Before we start, you should know that I don’t have much of a fondness for expensive speakers. In my experience, expensive speakers are either mediocre and are priced based on name, or are awful and are priced based on features and gimmicks that I would consider useless. Hence my strong dislike for the original Jambox.

So when I was offered to review the Grain Audio Packable Wireless Speaker, I was honestly not sure what to expect. I thought it would be another speaker that’s way too expensive and doesn’t sound as good as the price would suggest, though it looked nice. Boy was I wrong.

Overview

Price: $249.00
Battery: 8 hours
Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0 + A2DP with aptX, 3.5mm aux
Dimensions: 7 x 2 3/8 x 3 1/8 (W x D x H) inches
Charging port: Micro USB
In the box: speaker, wall adapter, USB cable, 3.5mm cable, pouch
Where to buy: Grain Audio

Instead of throwing feature after feature at this speaker, Grain Audio made it as simple as possible. The body is clean, with few buttons and nothing that catches your eye. It doesn’t have many features other than speakers that play music. All the money went into sound design, which I love. The only feature that was added was audio alerts for power on and off, as well as pairing mode. It’s a nice touch, and not annoying like other speakers can be.

This speaker takes on a minimalist theme. The front is a plain grill, no logos. Around the edges is beautiful, finished walnut.

The top features three rubber buttons. The volume up and down buttons, and a G button in the center. This button turns the speaker on and off, plays and pauses the music, and displays the battery level via the LED inside.

The right side features just a 3.5mm aux jack and the microUSB charging port.

The left side features an engraved logo.

That’s it. There’s nothing else to see, the speaker is as simple as can be.

Build quality

This speaker is built exceptionally well, as it should be for the price tag. It’s hefty without being heavy, and there is absolutely zero flex in the body. The gray rubber edges are smooth and perfectly finished, the metal grills are simple and attractive, the buttons feel great, and the wood is absolutely beautiful.

This speaker is surrounded in walnut, both for an expensive build and for its audio capabilities. The wood is finished, but all the grain is visible and the wood is slightly rough. This gives the speaker a very natural look instead of the glossy fake-looking wood you sometimes see.

Everything about this speaker feels fantastic. The rubber feet are grippy and solid, the logo cut into the side is subtle but nice, and it just feels every bit as expensive as it looks.

Sound quality

A speaker would be nothing without good audio, and this is where many expensive speakers just don’t impress. And for the first few seconds I turned it on and listened, I wasn’t sure what to think. At full volume, it wasn’t very loud. There wasn’t punchy bass. It just didn’t seem like this is all a $250 speaker could put out.

But I kept listening, and it dawned on me: This speaker sounded absolutely unlike any other Bluetooth speaker I have ever heard. While I usually rate speakers on their clarity and balance in sound, this one is on a whole different level.

There’s something about the sound that is just pleasant. The sound is warm and deep, a sound that fills the soul with music. All the highs are perfectly clear and have absolutely no shrillness, something that is quite common with Bluetooth speakers. The lows aren’t thumping, but they’re powerful and well-defined. Every different note can be distinguished, and the bass guitar in metal just comes alive. And the mids, they’re just so warm and deep and rich. I guess that wooden enclosure really does its job! Plus it’s loud enough to fill a medium sized room. It’s not very loud, but it’s no slouch in the volume department

Yeah, it’s not an everyday speaker. It isn’t the kind of speaker that can do it all, like the Sound Kick 2 managed to achieve. But what it’s made for, it blows away the competition. It’s made for listening, for paying attention to the music. It’s made for letting yourself go for a ride, and the sound quality does exactly that.

There is one small quirk with the sound though. When the bass goes away in some songs, the speaker gets a bit louder. When the bass comes back, it gets quieter again. It only happens when all low instruments go away, like during a vocal only segment. It’s a very minor and rare annoyance.

Battery life

The battery life is rated at 8 hours, and you’ll get somewhere around that depending on the volume. At full volume, it lasted quite close to 8 hours, which is a good thing. 8 hours is pretty good battery life for a Bluetooth speaker, though maybe a few more hours should have been offered for the price.

The device charges quickly through the microUSB port, which is excellent.

Extras

The actual speaker has no extra features. It’s not splash-proof, it doesn’t have a mic and speakerphone capabilities, and it doesn’t charge other devices. But the accessories it comes with are nice. It comes with a long gray microUSB cable and even a Grain Audio USB wall adapter, which is nice. There is also a 3.5mm cable and a pouch. Surprisingly, the pouch was the most disappointing part of all this, as it feels pretty cheap. But it snugly holds the speaker and that’s what matters.

