Tech – Jabra Solemate Portable Speakers


[Sponsored Review]
So I recently got a new toy to play with. At first when I heard it was a Jabra I was like, “Cool! A new Bluetooth headset!”. I mean that’s what Jabra is famous for right?
Then I heard it was a set of portable speakers. Really? From Jabra? Yes indeed!
Here’s a little info on Jabra:
Jabra is the brand of GN Netcom, a subsidiary of GN Store Nord A/S (GN) – listed on NASDAQ OMX. Jabra employs approximately 850 people worldwide and in 2011 produced an annual revenue which amounted to DKK 2,106 million. Jabra is a world leader in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of a broad range of hands-free communications solutions. With a reputation for innovation, reliability, and ease of use that goes back more than two decades, Jabra’s consumer and business divisions produce corded and wireless headsets, plus mobile and in-office speakerphones that empower individuals and businesses through increased freedom of movement, comfort, and functionality.
The Jabra Solemate is the company’s first wireless portable speaker! As more and more consumers are using smartphones these days (I read recently that our Malaysian telcos estimate that 20 to 30% of their subscribers are using smartphones), music lovers can now enjoy the freedom of big sound with the Jabra SOLEMATE™.
Now on to my review.
 
The Jabra Solemate – no it’s not a shoe
Dimensions: 172 mm (L) x 64 mm  x 70 mm (H)
What comes with the Solemate – 3.5mm jack, charger, micro USB cable, water-resistant bag, manual and waranty card
A cross-section shot of the Solemate
The vibration-damping non-slip rubber sole also houses the 3.5mm cable. Why a rubber sole? So you can play on almost any surface without those anoying vibration sounds to disturb your music!
Dust and water-resistant bag to protect your Solemate
Water resistant bag not water-proof so please don’t drown it in water
This nifty multifunctional portable Bluetooth® speaker that enables sharing and streaming of entertainment with anyone, anytime and anywhere and is equipped with strong, deep bass from an integrated subwoofer (yes a subwoofer inside this compact little package!) and rich, vibrant acoustics from dual tweeters.
Now I decided to test the Solemate indoors and outdoors. In my brother’s 200 square feet room I connected it to my brother’s S2 and the Solemate threatened to wake up my neighbours on max volume setting. Next I tried it in a 300 square foot room and it was sufficiently powerful. Outdoors it was not bad as I thought the sound quality was pretty good up to 10+ feet away on maximum setting.
I also tried connecting it via the 3.5mm cable and the micro USB cable to test it’s plug and play capabilities and my PC and laptop had no trouble detecting and immediately switching to using it to play. Useful gadget to have when making presentations using my laptop at client’s offices as I won’t have to rely on the puny laptop speakers when showing videos.
You can play music while lying at the beach, having a picnic in a park, hosting a little get-together, or chilling out at home. Amplify the volume up to an impressive 120 dB SPL* while streaming YouTube videos or watching movies. The Jabra SOLEMATE™ connects to any multimedia device using Bluetooth® technology, a 3.5mm audio cable or USB cable and caters to different consumer preference, making it a very cool looking speaker for indoors or outdoors.
You can connect the Solemate a mobile phone, tablet, iPad®, iPod® or laptop. I even tried making a call with the speakers connected via Bluetooth to my S3 and it works like a charm although I did look a bit stupid talking to a speaker hahaha!
 
 
Take it outdoors! It’s powerful enough that you can still hear the music clearly up to 10 feet away (speakers facing you of course)
 
Technical specs:
• Powerful sound with 3 front facing speakers (2 acoustic tweeters and 1 subwoofer) and a proprietary passive bass radiator
• Sweat, dust and splash resistant
• Speakerphone capability
• Voice Guidance
• StatusDisplay™
• Wireless connectivity – play multimedia on Bluetooth® enabled device within 10m
• Connection via Bluetooth®, 3.5mm audio cable and USB cable
• Built-in rechargeable lithiumion battery, AC wall charger included
• Durable sound bag
• Up to 8 hours wireless music time*
• Up to 40 days standby time
• Weight: 610 grams
• Dimensions: 172 mm (L) x 64 mm  x 70 mm (H)

I think the Jabra Solemate is a cool accessory to have with your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Sure beats carrying around cumbersome/ ugly speakers with wires trailing everywhere.
The Jabra SOLEMATE™ has a recommended retail price of RM699.00 and retails at Apple premium resellers: Machines, selected Challenger stores, I-Tec@MV and other authorised Jabra resellers.
For more info visit www.Jabra.com or their (Singaporean) Facebook page http://facebook.com/jabrasg
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Jabra Solemate – tough and powerful little bugger!