foxLv2 Bluetooth Loudspeaker System (Black) (Old Version)

Why 4 star, not 5? Good question - the FOXL has a few items that need to improve to be 5 star in my mind. Understand these issues probably are an unfair burden because they would only be fixed by defying the laws of physics and technology - but my expectations are very high. Compared to it's competitors - definitely a 5 (but they are very underwhelming).1st weakness - Bluetooth reception is suspect at times. I pair this to my iPod Touch, and on occasion, even at short distance, the signal drops enough to reduce volume. Again, this only happens sometimes. When you use a wired connection, the sound pops a bit more.2nd weakness - volume is a very good, but keep in mind this is a near field device. At low volume, there is no dynamic range, and sounds anemic. Turn it up, sound really opens up. Don't think you are going to fill a large room with massive sound. Having said that, I have used this outside to great satisfaction.So now to the real strengths of this device. Bluetooth works very well, and it is sooooooo nice not have the wire tether holding your devices together. I hardly never use the supplied cable - so convenient with bluetooth. When I dont want to listen to headphones, I walk around with the iPod in shirt pocket and FOXL in pants pocket. Works very well.The battery life seems very robust, I just randomly charge it, never run out of juice. To be clear, I use mine in short bursts, say in 15 to 45 minutes at a time, 2 to 3 times a day. Charge maybe once a week.Bass is very impressive for this type of device - please do not confuse with a boom box, or even something that has drivers measured in 2+ inches. Sound is full and goes well into low midrange - very satisfying for most all listeners. My inlaws were in town last week end and were blown away on the depth and richness of sound. Father in-law in former pro Jazz clarinetist, and has a fine ear. He was very impressed.Value - for me, even though I only rate at 4 stars, this is a huge value. Highly portable, bluetooth, rich and full sound, solid construction (metal body), long battery life - nothing else compares. If the items I list are worth $200 to you - you will be extremely pleased.

