Fast rising Chinese audio brand Tronsmart delivers generally pleasing and affordable products such as portable speakers, headphones and earphones.
The company was founded in 2013 and it has built up a decent reputation in the budget-priced audio sphere.
Its first new product for 2023 is Halo 100, a booming bass box with a built-in light show that illuminates your party in time with the beat.
Halo 100 is not a 100W speaker as its name suggests. Instead, you get 60W of room, or garden, filling audio that is crisp and clear.
The speaker disappointingly only supports the SBC codec but for this price that is acceptable and common. And in fairness, the sound delivered was of a pleasing standard.
You get a fun and lively soundstage. You can tweak the EQ using the Tronsmart smartphone app.
You can control playback and volume from your smartphone or tablet or using the physical buttons on the top of the speaker.
Bluetooth connectivity is with the latest 5.3 version, and you will get a stable connection from your sound source for up to 15 metres.
You can also input your favourite tracks using a wired connection with the Aux-in port and you can use a USB drive or a micro-SD card. I don’t know many people who would use the latter format to store and play music, but the USB option is very handy.
Lighting show
The lighting show is superb. There are five different effects patterns you can choose from; all colourful and in sync with your chosen soundtrack.
There is a built-in microphone to enable the making and taking of calls on the speaker and you get support for voice assistants Siri, Google and Cortana.
Battery life from the 6000mAh power pack is impressive. The firm said you get up to 18 hours of continuous play but obviously that depends on the volume you are listening at and whether you have the light show enabled.
Recharging is incredibly slow, however, despite the USB-C charging port. It takes five and a half hours to refuel the speaker fully.
The unit has a carrying strap that is comfortable in the hand and makes it easy to transport from one location to another.
It’s about the height of a 12-in record and weighs just 2.9kg. It is IPX6 rated for water resistance.
Like a lot of modern convenience speakers, this is a mono unit and to enable stereo separation you need to buy a second speaker.
Verdict
This is a versatile outdoor party speaker ideal for summer festivals and parties. It delivers pleasing audio, a great lighting show and it’s light enough to carry around with ease.
Pricing and availability
Tronsmart Halo 100 costs £89.99 at Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BMDGMWBJ
You can also buy direct from the Tronsmart website: https://www.tronsmart.com/special-offer-for-halo-100.htm
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