Powerful wireless speakers don’t have to be expensive. The 808 LXS is a big speaker but it is cheaper than many portable speakers out there. The 808 Audio brand comes from Hauppauge, NY and it’s still on its way establishing itself in the audio world.
Unboxing Video
Design & Features
For such a big music box and an affordable price tag, I didn’t expect much from the design and build quality of the 808 LXS. And that seems to be true as I am not impressed with the design. The whole exterior is made of plastic, except the front aluminum grille. Another drawback is that the casing is not waterproof, so you should be careful when bringing it to the beach or pool.
There is a huge 808 logo on the front of the speaker, I love that the grille has the hive pattern and it reveals the 2 drivers underneath.
On the back of the speaker, you can also find the same pattern but it’s on a plastic surface. At the left corner, there are some connections like the USB port for charging other devices, a power port and an AUX-in port. I really appreciate the charging feature, this would be extremely helpful when you bring the speaker outdoors as there is no need to bring an extra backup battery for your smartphone. However, the charging speed is a little slow at 1A, that means it would take a few hours to fully charge my phone.
All control buttons are located on the top of the 808 LXS. They use rubber buttons which will glow blue when you power on the speaker. It feels good to press those buttons but they could get dirty easily as well. Besides, you can also find a built-in microphone for hands-free calling.
The battery life of the 808 speaker is quite good. The 4,400mAh built-in battery could last up to 10 hours of music playback, so you can charge your smartphone and play music for a few hours without any problem.
Audio Quality
The 808 LXS is a 20-watt system featuring two 3″ full range drivers and passive bass radiators. I knew this is a capable speaker as soon as I looked at the driver arrangement. You can check out the sound test right below.
The speaker performs pretty well both indoors and outdoors. It manages to deliver a loud sound with little distortion. The bass is not so deep, but you will absolutely be able to feel the beats. The low-mids are prominent and it will make your experience with modern music genres better. The soundstage is wide enough, especially when you sit in front of the speaker. When you place the speaker inside your room, the sound is spread all over and you will hear a clear sound anywhere.
The mids still lack power while the highs are not bright enough, however, they are totally acceptable for the budget speaker.
The most noticeable issue of the speaker is the hissing sound on the background. You might not detect it when you play the music out loud, however, the noise will really affect your music experience when you play symphonies or acoustic songs. This should be ok if you use the speaker outdoors.
Conclusion
Pros
- Low price
- Good battery life, can charge other devices
- Powerful sound with good bass and soundstage
Cons
- Average build
- Hissing background noise
The 808 LXS is not the best-sounding wireless speaker. However, I believe there is a market for the product. If you are looking for an outdoor speaker, this is absolutely not a bad choice, just make sure you don’t come close to water.
Sohail Kazi says
It seems a good budget speaker to me.