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A while back, we checked out the Outdoor Technology Buckshot, a very small, cylindrical Bluetooth speaker with a bike mount that we liked for its portability and simplicity. Now, Outdoor Technology has made the Buckshot Pro, a more expensive version with slightly upgraded audio and a flashlight attachment. This $79.95 speaker is a niche product for sure, but it will be useful to bicyclists and campers who want music—and light—in a compact form. Still, we wouldn’t mind seeing the price drop a tad. Even with the flashight feature, the audio is not quite in line with the $80 price.
Design
Visually, the Buckshot Pro ($74.95 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) resembles the original Buckshot in its general shape: cylindrical, with a textured diamond pattern on the surface of its rubberized frame. Available in military green, neon green, black, red, orange, or gray, the Buckshot Pro is safe from shocks, and rated IPX5 for water resistance. The Pro also features a larger driver with a slightly larger circumference than the original, as well as a passive bass radiator to better project low frequencies.
Playback controls, including track navigation buttons that double as volume controls (which work independently of, not together with, your mobile device’s volume), are located along the outer, cylindrical panel, along with a microphone for phone calls. With the flashlight accessory off, the Buckshot Pro measures 1.7 by 4.1 inches. With it connected, the speaker measures 5.9 inches in length.
The single-driver is located behind a grille covering on one end of the cylinder, while the other end houses the micro USB connection for charging the speaker (a USB cable is included), and a USB port for charging other devices and connecting the flashlight accessory.
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The flashlight accessory is unique, to say the least. It screws on to the end of the speaker (the end opposite the driver) and, once you’ve held the power button down for 3 seconds, the LED emits a powerful, ghostly white light. The accessory has four lighting modes: two in which the outside panel glows in high or low intensity (lamp modes), one in which the internal bulb projects light forward like a traditional flashlight (torch mode), and another in which it acts as a strobe light. Combining this light with the included rubber bike mount allows for a secure listening and lighting experience while you ride around town.
Outdoor Technology rates the speaker’s battery life at roughly 10 hours on a full charge, but your results will vary depending on how loud you play your tunes, and how much you use the flashlight function.
Performance
This is a tiny speaker, so you shouldn’t expect it to have much in the way of big bass. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Buckshot Pro understandably has some trouble. At moderate volumes (max on the speaker, mid-way on an iPhone 5s), the Pro pumps out a modest amount of sound and a decent sense of deep bass. Raise the volume to max on both the speaker and the phone, though, and you get gobs of distortion.
See How We Test Speakers
Tracks with less powerful low-end, like Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” sound much better through the Buckshot Pro. There’s no distortion, even at maximum volume, and the mids and high-mids are delivered with a crisp clarity and brightness.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the attack of the kick drum loop gets plenty of high-mid edge to remain sharp and cut through the mix. Predictably, the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are devoid of any really deep lows, and you mostly hear the raspy top notes instead. The low-mids are also more implied than delivered. The vocals stand out front and center, and the deeper parts of the mix slink into the background a bit. It doesn’t sound bad, but bass lovers will want to spend more money on something more powerful.
Audio performance is also very directional. Point the Buckshot Pro at yourself, and it will sound quite different than if it stands upright on a tabletop, or attached to your bike. This is a speaker of convenience first and foremost, but for its size, it gets the job done on tracks that don’t challenge its deep bass abilities.
If you like the idea of a rugged speaker and want to know what your other options in the price range are, we also enjoyed the water-resistant Divoom Boombox Ongo ( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) and the Altec Lansing Bluetooth Shower Wireless Speaker (IMW395) ( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) . If extra features like the flashlight, bike mount, or the ability to get wet matter far less than audio performance, consider spending a little extra and check out the Jabra Solemate Mini ($60.02 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) . And finally, if you like everything here but don’t need the flashlight, save yourself $30 and check out the less expensive, original Outdoor Technology Buckshot. For $80, it would be nice if the audio were a bit more powerful, but the Buckshot Pro is like the Swiss Army Knife of portable, rugged Bluetooth speakers—well-designed, with unique, useful features.
3.5
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The Outdoor Technology Buckshot Pro is a useful Bluetooth speaker for bike riders, hikers, and campers, but don’t expect excellent audio.
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Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/outdoor-technology-buckshot-pro