BlueAnt X3i BT speaker – BT, IP67 and loud (speaker review)

The BlueAnt X3i BT speaker is a Bluetooth, IP67-rated, battery/mains, moveable, 30W speaker. Good for the seashore, pool and even at house as a stereo pair.

This market has grown exponentially, with over 100 manufacturers/fashions at main retailers. Names like JBL, Sonos, Sony, Final Ears, Bose, Marshal, Marley, SOUNDBOKS, and extra are a part of an often-confusing determination course of.

So, the place does BlueAnt match?

BlueAnt is an Australian-owned and based mostly client electronics audio model based mostly in Melbourne. Its R&D facility employs an area group of audio professionals. The BlueAnt BT speaker vary consists of X0i, X1i, X2i and X3i (i is for the 2023 vary), that are comparable in idea to JBL Cost, Final Ears Increase, and Sony SRS-XE – all of which you’d be proud of.

BlueAnt sells on-line, however you can see it at David Jones, Officeworks, Betta, and Videopro (on-line).

Australian Evaluate: BlueAnt X3i BT moveable speaker

We use Fail (beneath expectations), Satisfactory (meets low expectations), Move (meets expectations), Move+ (close to Exceed however not class-leading) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the category chief) towards lots of the gadgets beneath. You’ll be able to click on on most photos for an enlargement.

First Impression – Strong, Shimmerweave – Move+

It’s a 230 x 90 mm x 1.1kg barely tapered cylinder with two rubber toes beneath, massive +/-, Play/Pause/Siri/Google, BT pair and energy built-in buttons on the high and two X (marks the passive radiators) on the finish. It’s meant to take a seat in panorama mode.

Behind is a rubber entry panel with USB-C, USB-A (For energy financial institution 5V/1A/5W output) and three.5mm AUX-in. It has a 5V/3A/15W USB wall charger and USB-A to USB-C cable.

Audio system and Energy – Move+

It has two 57mm front-firing drivers and two (X) passive radiators pushed by 2 x 15W @10% THD, amps. So whereas it might probably get loud, it’s best to again off a bit.

BlueAnt claims 150Hz-20kHz, which is fairly typical of BT IP67 audio system. However as we present in assessments, it’s able to a lot decrease bass.

Battery – Move

BlueAnt claims 12 hours of playtime, however that’s at 50% quantity with Bass Enhance off.

At 75/100%, we received 7.5/4.5 5 hours. BlueAnt recommends utilizing the charger for full quantity.

The recharge time is about three hours. Any PD/PPS charger with a 5V/3A output is ok.

The battery is 3.7V/9.6A/34.56W, so the ability financial institution ought to be sufficient to slowly cost a cellphone as soon as.

Bluetooth and stereo pair – Move

It’s BT 5.0 with the 16-bit/44100Hz SBC codec solely. It helps a single and stereo pair. BT 5.0 vary is a most of 30 metres – we suggest 10m for one of the best sign.

AUX-IN – Move

We used a Microsoft Floor Professional with a 3.5mm port to the three.5mm BlueAnt port. There was no perceptible sound high quality distinction, however the quantity slipped again to 80dB (nonetheless fairly loud). Any AUX-in machine wants a pre-amp.

Sound high quality and quantity – Move+

It might probably attain 85dB with cheap readability, though the treble is noticeably clipped (compressed). At 75-80% quantity, THD (Whole Harmonic Distortion) is effectively underneath management with no noticeable treble clipping.

Regardless of BlueAnt claiming 150Hz-20kHz, mid-bass cuts in means sooner at round 50Hz, constructing to flat earlier than 100Hz. That is glorious for an IP67 sealed speaker. It’s then flat (good) till about 6kHz, the place it takes a attribute dip to keep away from harshness after which again up from 8-14kHz earlier than declining to 20kHz.

It is a very listenable, virtually impartial sound signature with stunning mid-and-high bass for ‘oomph’, glorious low-mid-high mid for vocals, crisp low-mid treble, and an sudden feeling of actuality. It’s typical of all BlueAnt audio system.

The sound stage can be fairly large – no less than a metre from all sides of the speaker regardless of having two forward-firing audio system. We tried it with Dolby Atmos content material, and it added a slight horizontal (no vertical) spatial impact.

Stereo Pair – Move

Stereo pair means to pair between the 2 audio system. One is the grasp that connects to the host audio machine and passes one channel to the opposite speaker. This will induce a bit lag and barely reduces the general music high quality. It isn’t unhealthy, and solely an audiophile would discover.

The stereo impact is kind of good, however you should improve the amount over utilizing it as mono. It stays in Duo mode till you cancel the mode.

The audio system are finest positioned no less than two metres aside for finest the stereo sound stage. We examined to 5 metres, they usually had been wonderful. BlueAnt says as much as 30 metres is feasible. You should use the pair with both BT or AUX-In.

IP67 – Move

It’s IP67-rated, however no specs are given, so assume 1m for half-hour with the rear rubber port closed. It sinks, so if utilizing it round water, possibly tie a float machine to it.

The ranking is extra to be used on the seashore or pool the place sand and water don’t have an effect on it.

Siri or Google voice management – phone-related

This refers to utilizing the connected cellphone, not controlling the audio system. It isn’t Wi-Fi, so it can’t be a part of a multi-room system.

It might probably act as a hands-free speaker when related to a smartphone. Quantity is sweet, however callers commented on low voice quantity.

CyberShack’s view – BlueAnt X3i is a superb mono (or stereo pair) BT speaker

No different evaluate does battery and sound assessments –simply regurgitates the press launch. We don’t make glowing and unsubstantiated statements – simply the information, ma’am.

So after we check and discover a near-perfect impartial sound signature, nice quantity and a large sound stage, you will be assured it’s. Musically, it is vitally good in case you drive it at 75-80% quantity. Sure, you may belt out at 100%, however the additional 2-3dB is just not value what you lose.

At $249, it’s a direct competitor to the Sony SRS-XE200, besides that it’s only for panorama, forward-firing use. Having heard each, that is maybe sweeter sounding.

Its nearest JBL competitor is the $199 Cost 5 with 40W, 20-hour battery (smaller Wh); you should utilize the JBL App for updates. It has a barely higher sound signature because it has a 20mm tweeter, 90 x 52mm woofer and twin passive bass radiators. My evaluate acknowledged, ‘Class chief – no higher sound at this value’.

Score

Options: 90 – BT 5.0, IP67, 35Wh battery and BlueAnt’s impartial sound signature.

Worth: 85 – Affordable worth coming inside 20% of the category chief.

Efficiency: 90 – glorious throughout, however again off the amount barely for one of the best music.

Ease of Use: 90 – Plug and play,

Design: 85 – Typical cylinder design with passive radiators at every finish. At the very least BlueAnt has the sense to include toes so it’s used horizontally.