ECOXGEAR Eco Stone Portable Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker - Retail Packaging - Blue

I'm not a big reviewer of things. To date, I believe the only reviews I've posted on amazon are of a push-reel lawnmower that inspired me to write in the vein of Cormac McCarthy, and a execrable children's book that inspired only rage. But this ECOXGEAR speaker warranted a review, and here's why:I buy a lot of stuff, particularly a lot of electronics. I'm a geek, and I'm always looking for new toys. Some of these work well; some don't. But only very, VERY rarely that does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it perfectly, with no flaws, glitches, or annoying niggles. This speaker is one of those rarities.Some background: I bought this thing because I was looking for something to take along for tunes on my paddleboarding excursions. I needed something with 1) decent sound, (2) Bluetooth connectivity, and (3) waterproof. A secondary consideration was something that would float in case it went overboard, for easy retrieval.The ECOXGEAR Eco Stone Portable Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker does all of those things, and does them exceedingly well.First off, it sounds fantastic, deep and rich, no tinniness like you'll get on some of the smaller speakers, with some solid bass. And it only sounds better the louder it gets, and it gets LOUD. I have premium outdoor audio speakers in my backyard wired to a Sonos, and since getting the Eco Stone, half the time I'll just use that instead because it's so easy and sounds so great.Second: it's Bluetooth. It's a snap to pair. Unlike half my other Bluetooth devices, it STAYS paired; I've never had a single issue with it dropping connection or my phone somehow forgetting it exists.Third: waterproof. As in, COMPLETELY waterproof. As in, I brought it into my bathtub and took it underwater to see how it sounds (and it sounded great, both underwater and after I brought it up again). So I can bungee this thing to the nose of my paddleboard and hit some waves and not have to worry twice about the salt water splashing on it or it going over the side (because, yeah, it floats). As a result, this thing has become my go-to accessory when I go out. It's part of my equipment check before I hit the water: life vest: check; paddle: check; speaker: check. I've attached a photo for illustrative purposes.Some other attributes worthy of note:Battery life is beyond solid, and it holds a charge for one hell of a long time (while listening to it tonight in my bathtub, I realized I hadn't plugged it in for weeks and it was still showing a 4/5th charge). Yes, it's a bit hefty, but I actually consider that a plus: bigger speaker equals better sound, and the girth makes it that much less likely to get lost at the bottom of a bag or in a drawer somewhere. The handle is super convenient. Build quality is absolutely top notch, all metal and solid, durable rubber, with none of the cheapness or chintziness that you get from some lower-end portable speakers (wiggly buttons, plastic coming loose, etc.) This sucker is build like a tank, and believe me, I've put it to the test. Besides the drowning in my bathtub, I have:- dropped it multiple times while trying to carry a 12-foot paddleboard, paddle, and life vest- left it outside in the rain after one too many margaritas- left it in the shower for a couple days in a row (great acoustics in there)- subjected it to several dozen hours of sun and saltwaterand it's still going strong.So, in a nutshell, this thing rocks. As I said earlier, this Eco Stone was built for a purpose, and it does it perfectly. If you're looking for a waterproof Bluetooth speaker to bring on your adventures, look no further.

I've owned this thing for about ten years. It has not been an easy life for this device but it still sounds great and battery charge still holds somehow. Truly a rugged piece of equipment.

Really big and cumbersome, sound isn't super well defined in the highs but comes with decent bass. I hang it from the wall in my shower for bathroom tunes. The waterproof aspect is great though I wish charging was easier than removing the waterproof plug but I'm not sure how they could do that other than some expensive wireless charging pad system. I think they could pack in twice the battery power in a larger version so you could also use it to keep all your other electronics powered for days on road/camping trips. The battery as it comes doesn't last as long as I'd like for its size but I accidentally leave it on sometimes which takes its toll. An auto-shut-off feature is missing, no bluetooth connectivity for say 20 min and it should shut off by itself to conserve battery power.This speaker is probably best used for camping trips, when it starts raining and you're in a rush to get everything in the tent you won't need to worry about this guy. Or if I were buying a bluetooth speaker for a younger, clumsy kid this would be perfect, relatively low price and super rugged!

I don't often write product reviews. Not that that fact makes this review any more legitimate, it's just not my thing.I bought the Eco Stone to take with me when I'm kayaking. Not that I'm rocking out to MegaDeath when I'm taking in the solitude that comes with paddling backwaters rivers, but some music would be nice on occasion. I wanted something small-ish & hassle-free, something I could stick anywhere and not have to stress about around water. This seemed to fit the bill.It came in about a week ago and it hasn't left my side. I take it to work and play it all day. I use it in the shop, in the car. I even shower with it~weird I know~ but GWAR in the shower is acceptable I guess. I use it much more than I thought I would. It was supposed to be just for kayaking. Not so.It's solid. I'm pretty sure I could throw it from a speeding train and it would bounce a couple of times then go back to thumping out Donnie Osmond's latest beats. To point: I had it in my hand-- ready as a weapon-- Saturday morning at 1:30am when I had to walk out to my car in a deserted parking lot in a bad part of town. I could've easily bludgeoned a would be robber all the while jamming to Lionel Richie's Dancing on the Ceiling.The battery life is great too. I've had it on without charge for roughly 10 hours and it still had two out of four bars remaining.Another great and unexpected feature is its speakerphone! I was shocked. The sound is as good as a legit Polycom Conference Room speakerphone with no echo complaints on the caller's side.Let me see if I've covered all the bases:Sound Quality: awesome!Portability: easier than carrying an infant and a lot lighter.Battery Life: only thing that could make it better is if it ran on hope and joy.Bluetooth pairing: a cinchEase of use: even cinch-ierLethality: less lethal than a chainsaw, more lethal than a stick.Durability: It's built like a brick poop house AND IT FLOATS!I would buy this again and again, although I'm not sure what I would do with two or three of them.Oh! Oh! Almost forgot, it'll recharge your phone too! It has a USB out on the back so all you would need is a charger cable and you're set.