Xiaomi, the Chinese tech giant renowned for its value-packed offerings, has once again disrupted the market with the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker. This compact and rugged device promises to deliver a powerful audio experience without breaking the bank. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s embarked on a journey to dissect this speaker’s capabilities, exploring its design, features, sound quality, and overall value proposition.

First Impressions: A Sturdy and Stylish Companion

The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker immediately strikes you with its sleek and robust design. Its cylindrical form factor, enveloped in a durable fabric mesh, exudes a sense of portability and resilience. The contrasting orange loop on the black model adds a touch of vibrancy, while the matching loops on the red and blue variants offer a more unified aesthetic. This speaker is clearly built to withstand the elements, boasting an IP67 rating that guarantees protection against dust and water ingress. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, hiking through the wilderness, or simply enjoying a backyard barbecue, this speaker is ready to accompany you on your adventures.

Under the Hood: Dual Drivers and Passive Radiators for Enhanced Audio

Beneath its stylish exterior lies a powerful audio engine. The Sound Outdoor Speaker features a dual-driver configuration, comprising a 20W woofer and a 10W mid-range driver. These active drivers work in harmony with two passive radiators positioned at either end of the cylinder. This ingenious design allows the speaker to passively amplify low frequencies, resulting in a surprisingly rich and punchy bass response.

Connectivity and Controls: Keeping it Simple and Functional

The Sound Outdoor Speaker embraces simplicity in its connectivity and control scheme. It relies solely on Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless audio streaming, supporting the SBC codec. While the absence of NFC might necessitate a slightly longer pairing process, the speaker’s ability to connect with up to 99 other units of the same model more than compensates for this minor inconvenience. Imagine the sonic immersion of a hundred synchronized speakers! Although I couldn’t replicate this grand spectacle, I witnessed a demonstration with four interconnected speakers, and the synchronized audio was truly impressive. For those seeking a more traditional stereo experience, pairing two units is a viable option.

The speaker’s physical controls are equally straightforward. Three buttons on the back panel govern power, pairing, and synchronization with other speakers. A protective flap safeguards the USB-C port used for charging. Notably, the Sound Outdoor Speaker lacks an auxiliary input, limiting its connectivity to Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Sound Quality: A Mixed Bag of Strengths and Weaknesses

The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker delivers a commendable audio performance, particularly when used indoors. The woofer and passive radiators work their magic, producing a powerful and dynamic sound that can easily fill a room. Even at maximum volume, the audio remains distortion-free, a testament to the speaker’s robust engineering.

However, the speaker’s sonic prowess diminishes somewhat in outdoor environments. The bass response loses some of its punch, and the overall sound becomes flatter. This is not entirely unexpected, as open spaces tend to dissipate low frequencies more readily.

For critical listening, the Sound Outdoor Speaker reveals some limitations. Its bass response is heavily influenced by placement, benefiting significantly from proximity to walls or corners. Moreover, the mids and highs exhibit a directional bias, resulting in a loss of clarity when the speaker is not facing the listener directly. The absence of a dedicated tweeter further contributes to the somewhat dull high-frequency response.

Another caveat is the speaker’s mono configuration. While this is not uncommon for portable Bluetooth speakers, it can lead to a narrower soundstage and a perceived reduction in volume, especially with recordings that utilize a wide stereo image. Investing in a second unit for stereo pairing can mitigate this issue.

Latency and Microphone Performance: Gaming and Calls Are Not Its Forte

In terms of latency, the Sound Outdoor Speaker performs admirably when used as a single unit. Audio remains synchronized with video content across various sources, making it suitable for casual video watching. However, latency with multiple paired units remains untested, and it’s likely that video synchronization would suffer with a chain of interconnected speakers.

The speaker’s built-in microphone, intended for hands-free calling, proved to be a major disappointment. During testing, the microphone struggled to pick up my voice, even at close range. The captured audio was faint, garbled, and barely audible. It’s safe to say that this speaker is not ideal for voice calls.

Battery Life and Charging: A Respectable Performer

Xiaomi claims a battery life of 12 hours for the Sound Outdoor Speaker when played at 50% volume. This is in line with expectations for a speaker of this size and class. In my testing, the speaker consistently met this claim, providing ample playtime for a day’s worth of entertainment. Charging the speaker from zero to full takes approximately 2.5 hours using a 15W or higher charger. Unfortunately, the speaker lacks reverse charging capabilities, so you can’t use it as a power bank to top up your other devices.

Overall Verdict: A Value-Packed Outdoor Audio Companion

Despite its shortcomings, the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker offers a compelling value proposition. Its robust design, powerful audio output, and long battery life make it an excellent choice for those seeking an affordable and portable outdoor speaker. While its sound quality might not satisfy audiophiles seeking the utmost fidelity, it’s more than adequate for casual listening and outdoor gatherings.