808 HEX XS Bluetooth Speaker Review

By Aidan Moore

Manufacturer: VOXX Accessories Corporation
Product Name: 808 HEX XS Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Model Number: SP260BL
UPC: 044476122002
Price As Tested: $49.99 (Amazon)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by 808 Audio.

Portable Bluetooth speakers exist today because the sound quality from a Smartphone or tablet is as thin as their form factor. When you can add some depth to a size of an audio device, you open up the possibility of using bigger speakers with more powerful drivers, and a lot more audio punch.

In the beginning, there were AM and FM radios that were designed to be small enough to carry in a pocket or purse, but they still had a built in speaker that could deliver a listenable pop radio experience. The marketing guys recognized that a bigger sound was a selling point, and the whole boom box era evolved with bigger and louder battery powered speakers introduced every year.

Then the portable audio universe contracted, and slowly people began to prefer the big personal sound of iPods and competing personal listening devices. When there is just one person listening, a decent pair of headphones is the best way to enjoy your music or podcast. The iPod Nano pushed the limits of tiny form factors, and it was quickly realized that there is such a thing as a too small audio player.

The market for Bluetooth wireless speakers is crowded, with the high end speaker guys like Bose and Bang and Olufsen competing with PC audio manufacturers like Creative and JBL. The range of price and audio quality available for a wireless speaker is huge, with no one device available that can deliver great audio at a reasonable price.

In this article Benchmark Reviews inspects the new 808 HEX XS and tests to see where it fits into this wide audio spectrum of wireless Bluetooth speakers. The 808 HEX XS will be reviewed for audio quality, and overall performance.
The 808 Audio XS has the following features:

(From 808 Audio Web site)

• Control and enjoy your music wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet
• True stereo speaker system with bass resonator
• Single button operation
• Play music wirelessly up to 12 hours from the built-in lithium-ion battery

808 Audio XS Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Model No.	SP260BL (blue)
Color	Blue Black or White
Manufacturer	VOXX Accessories Corporation
Overall dimension	152mm (W) x 82mm (H) x 176mm (D)
Connector Type	Bluetooth
Battery Life	12 hours
Compatible Devices	iPhone , iPod nano , iPod Classic , iPod Touch
Battery Type	Lithium Ion
Other input	1/8 inch TRS audio jack
Accessories Included	micro-USB cable

Subjective Listening Tests

The listening experience with the 808 HEX XS is excellent. There is a magic volume level that provides clear loud sound with a satisfying bass response that will invite your mom to ask you to turn the music down. The unit seems to want to vibrate off the table with the energy it is pumping out.

With only one button and one LED available to manage the device pairing and power states the 808 HEX XS make use of stored audio samples to indicate what the device is doing. Powering on and off the device cause a distinct two second audio sample to be played, giving the listener a clear audio cue as to the device status. Similarly, pairing makes use of audio samples to indicate whether it has successfully paired or unpaired from a sound source.

Bluetooth reception range is pretty good, with a clean uninterrupted signal still available about 20 feet line of sight from an Android phone music source.

The stated twelve hour battery life specification seems a bit optimistic, with a quiet ambient soundtrack going strong after 8 hours but then cutting out. A more aggressive volume level with bass heavy music started to cut out after about 6 hours, and this probably represents a common use case. A recharging time of 4 hours seems about typical for this type of device.

There is no doubt that at the 50 dollar price point this little music box represents great value for the money. A lower cost wireless speaker such as the 808 HEX XS is more likely to find use outdoors at a picnic or the beach as there is less concern over getting the unit wet or dirty when compared to a Bose Speaker costing almost ten times as much.
The 808 Audio XS is a fully functional and cost effective Bluetooth speaker for casual portable audio listening. Its audio performance is comparable to wireless speakers that cost upwards of $100. As of this writing, the 808 HEX XS Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is available online for $49.99 (Amazon).

Battery life and Bluetooth streaming range are acceptable but not great. The 808 HEX XS should easily last for an afternoon outing with music at a modest level, but it does not live up to the 12 hours of battery life specified by the manufacturer.

The enclosure has a quality feel with a glossy metal finish and hex speaker baffle. The holes of the speaker grill are small enough to prevent damage to the speaker while allowing small particles such as sand to be shaken or vacuumed out.

808 Audio gets extra points for has including thoughtful extras with the 808 HEX XS such as the audio and USB cables.

The 808 HEX XS is the perfect speaker to throw in a backpack for an afternoon of outdoor activity without the worry of wear and tear on your expensive audio gear. The audio quality is exceptional at this price point, and the Bluetooth and battery performance are both at the top end of competitive performance specifications.

+ Really good sound
+ Compact and portable design
+ Attractive enclosure
+ Exceptional battery life
+ Good value

– No local Mute function
– Gloss finish attracts fingerprints
– Not the best battery life

• Performance: 8.00
• Appearance: 8.50
• Construction: 9.00
• Functionality: 8.50
• Value: 9.50