Creative Muvo Mini
A highly capable weatherproof and dustproof Bluetooth speaker, and at a bargain price to boot!
We’ve seen mighty sound packed into small form factors, options with incredible battery life and even some that can take a tough tumble. But we haven’t seen a single speaker that can accomplish all of these feats – until now.
The Muvo Mini’s design will split opinion. Some will appreciate the minimalism, but others will think it uninspired. Given the cost, most will be impressed with the build quality.
The body is covered in a smooth, matte plastic. Ours was grey, but there are red, blue and white options too. The front is capped with a grille, which itself has neat design touches. Beneath it, a mesh layer covers the dual drivers and the bass radiator.
On the top are buttons for power, Bluetooth and volume, and LEDs for connection and battery status. When held, the Bluetooth button pairs a device, and it answers and ends phone calls when pressed.
On the back, a rubber flap covers the micro-USB and 3.5mm ports. Make sure it’s closed if the speaker will be exposed to dust or water. The Muvo Mini is weatherproofed, with an IP66 rating that means it’s entirely dustproof and waterproof just shy of being submerged.
Sound quality excels at avoiding distortion even at volume. The bass radiator does an admirable job with low-end notes, even though this is the speaker’s weakest area. Even so, the gamut of music genres sounded full of warm mid range and highs. We experienced no audio artifacts or drop in connection over 30 feet, even through a few walls. As a speakerphone, call quality was fine. Also, the battery met the hearty quoted duration of 10 hours easily.
This tiny box’s functionality and performance warrant a considerably higher price. It’s the best value for a durable and capable Bluetooth speaker. Cameron Faulkner For all their majesty, there’s still something MacBooks lack that would make them near-perfect: top‑notch sound quality. Let’s be fair, your standard MacBook speakers will never be able to compete with high-end studio setups; they’re not bad, but they still leave much to be desired. Sure, you could shell out several hundred pounds on a good audio system and hook it up to your laptop – or you could pay less than £50 for Twelve South’s BassJump. For the results it delivers and the price you pay, it’s an outstanding bargain.
It’s not a speaker, though; rather, the BassJump provides the bass output that your MacBook lacks, and for many people that’s all that is required. It makes a world of difference: your MacBook Pro will sound even better than it already does, while your MacBook Air will be almost unrecognisable. It really is that good. While it may not please the most serious audiophiles out there, it’s an excellent piece of hardware for the rest of us.
As with all Twelve South kit, BassJump looks gorgeous sitting next to the Apple gear arrayed on your desk. Now is the perfect time to take the plunge, as Twelve South has just updated the BassJump software and given it a welcome lift ready for the release of El Capitan. All this for a fraction of the cost of a new speaker set? For me, it’s a no brainer.
The Creative Muvo Mini contains every desirable feature you seek out in a Bluetooth speaker. For £50, it’s an unbeatable deal.