Review: Lumsing splashproof Bluetooth speaker

Lumsing splashproof speaker HiFi MM526 Windows Phone Lumia 1520 review

Sexy sound that won't give out at the pool, in the bedroom or anywhere else

We've reviewed a couple of telephone and tablet accessories from Lumsing before: their Ultrathin keyboard and their Harmonica Power Bank. I found both items to look and work slap-up, peculiarly given their depression prices. Today we cheque out a new kind of accessory from Lumsing –a Bluetooth speaker.

The Lumsing Splashproof Bluetooth Speaker (also known equally the HiFi MM526) is a tiny portable speaker with microphone. Information technology can connect to your telephone, tablet, or other device by either Bluetooth or auxiliary cablevision. The speaker comes in v different colors and can clip onto your pocketbook or habiliment with ease. It also happens to be splashproof, and then you lot can have it to the pool without fear. The MM526 sells for less than $40, making information technology a cracking alternative to the Nokia Physician-12 speaker.

Lumsing HiFi MM526 specs

Ability:4W(RMS)
Battery capacity:3.7V/1000mAh
Loudspeaker: 2-3Ω
Signal to noise ratio: ≥70dB
Working hours: ≈8h (existence different based on volume and music)
Size: W80×H81×D83mm
Transmission altitude of Bluetooth: ≥10m
Caste of distortion: ≤0.5%@1W
Frequency response: 100Hz~20KHz
Charging voltage: DC5V,≥500mA
Bluetooth version: four.0
Product Warranty: One Full Yr

Size and style

The MM526 comes in v colors: blue, green, grey, orangish, and hot pink. Simply bluish and green are bachelor in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. The bluish my speaker came in closely resembles the cyan Nokia Lumia 920. Which is to say: it'due south brilliant and pretty.

When viewed from the side, the speaker has a mostly trapezoidal shape. It starts out thick on peak and tapering downwardly towards the bottom. From above or below, the shape is that of a square with recessed corners. The actual top and bottom are gray in color.

Two of the MM526'southward sides are mostly featureless, except for a white Lumsing logo and a couple of ridges. The 2 ridges provide some grip, making it easier to hold the speaker without dropping it.

Lumsing splashproof speaker HiFi MM526 Windows Phone Lumia 1520 review

Metal prune, micro-USB charging, and audio input jack

The third side of the speaker has a metallic clip that can exist folded up when in apply and folded against the speaker (sticking out about 4mm) when not in employ. The prune's metallic color matches that of the speaker, so an orange speaker will have an orange clip, etc.

Below the clip is a compartment that houses the speaker'due south micro-USB port and 3.5mm sound port. The ports are covered by a thin rubbery door in order to protect them from water and other elements. It opens easily, and then accessing the ports won't exist a problem. My concern with the pattern is that the door could suspension off eventually, especially if someone applies excessive pressure level to information technology. The rubbery hinge is only like 2mm thick. I guess you could still utilise it even if it broke off, every bit long equally you didn't lose it.

As for really using those ports, Lumsing has you covered. TheMM526 comes with both a iii.five mm male-to-male cable, and a micro-USB cable measuring about 1.5 feet in length. You lot can utilise the 3.5mm cable to connect the speaker to devices that don't support Bluetooth, or even only to avoid the employ of Bluetooth with devices that do support it.

The speaker doesn't come with an actual wall charger for the micro-USB cable, but that's not uncommon. Plug the speaker into a USB power source and the ability lite (on the opposite side of the speaker) will glow green as long as it charges. Charging time should take 1-2 hours and offers about viii hours of battery life. That number is this speaker'southward greatest weakness compared to the Nokia Doctor-12, which gets 15 hours of bombardment life.

Powering on pairing the speaker to your device

The Lumsing Waterproof Speaker'southward power push is located on the bottom of the unit of measurement. Basically the entire lesser side is one giant ability button, which I like. Press and hold the button for two seconds to turn it on or off. The speaker will announce "Powering on" or "Powering off" out loud when yous do and then.

Later powering the unit of measurement on, it goes into Bluetooth discovery mode. During this time, you would select the speaker's name on your phone or tablet in order to pair the devices. Later that, the speaker will automatically notice your device as long as Bluetooth remains switched on. The vocalization prompt announces "Paired" each time the speaker finds the paired device.

If the speaker doesn't find a device to pair with afterwards ten minutes, information technology will automatically close down.

Lumsing splashproof speaker HiFi MM526 Windows Phone Lumia 1520 review

Controls and calls

On the opposite side of the speaker's clip and ports side, you'll find four big buttons etched into the device'southward rubbery surface: Play/Pause, +, -, and Phone.

Play/Pause (as y'all'd expect) volition alternate betwixt playing and pausing music and video apps. On Windows Phone, information technology works fine on YouTube and volition pause Netflix. Unfortunately Netflix experiences an mistake after pausing, likely due to that app'southward general crumminess.

The + and - buttons simply raise or lower the speaker's volume. That adjustment is in addition to the device's own volume settings.

One advantage the Lumsing MM526 has over the Nokia MD-12: this ane has a microphone, so you can use it as a speakerphone. When a call comes in (indicated by a simple and pleasant Donkey Kong-similar melody), press the telephone button to answer information technology. If you initiate a call while the speaker is on, the call will automatically get through the speaker. Press the phone button to end the phone call when y'all're done.

Below the control buttons prevarication ii LEDs: power and Bluetooth. The ability light glows green when the speaker is charging. Information technology simply has a unmarried LED, so unfortunately you can't decide the speaker'south charge level.

The power LED does not remain on during use, but the (blue, duh!) Bluetooth LED does. If the speaker tin't observe a continued device, a vox prompt indicates "Ready to pair" and the Bluetooth LED will blink instead of remaining steady.

The microphone used during phone calls sits betwixt the power and Bluetooth LEDs, conspicuously labelled in white text. I gave my love quondam female parent a phone call using the speaker mic and she had no problem understanding me during the phone call.

Lumsing splashproof speaker HiFi MM526 Windows Phone Lumia 1520 review

Durability and h2o resistance

The Lumsing Waterproof Speaker has an International Protection (IP) rating of 64. That means it'due south completely protected from dust. As for water, the rating indicates the speaker is protected from splashes, simply not submersion.

As mentioned earlier, Lumsing's Amazon list uses both waterproof and splashproof, just the facts point towards the speaker simply beingness protected confronting splashes. I believe a big quantity of liquid would be able to penetrate the speaker grill. Don't toss information technology in the pool.

Lumsing splashproof speaker HiFi MM526 Windows Phone Lumia 1520 review

Overall Impression

The HiFi MM526 is great little speaker for the price. It provides a fuller, louder audio than a phone or tablet could do on its own. Most of u.s.a. probably won't use the calling choice, simply it'southward cool to accept. The bonny and distinct appearance is welcome, as is the resistance to splashes.

This speaker only has two meaning disadvantages that I can see: the 8-hour battery life (discussed earlier) and the disability to disable voice prompts. Those prompts are loud and somewhat redundant. It'due south not a huge deal, simply there should be an pick to turn them off.

If you're choosing betwixt the Lumsing MM526 and the Nokia MD-12, the latter is a scrap smaller, has better battery life, and offers NFC pairing (a very minor characteristic in my opinion). This 1 has calling support and splash resistance, plus information technology costs at to the lowest degree x bucks less. If you don't mind having to charge it a bit more, Lumsing's Splashproof speaker won't let you down.