Simmtronics XConnect BTS-Q1
Price: Rs 2,999
It would be unfair to expect the world from something that fits in the small of your palm and has a price tag that's only slightly dearer than the inexpensive earphones you bought from the neighbourhood electronics store last weekend. And it was this very consideration that made me redraft the review of the XConnect BTS-Q1, putting across my views in a light more favourable to the value of the product at hand.
Upon linking the Bluetooth speaker to my cellphone for the first time, I expected a sound that would at least hold a candle to my UE Mobile Boombox. Disappointment followed. Quite unlike my experience with the UE product (which has two drivers for providing a passable stereo effect), the sound from the single-driver XConnect seemed almost claustrophobic - as if I were making Lars Ulrich play the drums for 'Enter Sandman' over the phone. But then, it was an improper comparison with a device that cost thrice as much. Like pitting David against Goliath, armed with only a smaller price tag for a slingshot.
A second look at the XConnect, this time from a relatively unbiased standpoint, brought out a more favourable opinion.
For one, connecting the device to my smartphone was easy as pie. I turned on the switch at the bottom of the XConnect, and it eagerly came to life in the midst of flashing green lights and cheerful electronic sounds even as the phone delightfully announced 'Bluetooth connected'. The first track I tried on it was 'Broken Mirrors' by Rise Against, and the next five minutes just went to prove that hardcore punk isn't best experienced from a device with so many limitations. The sound was fairly loud but the bass lacked punch, and at times, it was hard making out the guitar riffs from the vocals. The results obtained from the lighter tunes, such as 'All I Want is You' by Barry Louis Polisar and 'More than Words' by Extreme, were far more satisfying. On the other hand, my favourite audio-testing tune - 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen - played fairly well until it all got heavy in the end.
A more comparable device to the XConnect would be the Sony SRS-BTV5/P, and one would note with a certain degree of satisfaction that the indigenous device - manufactured by Delhi computer parts manufacturer Simmtronics - tramples over its Japanese counterpart with melodious glee. For one, XConnect manages to deliver a power output of 3 watts to the Sony SRS-BTV5/P's measly 1.2 watts while keeping its price tag lower by a whole thousand bucks.
The XConnect is compatible with all kinds of Bluetooth-enabled devices, and can make group conference calls seem like a breeze. And what's more, the device's cylindrical shape makes it ideal for any car cup holder, so the music doesn't have to stop even when you are driving.
Just one thing - don't expect it to bring the roof down on you.
Rating: 3/5
Bag it or junk it: Not the ultimate, but provides value for its low price tag
