Introduction

Whenever someone asks me for a Bluetooth speaker recommendation and I name a suitable product, I always get the same follow-up question: which JBL Bluetooth speaker does it compare to? JBL is undoubtedly doing a fantastic job on the Bluetooth speaker market, but we're not here to talk about JBL. In this review, I'll share my experiences with the Tronsmart Bang, a Bluetooth speaker officially launching today that I had a chance of using in various scenarios over the past couple of weeks. Tronsmart is marketing the Bang as an outdoor party speaker, so that should give you a bit of perspective about its size and general feature set. And to answer the question mentioned above: size-wise, it goes up against the $250 JBL Xtreme 2 or newly released $380 Xtreme 3 while costing significantly less; you can grab it for $138. Granted, the Bang's design is more reminiscent of the $500 JBL Boombox 2, but the Boombox is a significantly larger speaker.



Primarily being an outdoor Bluetooth speaker, the Tronsmart Bang has pretty much everything you might need to use it outside. The two integrated speaker drivers have a specified output power of 60 watts. It is IPX6-rated and, as such, very resistant to heavy sprays of water from all directions, although it shouldn't be submerged. The 10,800 mAh battery can power it for up to 15 hours and may also be used as a power bank to charge your smartphone or any other mobile device connected to the USB port found on the back. Aside from the wireless Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, the Bang can accept music through its 3.5-mm auxiliary input, a USB drive, or a microSD card of up to 128 GB. It comes with an integrated carrying handle, making the 3.08 kg (108.6 oz) speaker much more practical to lug around. There's also an elaborate lighting system, but let's leave that, as well as everything else you should know about the Tronsmart Bang, for the following few pages of this review.

Specifications

• Output power: 60 W
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 (SBC), 3.5-mm AUX, USB Type-A, and microSD (up to 128 GB)
• Wireless range: Up to 18 m
• Water resistance: IPX6
• Battery: 10,800 mAh (up to 8 h with LEDs on, and up to 15 h with LEDs off)
• Charging time: 4,5 h (USB-C, 5 V/2 A)
• Extra features: Powerbank, NFC, sound profiles, lighting system, and pairing with up to 100 units
• Dimensions: 361x183.4x150.3 mm
• Weight: 3.08 kg

The Package

The box of the Tronsmart Bang depicts the speaker, covers all of its key features, and lists the box contents. On one side, you'll get the first glimpse of its lighting system, along with the claim that the lights can sync up with the beat of the music. The other side of the box shows the speaker splashed with water, pointing out its water resistance prowess. If we're honest, the montage is made to look like the speaker is submerged, but that isn't an option with an IPX6-rated device. It can be sprayed with water from any side, but submerging it will lead to its inevitable demise.


Aside from the speaker, inside the box, there are two short cables for 3.5-mm auxiliary connectivity and USB-C charging, a warranty card, and a user manual. A power brick isn't included, so you'll have to use the one you already have. The speaker accepts 5 V/2 A through its USB-C charging port, so any remotely decent smartphone power brick should do the job of charging the speaker properly.


The user manual is a pleasant surprise. It concisely covers the ports and buttons of the Tronsmart Bang, informs you about the location of the integrated NFC chip used for quick pairing, and explains the meaning of the four white LEDs located next to the buttons.