I-box Slix
Portable stereo speakers
£60, £100 (two-pack) Manufacturer i-box, iboxstyle.com Connectivity Bluetooth, 3.5mm line-in Battery up to 10hrs Dimensions 155x58x28mm Weight 200g
It’s a little pricey, but the Slix provides good sound quality and battery life, and its sturdy design is well suited to outdoor use.
It measures just 155mm long, 58mm high and 28mm thick, and weighs 200g, so you can easily carry it in a backpack or a jacket pocket when you’re out and about.
Despite that lightweight design the Slix is rated as ‘IPX 5 splashresistant’, which means it can withstand a 12.5 litre spray of water for at least three minutes. That should keep it safe on a beach or a camping trip, and the 10-hour battery life will keep the tunes going.
Like most portable speakers, the Slix uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone or other devices, but it includes a standard 3.5mm audio connector and audio cable for wired devices too. You can buy a two-pack option priced at £100 that allows you to use the two speakers individually or to pair them together for proper two-channel stereo.
The sound quality is very good for such a compact speaker, even when you’re using just one Slix. The bass is firmer than most of its pocket-size rivals, and higher frequencies are clear and detailed too.
The only weakness – which is probably inevitable in a speaker of this size – is that the sound starts to get a bit frazzled when you push the volume right up to max. Even so, the 6W output is strong enough to listen to some music in a holiday apartment, or when you’re on the move with some friends. Cliff Joseph
The Slix provides good sound for a small speaker, and its sturdy design is ideal for outdoor use.
Good sound, can be paired up
Lightweight, water-resistant
10-hour battery life
Expensive