808 Audio HEX XS Portable 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.

Features & Specifications

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

Specifications: