Xiaomi clearly is aware of find out how to make great-sounding audio merchandise on a price range, and the Sound Outdoor is not any completely different. The Bluetooth speaker is out there in vibrant colours, and a giant a part of its attract is the 30W sound it is ready to produce. Combine that with IP67 ingress safety, and also you get a speaker that nails the fundamentals.
As is usually the case with Xiaomi’s audio merchandise, affordability is a key promoting level of the Sound Outdoor. The speaker was launched in China again in May 2024, and it prices ₹3,999 ($46) in India; an important worth when you think about the feature-set. You may also choose it up on Amazon within the U.S. for $65, and if you wish to go the reseller route, it is listed at AliExpress for $49. If you wish to purchase it within the U.Ok., you will have to shell out £35 ($44).
Like Tribit’s StormBox 2 and most new merchandise on this phase, the Sound Outdoor has a cylindrical design that makes it simple to take wherever. There’s a carrying hook on the prime that lets you dangle it from a bag, and the intense orange hue does an important job accentuating the otherwise-muted black coloration scheme. If you want a little bit of vibrancy, the speaker is out there in blue and crimson coloration variants as nicely.
The outer floor of the Sound Outdoor is coated in material with a mesh overlaying, and it feels nice to carry. You get rubber ft on one facet, and Xiaomi’s emblem is emblazoned on the entrance, however because it’s in the identical coloration as the material, it is not as seen. The playback controls are mounted on the prime of the Sound Outdoor, and also you get quantity up/down together with a multifunction button.
The again of the unit homes the ability button, Bluetooth pairing mode, USB-C port (hidden behind a gasket), and a stereo pairing button. Interestingly, Xiaomi says you may join the Sound Outdoor with 99 different audio system, creating an array totaling 100 items. But because the producer despatched over simply the one unit for testing, I wasn’t capable of see if this function is any good. Regardless, it ought to be ok in stereo mode as nicely, so if you’d like a wider soundstage, selecting up two of those is an effective choice.
Either finish of the Sound Outdoor has a passive radiator that does a great job making a vibrant sound, and the speaker itself accommodates two driver items — a 20W woofer and a 10W tweeter. The mixed 30W sound is among the many finest on this class, and it does an honest sufficient job on this regard.
Xiaomi’s audio gear has a attribute sound with a bass-heavy sound signature, and that is the case with the Sound Outdoor as nicely. You get a great power within the low-end together with clear mids and recessed highs, and the general tonality lends itself nicely to informal listening. As the title suggests, this speaker’s fundamental attraction is that it may be used outside, and in that context, I’ve no points with the sound.
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To that impact, you get IP67 mud and water resistance, making the Sound Outdoor resistant to any inclement climate circumstances. I used it within the bathe, and the carrying hook means you may simply dangle it on a bathe caddy. Coming in at 597g, it is not too heavy both, and the straightforward portability mixed with the highly effective sound makes it an important alternative to be used within the house or outside.
I did not see any points with Bluetooth connectivity both; the speaker has Bluetooth 5.4, and I paired it with the Vivo X200 Pro, OnePlus 13, and Honor Magic 7 Pro. You do not get any Bluetooth codecs outdoors of the usual SBC and AAC, however once more, that is ok on this class.
There aren’t any issues with battery life both. The Sound Outdoor has a 2600mAh battery, and it lasted simply over eight and a half hours in my testing, with the amount turned up (clearly). It costs through 15W USB PD (5W/3A), so you should utilize nearly any charger with the speaker. However, as there isn’t any quick charging, it takes over two and a half hours to cost the Sound Outdoor, so I’d recommend plugging it in at night time.
If you want higher sound, I extremely suggest the StormBox 2 — it’s my go-to transportable speaker lately. It is costlier at $69, however you get a richer sound, higher battery, and I just like the design somewhat higher. The StormBox 2 will also be utilized in stereo mode, and also you get intensive customizability with regards to the sound.
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Conversely, if you’d like one thing that is not as huge, Xiaomi’s Sound Pocket has the identical design in a smaller and lighter chassis. The speaker additionally will get IP67 ingress safety, and whereas the 5W driver does not get wherever as loud or detailed, it’s respectable sufficient in its personal proper. It additionally makes use of a cavity to create a louder sound, and it prices $39 on Amazon.
Overall, the Sound Outdoor is one other win for Xiaomi. The speaker seems to be good, has an important sound, and does not price as a lot as its rivals. In quick, this is among the finest price range Bluetooth audio system you will get right this moment.
With terrific sound and a vibrant design, Xiaomi’s Sound Outdoor is a price range Bluetooth speaker that excels on the fundamentals.
