LUXA2 Groovy Duo Wireless Speaker Review

By Joe Gulczinski

Manufacturer: LUXA² a Division of Thermaltake
Product Name: Groovy Duo Live Wireless Speaker
Model Number: AD-SPK-PCGDBK-00
UPC: 841163057018
Price As Tested: $97.40 (Amazon)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Thermaltake.

LUXA², a division of Thermaltake, embraces the philosophy that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication and with this belief incorporates functionality and premium aesthetic appeal into their product designs. From concept to reality, they are committed to creating the best user experience. Today Benchmark Reviews examines the Groovy Duo Live Wireless Speaker, two portable Bluetooth speaker modules with the capability of stereo sound.

Not only will the ease of use and functionality of the Groovy Duo be tested, but also sound quality and overall construction of the modules. Take a few moments to review the main features and specifications below before a closer look.

• LUXA² Groovy Audio Center application (Google Play).
• Long-lasting playtime with a fast recharge.
• Stereo capability.
• Designed with quality components for durability and style.

Product	Groovy Duo Live Wireless Speaker
Bluetooth	CSR V2.1+EDR, A2DP (Audio Sink only), AVRCP (Remote Control only)
Wireless Range	10 meters / 33 feet (open area)
Capacity	900 mAh / 3.7V Li-Polymer
Input	5V 0.3A Micro USB
Audio Output	3 + 3 watts (RMS)
Play / Charge Time	Up to 8-10 hours / 3 hours (0-100%)
Compatibility	Bluetooth v2.1 or above
LED Indicator	Red / Green / Blue
Dimensions	Length: 65mm / Width: 65mm / Height: 80mm
Weight	273g (one) / 546g (both)
Material	Casing & Cabinet: plastic / Mesh: metal
Warranty	1 year

The Groovy Duo came in a very conservative box that was packed in such a way to ensure no shock could damage any of the speaker modules. All of the accessories came tucked away in their own compartment at the bottom of the package.

Here the Duo is shown all powered up and synched for stereo sound. These speaker modules work a little different since they need to be initially paired with each other first before one can use them in stereo (more of this covered in the next section).

The speaker modules themselves are quite heavy for only having a 3″ driver in them; however, this is 3 watts RMS, so that is to be expected. A matt-black metal-mesh screen wraps the front, sides, and back, while very tough, heavy plastic encapsulates the top and bottom. The bottom is sealed completely with a hardy rubber ring-type gasket. On top four solid buttons (that depress with a firm click becoming flush with the body) present the features of volume control, play, pause, and Bluetooth pairing. The LED square flashes between the primary colors to indicate status of pairing, power, and Bluetooth signal type.

The small accessory box provided a nylon mesh bag for toting, a stereo to dual mono adapter (in case Bluetooth is not an option or one prefers to go wired), the USB to twin micro USB power adapters, and a small manual written in many languages to explain the pairing process.

The Groovy Duo speaker modules are very well constructed and solid. All of the buttons were firm with positive tactile feedback; furthermore, they are designed in a way to prevent picking up fingerprints or showing dirt easily.
The Groovy Duo will pair with most Bluetooth devices with no problem: after the initial set pairing, the LED will flash blue and red for a mono pairing (then steady blue), or will flash blue and green for a stereo pairing (then a steady green). All auxiliary-in sound will turn the LED’s a solid red. Note that older Bluetooth protocols will result in improper detection and that third party Bluetooth software is required to support the full range of features (on PC and Mac).

For those of you who use an Android based operating system, there is a special application called the LUXA² Groovy Audio Center to enhance ease of use even further (Google Play). It adds functionality such as: a five band equalizer measured in decibels (with presets), the ability to play music from your personal library, a Bluetooth pairing function, and a global internet radio.

The application is very simple and easy to use, with the exception that Bluetooth has to be manually turned on and that it is easier to do the initial pairing in your devices’ original settings. Otherwise the radio is a nice touch and the equalizer does make the frequency response a lot more pleasing. The audio center application is completely optional.

Testing Methodology

The Groovy Duo’s were tested for approximately 55 hours with a variety of Bluetooth devices. Devices that were tested and paired included: Sony Xperia P (phone), Dell 3840 (tablet), and a Broadcom Bluetooth adapter (Win 7, 64-bit). To test the audio quality several genres of music were selected to delineate what type of range the speaker modules could provide (note that the frequency response was not provided in the specifications). Due to the design of these modules, the Groovy Duos actually sound best in the open air with all reflective sound surfaces at a distance (with the exception of the surface it is sitting on).

