I've kept my word. I present before you another portable speaker; the long-awaited X-mini Capsule Stereo speakers from Minimax. A couple of weeks ago I had featured a brand called iDuo, which some readers promptly derided as a 'fake'. Both brands come from China and are pretty much alike. The price and the battery life are the two main differentiating factors, as you will find when you read on...
The size, length and width are the same as with the iDuo (or the other way round, it doesn’t matter). It’s highly portable and won’t take up too much space in your luggage. The bottom is magnetized, so the speakers stick snugly together when you pack them.
The main design difference – and a very important one – is that while the iDuo had the volume control incorporated on the speakers, the X-mini's volume can be controlled using the volume dial on the cable. It looks fragile, but it’s about as durable as the cable itself. If the cable snaps or stops working, you can’t simply buy a regular one from the market; you'll need to get a proprietary one. The cabling is effective with the push and pull mechanism, and works just fine.
I tested both the (fully charged) speakers when I was out camping. While the iDuo could manage only 3 hours, the X-mini ran for over 6 hours, after which I had to can the party. This is amazing, considering the sound is loud enough to catch the frailest of whispers from a movie (on the laptop), or when you are out partying to those bassy beats.
The sound is far better than the iDuo's when it comes to the bass response. You can crank up the X-mini's volume way higher too, and it does have a knack to make the mids sound much fuller.
The X-mini costs about Rs 2250, which is a good 750 more than the iDuo. While I prefer the X-mini, I must admit the iDuo does give you your money’s worth. You might argue that one can buy an extensive computer speaker set for the same price, but do bear in mind that they don't come as portable as this!
hello..
