#1: Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker

The generously long cord length of 62" means you have a little more flexibility in where you can put the charging cradle. It's also possible to bypass the charging cradle and plug the cord directly into the SoundLink Mini.

The only other port is a MicroUSB port on the bottom of the speaker, right next to the charging contacts (for when the speaker is placed in the charging cradle.) The USB port is only for firmware updates. I was very disappointed that the speaker cannot be charged via USB since that is almost the most universally accepted way to charge most bluetooth speakers that I've seen. However the charging dock is convenient to use and you don't have to fiddle with USB cables, so in that sense it's fine. The charging dock is not perfect though... I often have to fiddle with the speaker to get it positioned properly on the dock.

The battery is 7.4V, 2330 mAh Li-ion and is accessed by gently lifting up the marked corner edge of the rubber base of the speaker. It's secured by 4 Torx-T9 screws.

I was able to fully charge the speaker in just about 3 hours and the speaker will play for up to 7 hours and maybe a bit more if you keep the volume down.

The rubberized row of buttons are: Power On/Off, Mute, Volume -, Volume +, Bluetooth, and AUX. When you first turn on the speaker, a white light briefly flashes above the power button to indicate power is on but it quickly turns off again. At this point the speaker will automatically be in bluetooth pairing mode if it has not previously been paired. There is a flashing blue LED to indicate that the speaker is in pairing mode. Pairing is accomplished quite easily and in some cases you may have to enter a code to complete the pairing: "0000." Not all devices ask for the code... my iPhone4 did not ask.

Once you are paired, you can begin playing music from your connected device. Volume is controlled by both your device and the speaker. When you've reached the maximum level of loudness using the controls on the speaker, the white light above the bluetooth button (or the AUX button if you are connnected via a cable to your device) will blink.

I found the sound quality to be excellent. For best sound reproduction you should place the speaker so that there is a vertical surface behind the speaker to allow the bass to reflect from that surface. You should also be careful not to "enclose" the spekaer in a cabinet or that will play havoc with the way sound is dispersed with the Bose speaker. Please note that because of the way the Bose directs sound out of the front and the back of the speaker to achieve its signature sound this is not the best choice in speaker if you plan to use this outdoors with no abilty to place the speaker in front of a wall or other suitable surface that will reflect the sound. Additionally, since it is metal, it's not the best choice if there is the persistant chance that this will be banged around (although Bose does sell "soft skins" to help protect the speaker.)

i honestly prefer the sound of the mini to the full-sized SoundLink and SoundLink II. While it is true that the sound level is significantly greater with the SoundLink and SoundLink II, the bass is too boomy for my tastes. I much prefer the overall sound quality of the mini. It has a decent amount of bass that is balanced really nicely with great mids and highs.

Some people will no doubt be disappointed that the SoundLink Mini does not include a lot of extra features that are prevalent in even the least expensive of many other bluetooth speakers such as hands-free capability, USB charging, travel bag or even a 3.5mm AUX cable. But these omissions don't deter me from giving the SoundLink Mini a high recommendation.

This is a beautifully designed, great sounding bluetooth speaker that produces a satisfying amount of volume. It's understated elegance is easy on the eyes and if you do want a more flashy appearance, Bose has "soft skins" available in a variety of bright colors. These will protect the mini against damaging bumps and dings but at the same time make it look less "elegant" because you lose the look that beautiful and solid aluminum enclosure. Bose 360778-0010 Soft Cover for SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker, Orange.

If you plan on taking the speaker with you when traveling, you may want to take a look at the travel bag that is also available.Bose 360779-0010 SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker Travel Bag - Retail Packaging - Gray. A car charger cable is also available.

I was duly impressed with the SoundLink Mini. It's about as solid and good sounding as a mini bluetooth speaker could be.

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#8: LG Electronics Tone+ HBS-730 Bluetooth Headset - Retail Packaging - Black

With the 730, I have great sound with good bass, but can't go more than 5-10 feet without having annoying drops in sound.

Which one to send back?

Update 9 OCT 2012:
I really love the sound improvement over the 700. I find I am using the 730 all the time and have modified my behavior in order to prevent the dropped sound. One thing to note is that these in ear phones are comfortable, but are so because they don't jam all they way in the ear. There is a little more air that gets in. In the office or at home, no issue, sound and bass is great. While driving in the car, I lose a lot of bass and have to turn it up more and stuff them tighter in the ear. It is still a clearer, more open sound.

Based on the few comments left, I will be calling LG to see if my unit is defective.

I also want to note that the color difference where the buds attach is much better. The silver color is less obnoxious. I tend to be more conservative in dress and don't like loud colors that scream, "look at me."

I do wish the wires were a more flexible as the stiffness causes them to stick out. Thankfully, the wires are very thin and most people won't notice them from a distance.

I also wish the magnets were a little stronger. It's easy to knock them out of the holder area.

In spite of these other little points, I still think this is the best BT headset I've ever had. The biggest advantage is that they are "there." With my past headsets, once they are out of the ear, I kept losing them all the time. Not so with these. It's also way better for listening to music, way better. I also like that when it's loud, I can put both buds in and actually hear the conversation I am having.