Results

The Groovy Duo seems to have a rather long pairing process; such as holding both power buttons for 5 seconds until an audible beep and flash is seen, then hold both play buttons up to a minute to initially pair the two together. This is necessary for stereo sound: the main module receives both left and right channels and then links the right channel to the other module. Pressing and holding the Bluetooth button allows pairing up with a device or PC.

Sounds easy enough, right? Well this is where the complications come in. If you have more then one device polling the Duo while it is playing, the quality of the broadcast is severely affected. This took quite a while to figure out before physically removing the Bluetooth adapter from the PC, and disconnecting the Bluetooth in the phone. This cleared all the interference up for the signal source (the Dell tablet in this case). At this point a repairing of the previous mentioned devices was successful and all operated properly.

Due to having a total of 6 watts (RMS), music has a very distinct clarity to it especially in the mid-range and highs. So much, in fact, that those frequencies had to be reduced (with the lows boosted of course) to get more of a “flat” sound, closer to a what you would expect from a small studio monitor (which it was unjustly compared to, but just to adjust the frequency response as close as possible). The volume has a built in limiter so there is no way one can wreck the Duo’s and surprisingly enough for the size, there is no distortion at full volume. You won’t be blowing the doors off with these; however, at full volume, you will definitely have to raise your voice to be heard over them.

Under real-world testing, the units charged up to full (red to green LED power light on back) in about 3.2 hours. Playtime is a mixed bag with results from 6.5 hours to over 8, depending if it is in standby mode or another Bluetooth signal is recognizing (but pending to connect) the device. The timed results were from plugging the twin micro USB power cord adapter directly into an A/C module. It may be possible to charge them from a standard USB port but it is not going to charge fast or provide enough current. If either of the batteries run all the way down, on the next power up it is more then likely an initial repairing of the speaker modules will be needed. One undocumented surprise was discovered that when powering down one unit, it’s twin also powers down simultaneously.

A majority of the Bluetooth speakers on the market do not embrace stereo sound to keep costs done. The Groovy Duo takes a bold foray into this arena with not only an aesthetically pleasing product, but does so by embracing one of the most fundamental components of music: stereo separation. With the ability to distance these modules 10-15 feet apart from each other in the open air, the spacious, rich stereo sound will fill a room. Granted the bass is still lacking, but the Groovy Duo equalization application (for Android devices) does address that to some extent. Note that any 3rd party equalizer or music player will suffice.

The Groovy Duo’s performance was much more then adequate concerning frequency response. When using an equalizer it is possible to dial in some decent sound (trimming down the midrange while extending the bass about 85%). The spacious stereo sound granted far exceeded the need for additional bass at nominal levels, but remember we are only talking about 6 watts RMS total here. As far as battery life versus recharge time is concerned, it is relatively so close as advertised, there is no complaints.

A level of high-tech sophistication combined with an understated look of the modules speak for themselves. The color-coded flashing status indicator adds a special touch that it is worth mentioning again. As far as physical construction goes, these modules are pretty tough and heavy. The black metal mesh that surrounds the driver and battery is stiff and non-resilient, adding to strength and durability.

Once everything is paired up (in the correct order), the speakers work properly as advertised. The major caveat encountered was if one module is accidentally drained of power re-pairing with it’s twin is necessary. Another note, is when powering them up from sleep they both have to be turned on simultaneously or only one speaker will be found. Despite these niggling issues, the controls do not feel cheap and are intuitive to use.

As far as overall value is concerned, this product definitely offers it’s own distinct sound quality (due to the stereo separation factor) and is available online for $97.40 (Amazon). If stereo sound is not important, there are equivalent Bluetooth speaker modules for less.

Pros:

+ Spacious stereo that sounds decent placed in open air.
+ Solidly constructed with an elegant and simplistic look.
+ Controls are well thought out for accessibility.
+ Dedicated Android application adds further sound enhancements.

Cons:

– Proper initial pairing between modules could have been an easier process.
– A 1/2″ larger driver for better frequency response (at the cost of battery life) would benefit future iterations immensely.

Ratings:

• Performance: 7.0
• Appearance: 9.0
• Construction: 8.0
• Functionality: 7.0
• Value: 7.0

COMMENT QUESTION: How important is stereo vs. mono in a Bluetooth speaker to you?