The whole thing started with my purchase of a Touchpad at great discount and the fact my wife needed a replacement phone at AT&T.The sales man demonstrated a little brick like gadget called a Jambox for $189 and we were amazed at what it could do, especially when it was turned on, for one could feel the suggested power it displayed for it had great physical vibrations for such a tiny device.Of course I didn't buy it, much to the salesman's disappointment and besides they also carried these little iHome wired speakers, which also intrigued me. The two gadgets sent my "I need one like this to complete my life" feeling in motion however. Nothing against AT & T, yet I buy all my gizmos at the best discount possible.Since I was youngster I was always interested in tiny speakers producing prodigious sound and these new devices were pretty decent attempts.So I first bought a used pair of iHome speakers for about $20 at a great discount on ebay, just so I could get the idea of what can be done with small speakers these days. Suffice it to say, they were fair in sound and decent enough to enjoy while traveling. I just wanted to enhance the sound from my mobile phone or Touchpad tablet.The cable connection on the ihome speakers was a pain to use and unravel at times however, unlike the Jambox, which uses wireless Bluetooth.I then followed up by trying out Jawbone Jambox from BB, for after hearing it demonstrated at the AT&T store, I had wanted to get more intimate with it in my own home. The Jambox sounded great, yet it lacked the mid-high frequencies and a rich lower sound, it played only upper and lower midrange sound even though it promised more...just because it vibrated so much and it boasted this great startup sound. You just knew it would kick ass... yet it didn't quite live up to my now spoiled expectations.Well...unlike many of you out there, I listen to my music at a moderate level and not too loud. For reinforcement of my purchase needs, I too will play it loud for a few minutes and then am surprised again at what a small bricklike sized box can accomplish-- yet at the end however, I go back to a more comfortable moderate volume. This is where the Jambox delivered only so-so in sound. It was mostly in the midrange and lacking the treble and bass which completes a decent full range sound. If the Jambox would have delivered more treble, I believe the bass would have taken care of itself.At this time I need to remind everyone about the need of an old-fashioned loudness button, which most stereo receivers are equipped with. This button enables the suppression of midrange sound and pushes the high and low frequencies instead, which is what we require because our ears lack sensitivity for higher and lower frequencies when we listen at lower levels. It's our anatomy folks; it's how we are built. This is called the Fletcher- Munson curve, named after the two gentlemen who experimented with such things many years ago.So adventurous as I was, I ordered a MONSTER Clarity-- for it had good reviews and the cost was certainly attractive.Now I could compare the Jambox and Clarity almost side by side in the old-fashioned A-B comparison.I must say the Clarity for the money is a great product, although it had it's own foibbles for it only charged on a USB connection from the computer and it wouldn't let one know how much in battery reserves it had. I called MONSTER up and was told-- that's how it is. I also had issues with the all the button placements on the side, for unless I looked, I mostly selected the wrong one. That was a nuisance. The sound of the Clarity was surprisingly good "at higher volume"...and again at lower levels only the midrange dominated. For the money it costs, I will still endorse this little unit anytime. Yet it was sent back for it wasn't for me. The Jambox started looking better again, yetit went back to BB for the spending of almost $200 it didn't satify my needs. I was at a loss now on what to do. In the back of my mind, the SOUNDMATTERS FoxL was tempting me now, yet I had no intention of spending two hundred dollars on a little gizmo, which some said wasn't even that hot and couldn't play loud. The Clarity and Jambox were available at discount from Amazon, where as the FoxL was always sold at list price, like the BOSE and Apple products usually are. I looked for used units and only non-bluetooth were available for less money. I decided instead to take the plunge and buy new.So I ordered the FoxL from Amazon using the supersaver method which kept the cost just under two hundred dollars-- by a penny.After about a week the unit was in the mailbox and with great anticipation I opened it up to see what it was all about. I already new all devices need an initial charge and this one was no exception. The instructions which are quite limited, yet to the point suggested four hours of uninterupted charging on 115 Volts.I then paired this Bluetooth version unit with my Touchpad and my HTC Inspire phone. I just learned to rip my CDs and synched them to my two devices. I still have issues with this unlike the younger crowd, who can do this in their sleep.Well when I turned on the FoxL, it didn't vibrate like the Jawbone (Jambox) it simply turned on with much less fanfare.I then attempted to pair it with my Touchpad and then followed up with the HTC Inspire. This was a bit frustrating for the two units didn't want to talk to the FoxL at first. After fiddling around for about 5-10 minutes I got both going. The HTC however did not have much of a range and decided on its own, to cut out its transmission-- much like a loose wire would do to a speaker connection. This was disappointing. The Touchpad worked well in comparison and at a greater distance. I'm still puzzled by this.When the initial music was played on the Foxl (Eagle Eye Cherry's album), I immediately heard and listened to the singer's voice being so very clear... and that alone was a pleasure. I then played some of Richard Elliot's smooth jazz and that was also impressive.Within a few days I played various pieces including an old Rachmaninoff CD where the old master played the piano and I must say, the piano sounded great coming of this little box, for it's just mind boggling to hear a piano sound coming from such a tiny device, albeit lacking the bass of a much larger speaker-- yet still impressive.I played various albums from old to newer and was never disappointed. It would be an insult to intelligence to call any of these speakers Hi-Fi even the larger BOSE unit isn't Hi-Fi; only some home stereos can be called Hi-Fi in my opinion.The sound of the FoxL however is very pleasant for it has a more pronounced lower frequency output than the Jambox and I don't even want to talk about the Clarity (which again I will still recommend for the money). The Clarity only comes in at higher volume output.Many have complained about the Jambox and FoxL vibrating at high volume; well that's the nature of the beast and I strongly suggest placing such type of speaker on a surface where this will not be an issue. The FoxL does come with a little mat, which I sure will disappear in no time. I make it a point no matter what to keep the little speaker from any edge of a table!When the volume is moderate and not to loud the FoxL will suppress the midrange a bit. This is exactly what I wanted.The FoxL is also smaller than the Jambox and comes in colors similar to the choice of Henry Ford's Model T...in Black. Too bad.It is my keeper now and I'm really impressed with it. I heard no coloration in sound as some have mentioned in piano music, yet I look at the tiny device and I wouldn't dare to discuss coloration of sound here anyway. Comments about such a small unit not being loud enough is silly too. The FoxL was designed by Godehard Guenter a physicist and former NASA engineer who has 3 PHD's and a very impressive resume to boot. So I have confidence that this is a no nonsense speakersystem for portable needs. When I have this a bit longer I will have more input about this little FoxL. So far I'm very impressed.

Pros:At this point... not one! (customer service was polite... but, useless)Cons:- $200.00 for a badly designed piece of #%&@.- the sound is not that good. You can not turn the volume up without it overdriving the speaker.- it vibrates so much that it will "walk" off the surface without a provided pad. Just one more piece to carry... ???- the bluetooth range is TERRIBLE... only about 8 feet? (my new Jambox has 5 times the range) Why does bluetooth matter, if you can't take it away from the source.- HERE'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM... the bluetooth will not stay connected. If your audio source stops (like at the end of a podcast) the unit quickly turns off and you have to reconnect it by pressing the front button and waiting (sometimes up to 30 seconds) for the unit to connect. Most of the time I have to then go to the audio settings on my MBR to get it to start playing. (once again... my new Jambox doesn't have any issues with this... it works perfectly)Customer Service Says... just use an audio cable! What? That's why I paid 200.00 for a BLUETOOTH speaker.I returned the first unit to soundmatters and they sent me a replacement that is NO BETTER???BUY THE JAMBOX... believe me!