Update NOV 27 2012:
I ended up keeping both. I'm using the 730 less and just starting going back to the 700 because of the better range. The big reason for this is because the 730 began dropping out in the middle of a longer phone conversation. This was getting very annoying, especially with my 35 minute each way drive to and from work. I'd have to scramble to turn on the speakerphone. All it took was a shut off and turn back on to make it connect, but this is not good. It does this even being fully charged. I wanted to send back the 730, but with my busy schedule, I unfortunately missed the deadline.

With the latest problem, I can't recommend these. Short range for music is one thing - it won't matter in certain situations. Drops during calls is a deal killer for me.

I am also finding the magnets to be more of an issue, though more a minor annoyance. I tuck everything in under my collar and fish out the ear buds by pulling on the wire. I'd rather just go to where it is supposed to be seated. This is true of both 700 and 730.

UPDATE 19 FEB 2013:
After several more months of use, I almost exclusively use the 700s while the 730 sits collecting dust. Why? The only major advantage the 730s has, with its range issue, is the sound quality. So, if it's just going to be headphones, I'd rather use good headphones. That's what I've done - first with the V-Moda M-100 (which include a mic, a great portable headphone with really good sound) and now the HiFiman HE-500, which gives me awesome premium sound, though no mic and not really portable.

I still use the 700's paired to my phone because it is more reliable. Still, it does drop on me, an issue I'm going to blame on my phone, as it has other quirks that lead me to believe that.

After reading some comments below, those who were in the same boat as me, until LG offers a fix, or a better model, go with the 700s. If sound is really important to you and you are just going to sit in an office, buy yourself a nice in ear buds or headphones with great sound quality and a built in mic. There are a lot of choices that way.

UPDATE 6 NOV 2013:
For those of you who are having issues with the tips, I have found a happy solution. I got the Comply T-400 foam tips and they greatly increase the noise isolation as well as staying in the ear better with activity. The set comes with three sizes and I use all of them with various earphones. They are pretty tight going on, but can be wiggled on with a little muscle.

Comply T-400 Isolation Earphone Tips (Black, 3 Pairs, S/M/L)

Comply offers white and sets with one size.

Thank you all for the great discussion down below!

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#6: Photive CYREN Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Built in Speakerphone 8 hour Rechargeable Battery - Black

The Photive PH-BT1000 Portable Bluetooth Speaker combines high-end stereo sound with portability, letting you enjoy your music wirelessly anywhere you want. Featuring two 40mm, 6-watt (total) drivers and a large speaker cavity for excellent sound, this tiny but powerful speaker can fill any room with rich audio. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to wirelessly play and control your music from Bluetooth devices and take calls hand-free directly through the speaker. A built-in rechargeable battery lasts for up to 10 hours per charge, so you can enjoy your music all day.
The Cyren measures approximately 6 x 2 x 1.6 inches. Use it at home, take it on vacation, enjoy it while camping, or set it up any other place you want to play your favorite music.

The PH-1000 pairs instantly with Bluetooth devices like smartphones, Tablets, and computers, letting you send your favorite songs wirelessly to the speaker. Change tracks and adjust volume from your Bluetooth device, or use the control buttons located on the speaker. Check the speakers battery status on your iPhone. When the battery is low, the speaker will give you an audible warning. The PH-1000 has a transmission range of about 33 feet and automatically connects to the last device it was connected to

Features
- New Bluetooth 3.0 Technology
- Built-in rechargeable battery supports up to 8-10 hours playback (medium volume)
- Two 40MM drivers deliver deep and rich sound
- Built-in Microphone for Taking Calls
- Wirelessly Control Your Music through Bluetooth
- 3.5mm line-in jack for wired devices

View the original article here

#4: Photive CYREN Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Built in Speakerphone 8 hour Rechargeable Battery - Black

The Photive PH-BT1000 Portable Bluetooth Speaker combines high-end stereo sound with portability, letting you enjoy your music wirelessly anywhere you want. Featuring two 40mm, 6-watt (total) drivers and a large speaker cavity for excellent sound, this tiny but powerful speaker can fill any room with rich audio. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to wirelessly play and control your music from Bluetooth devices and take calls hand-free directly through the speaker. A built-in rechargeable battery lasts for up to 10 hours per charge, so you can enjoy your music all day.
The Cyren measures approximately 6 x 2 x 1.6 inches. Use it at home, take it on vacation, enjoy it while camping, or set it up any other place you want to play your favorite music.

The PH-1000 pairs instantly with Bluetooth devices like smartphones, Tablets, and computers, letting you send your favorite songs wirelessly to the speaker. Change tracks and adjust volume from your Bluetooth device, or use the control buttons located on the speaker. Check the speakers battery status on your iPhone. When the battery is low, the speaker will give you an audible warning. The PH-1000 has a transmission range of about 33 feet and automatically connects to the last device it was connected to

Features
- New Bluetooth 3.0 Technology
- Built-in rechargeable battery supports up to 8-10 hours playback (medium volume)
- Two 40MM drivers deliver deep and rich sound
- Built-in Microphone for Taking Calls
- Wirelessly Control Your Music through Bluetooth
- 3.5mm line-in jack for wired devices

View the original article here