the price. However, in this case you get what you pay for. The speaker is solid, well-built, feature-rich, and cranks out big, clear audio.Note that this speaker does not clip onto the laptop like the Logitech USB Z305. Rather, the foxL is meant to stand alone using a small metal panel that folds out, allowing the speaker to sit upright on a flat surface. This is convenient, but the speaker produces so much bass that it may "walk" across a table onto the floor due to vibration if you are not careful.Also, this speaker does not have an auto-off feature--you must physically turn the speaker off when not in use if you don't want to drain your battery. This is not hard to do, but you do have to remember to do it.So, after major frustrations with portable speakers made by other manufacturers, I'm here to stay with the foxLv2. The foxLv2 is a high quality, great sounding portable external speaker for your laptop, iPhone, iPad, or most any other audio-playing device that has a jack for audio output.For a direct comparison of audio from my laptop to audio from the foxLv2 speaker, please watch this video review.

If you're looking for a speaker that is true to the recording look no further. If you're looking for something that screams loud for all types of music genres look elsewhere.This little speaker is very impressive for what it is. It REALLY shines with Jazz and easy listening types of music, struggles a little bit in the lower end in livelier tracks and rock. Just knock the volume down a notch or two it resolves this muddiness of the bass. For it's size though I have to be fair to the FoxL, it performs VERY well with bass notes overall, just don't get caught up in reviews that make this thing seem like it's on par with larger speakers bass response.Honestly though where any listener should focus their compliments of this speaker is in the midrange and high end frequency response. Unfreakin real. Jazz sounds amazing on this. Listening to Harry Connick and Diana Krall they sound like they are right up front in the soundstage and properly voiced, really impressive. Plucks of the bass and twinkles of percussion in classical, or the blowing sounds in a wind instrument, all sound accurate and prominent and wide and well placed.Excellent soundstage overall, very well balanced little speaker. Just don't expect it to be really loud and carry a bass note like say a Bose Sound dock. Not that I like the sound of the Bose Sound dock overall, I don't I think it sounds like warm static. The FoxL speaker sounds much nicer properly voiced, but it's not as big and boomy and volume-laden, so don't expect bass response on par with a unit like that. Pound for pound though FoxL sounds much better than most speakers I've heard, just not a get up and dance house party sort of speaker. Worth $200? Not sure yet, and that depends on what you want it for. I wanted it for when I work from home to listen to music in my office, and conference calls. Overall not worth $200 to me, but audiophile grade equipment always exceeds that immutable law of diminishing returns. Would have given it 5 stars it were priced a little lower and it were a smidge (can't believe I am saying this) larger. Would have benefited from larger form factor in the bass department. But guess what I am keeping it!