Wouldn’t it be nice to lounge in the pool and enjoy your favorite music without risking the health and well-being of your precious mobile device? We have seen a number of waterproof MP3 players and accessories over the years, including the Speedo Aquabeat, the Fitness Technologies UWaterG2 and more recently a waterproof smartphone case with a built-in speaker, ECOXGEAR’s ECOXPRO. Until now, though, we hadn't seen a waterproof Bluetooth speaker (as opposed to water-resistant, like the iShower) like ECOXGEAR’s new ECOXBT. It allows you to listen to your favorite songs in the water while your cell phone or Bluetooth compatible MP3 player remains safely on dry land.
The primary selling point to the ECOXBT is the Bluetooth connectivity. It would not do you much good to have a waterproof speaker if your not-so-waterproof mobile device had to be connected to it. By using Bluetooth, your device is able to stay on dry land while you rock out to your favorite tunes. Of course, you can only travel within the range of Bluetooth, so do not expect to be taking this on treks into the ocean. For hanging out in the pool, it should be perfect.
You can also use the ECOXBT as a speakerphone. Simply answer the call and talk into it as you would any other Bluetooth device.
The waterproof speaker is also able to float. You can drop it in the water and let it lazily float around the pool without having to worry about going on a diving expedition when it sinks to the bottom.
The ECOXBT looks rugged. A rubberized handle that looks like it can take a fall and keep on working envelops the entire speaker. Their website makes no mention of the kind of force the speaker can take, but it certainly appears designed to take a little bit of a beating.
The device is pretty chunky, which adds to its rugged look. It weighs a pound and half (0.68 kg), measures nine inches long (23 cm), four inches (10 cm) tall and just under three inches (8 cm) deep. The ECOXBT features two, two-inch (5-cm) full-range speakers designed to provide the audio juice.
ECOXGEAR includes a Lithium rechargeable battery that supports up to 10 hours of playtime on normal volume settings. It includes a USB to AC wall charger that is designed to fully charge the speakers in around two hours.
The ECOXBT costs US$130.
Product page: ECOXGEAR
