For many, the Jambox is the "ne plus ultra", when it comes to compact speakers. Personally, I think of the Jambox not very much, because it is an overpriced toy that is poorly processed and only then is really starting to sound acceptable, if it is already at the volume limit.
Nevertheless, the Jambox due to aggressive marketing of ziemlichem success seems to be crowned, because there are already extremely many manufacturers who have since tried to copy this concept and market as its own product. Even with the Jabra Jambox seems to be probably have been more than just inspiration. It begins with the almost identical nature of the packaging and ends with the annoying tones and voice prompts, which I find just useless in a loudspeaker.
Apart from the Jambox but rather the FoxL Sound Matters should be seen as a sort of "father" of ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker, because the FoxL was actually the first such compact speakers, which has been trying to deliver a reasonably persuasive and powerful sound and is de facto already 2 years ago the Jambox appeared on the market.
So far, however, it has still managed not a single manufacturer, with comparable size something really better bring out. Even the Shoqbox Philips sound in direct comparison to FoxL worse, where it is already considerably larger, but also can play much louder.
The Jabra SoleMate is similar Shoqbox already much bigger than the FoxL, thus I would not describe him as an ultraportable. It weighs more than twice as much and the volume I guess it times the size of the FoxL to about 2-3 or the Jambox.
Unfortunately the SoleMate brings in direct comparison to FoxL hardly a sonic improvement, at least not at normal volume levels. The FoxL I would even attest to more natural and pleasant sound. Depending on the list of small FoxL simply ahead. The bass sounds balanced, has deep range even more power, the middle range is natural, and the top end sound more transparent, the Sole Mate sounds contrast, slightly overcast and unbalanced, partly already something wummig in the bass range, but at the same time without any pressure and depth.
Where the SoleMate can score at any rate, is the maximum volume. He plays a lot louder than FoxL or Jambox, but also because the last 2 volume levels are not really usable, because he already can distort greatly depending on music and style.
For the size, I found the SoleMate frankly a little weak on the chest. Comparing it with the somewhat larger Bose SoundLink, the SoleMate mutated into a cheap, center-weighted whistle. My hope was that because of the size of SoleMate least a little more depth and presence would offer in the bass than the FoxL, but the differences are almost negligible. The SoundLink sounds just too powerful, that one part no longer has the feeling of having a portable speaker before him. Unfortunately, the SoundLink for some purposes is simply too big and too heavy, so I would have something smaller preferred, but without making major compromises in sound. The SoleMate can only conditionally, I do not necessarily maximum untwist, I would definitely give the FoxL preference.
If minimum size is not the most important factor is certainly the SoleMate better choice than Jambox etc. The SoleMate is cheaper and has more volume reserves, which should mainly include outdoors, where you as well not to expect too much himself. Real "party volume" will not create the Sole Mate. Even the Bose SoundLink is something limited, but has yet considerably more power on the chest.
I particularly like that the SoleMate in Bluetooth mode has only one "master volume". If, right on the speaker volume, and the volume on the player device controlled along (at least in the case of the iPhone) is. This can never be the problem that the setter is too low and you must instead set the speaker volume.
However, somewhat problematic, I see the minimum volume that perhaps might be too noisy for some purposes even. There is no way to ask the speaker even quieter, except through feed via Aux-In cable.
Overall I see the SoleMate as one of the better Jambox copies so far. The sound is not bad, the volume up and the design quite funny. Me personally but disturbs the size that makes the speaker for me not really ultraportable, because I would take in such a case, either the FoxL, or if the space is sufficient, the same pick up the SoundLink, since with the latter hardly difficult compromise received.
A perhaps even more recommendable alternative could be the new JBL Flip, I myself have not yet heard, but according to the review of iLounge it is to concern the best portable speakers, and it is cheaper as well!