The box it comes with is also very nicely designed, which adds to the good experience.

I know it seems like I’m raving about this speaker. It’s because I am. Everything about it is focused on audio quality, no frills and no distractions (and no equalizers). Just a beautiful speaker with beautiful sound. The audio quality of this speaker is like no other I’ve tried, and it makes the seemingly ridiculous $250 price tag worth every penny.

Let’s be fair here. If I were to rate it for the everyman, my rating wouldn’t be nearly as high. It’s not the speaker most people would find useful. It’s not super portable, it’s not super long lasting, it’s not super loud or bassy. Most people just wouldn’t value it. It’s for the audiophile.

If you are an audiophile and want a Bluetooth speaker, give this one some consideration. It’s expensive, but the feeling the audio gives you is amazing.

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I think we can all agree that wireless charging pads are a positive thing, but as everyone loves pointing out when we review them, they aren’t truly wireless as they have to be plugged in.

Well, the Vinsic Wireless Charger defeats this problem with a 10400 mAh battery built right in that should get you a minimum of three full charges with most smartphones before you have to top off the charging pad/external battery itself.

If you are in a hurry, you can plug your phone into the back of the charger for faster 2.1A output.

The top of the charger has a rubberized texture to hold your phone in place, and on the front of the charger are six lights to indicate battery life and charging status. Around the back of the device you will find a microUSB and standard USB port.

If you’ve been considering picking up a wireless Qi charging pad or an external battery, this is a nice way to kill two birds with one stone. And at $40, you will save yourself a bit of money (along with bulk) versus buying the two separately.

You’ll see the standard price of $49.90 when you click through to Amazon; just add the promo code “OUMVES4P” when you check out to knock $10 off.

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Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap of new game releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games that you can start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know in the comments section if you have any suggestions for next week’s post.

SPACECOM

Description: Test your wits in single player campaign, go head-to-head with up to 5 opponents in multiplayer or experiment with new strategies in AI skirmish mode. Most of all, you’ll need a bright mind, cunning, and sound tactics.

A Day in the Woods

Description:  In A Day in the Woods – a stylish re-imagining of the traditional sliding puzzle game – you plays as Little Red Riding Hood’s wispy winged sprite friend. By moving tiles around each board, you’ll help Little Miss Red avoid scary woodland creatures while collecting flowers and berries along the way.

Sparkle 3 Genesis

Description: A beautiful visual experience. Control the fate of a single dreamlike organism through the course of it’s life. Explore the vast ocean in search of micro-elements that will help you evolve from a tiny speck of life into a magnificent Sparkle.

Captain Sabertooth

Description:  Whether you’re a first timer or a real pirate, you will find a fun game experience with exploration, sailing and sea battles. Go on fishing trips, play tic-tac-toe and help feed hungry pirates in Tully’s galley. The main goal is to fill Captain Sabertooth’s treasure room with gold and treasure!

Vault!

Description: ascading cliffs, huge bouncy springs and those infuriating red balls! How far can you go? How long will you last? Can you get the highest score? Classic intuitive physics arcade action with easy to use, hard to master tap and hold controls, mean that things aren’t as simple as they seem.

Angry Birds 2

Description: The Angry Birds are back in the sequel to the biggest mobile game of all time! Angry Birds 2 starts a new era of slingshot gameplay with super stunning graphics, challenging multi-stage levels, scheming boss pigs and even more destruction.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 4

Description: In this last chapter of the Five Nights at Freddy’s original story, you must once again defend yourself against Freddy Fazbear, Chica, Bonnie, Foxy, and even worse things that lurk in the shadows. Playing as a child whose role is yet unknown, you must safeguard yourself until 6am by watching the doors, as well as warding off unwanted creatures that may venture into your closet or onto the bed behind you.

Beastopia

Description: Carry the roar of the forest in your pocket with this Beast themed turn based RPG! Assemble your party of beasts, visit taverns, collect loot and defeat the King – in an adventure sprawling 3 maps and lots of carcasses!

Game of Thrones – A Nest of Vipers

Description: Game of Thrones – A Telltale Games Series is a six part episodic game series set in the world of HBO’s groundbreaking TV show. This new story tells of House Forrester, a noble family from the north of Westeros, loyal to the Starks of Winterfell.

Sometimes You Die

Description:  This one is different. In this game, you have to die. What is your motivation? What do you expect from this game? Do you want to beat it? How do you know it can be beaten? This game plays with expectation, illusion, and reality.

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