Purchase
This portable speaker is less popular and less well distributed as classics of the genre (remember Fnac): Amazon accordingly indicates a delivery period of 2 to 4 weeks. Nevertheless, I was delivered in a chrono week. So do not pass by the marketplace shops with the enclosure to amounts exceeding the maximum recommended price!
Unpacking
The enclosure is delivered in a transparent acrylic box; as it is exposed in the window up and cables and manual concealed below; this box with a fancy design is a clear nod (or a shameless imitation, it depends) the transparent packaging of the Jawbone Jambox, very similar, and that is that the opponent is. Once unpacked, it is imperative to recharge the chamber before first use: allow two to three hours anyway.
At use
Like any Bluetooth speaker, connecting you pairez with your phone or computer via Bluetooth (or so simply connect a cable 3.5 mm), and off you go! To switch to another Bluetooth pairing, pressing the Bluetooth button is required. Very shy, the speaker does not speak, does not beep and indicates the battery charge after being passed below 20%. She pointed her Bluetooth status through a diode which is sometimes not clear (rapid flashing? Slow? Means? Red and blue? Késako?), But luckily you will not have to worry about most of the time.
Unlike some competing brands, Hercules has real legitimacy in the field of computer audio, their range of speakers dating from yesterday. So here we have a well finished object, the chic-young-sport appearance (rather masculine than anything else, in this case); a fairly upscale object, solid (despite some minor squeaks to grip), well assembled, the rather minimalist look. The picture is made near the truth. The enclosure is small (15 x 6 x 6 cm), stable, and can run horizontally or vertically. The rubber cover hiding the ports and the on / off button can be removed.
Long live the visual, therefore, but what about the sound? Largely in its class. The triangular design does not allow the enclosure to be omnidirectional, but allows a consistent sound: the highs are suitable, bass response and mids are clear (without lenses). Ask the speaker back to an object or a wall, and bass resonate only better.
As for the rendering, it can sometimes be surprising power and clarity (especially with the variety and jazz); overall, the pop / rock went honorably, the classic is very convenient, but the metal is worth. In terms of movies or games, rendering is much nicer than the built-in speakers for your laptop, and again at the competition.
Regarding the handsfree function: BTP04 performs this task without brio, the sound of missing some clarity.
The enclosure also features additional functions a bit useless: you can chain several BTP04 and turn the speaker in Bluetooth receiver for play sound over stereo.
STRENGTHS
- Stereo sound quality quite decent - In any case, the level of competition. Sometimes lacks a bit of body, sound is sometimes confusing, but can not work miracles given the size of the object!
- Power surprising - Given the size of the speaker, anyway
- Design - Chic-young-sport and minimalist, less beautiful object that nevertheless Jambox, but more convenient by its less angular shape
- Height and weight - Very designed to be as practical as possible without too much harm the sound reproduction
- Stability - Some mini speaker traveling alone as a result of their own vibrations; by design, whether horizontal or vertical, the BTP04 not moving
- Durability - Water resistant, dust, and seems sturdy enough to carry the falls without injury
- Autonomy - Hercules announces 14 hours and it is close to reality
- Versatility - Can be fixed a little anywhere, comes with two strap and carabiner
WEAK POINTS
- The speaker is directional. For a small speaker, a sound distribution 360 would have been better
- Bluetooth to hang a bit feeble: Bose SoundLink has a much longer range
- Battery indicator appears only at 20%
- The Bluetooth only handles one source at a time, some competitors being able to manage two sources simultaneously
- Price a bit overrated (99 Euro)
- No real differentiator against the competition
Competition
At this rate there, or around, you will find two serious competitors:
- The Logitech UE Mobile Boom Box, slightly less expensive on the market (79 euros) and can use two Bluetooth sources simultaneously, but the least worked design does not appeal to me
- Jawbone Jambox famous that more than two years after its release, remains the master to unseat, at least in the minds of competitors; it is clear that engineers and designers Hercules took it as model. More expensive, a little heavier, but with very similar characteristics to the paper (4W RMS also), it has a few extras (speech, update the enclosure via the Internet, Live Audio ...) that can make the difference
At different rates, you will also find:
- At the bottom of the scale, Ryght Y-Storm, small round speaker to 40 euros. At this rate there, you have a metallic finish quite remarkable, and a mono speaker that does not demerit but offers a rendering clearly lower
- At the top of the scale, Logitech Ultimate Ears Boom. Aesthetics, powerful but heavier and more cumbersome, it is difficult to find in France (except at the Apple Store)
Cétait IF TO DO IT AGAIN?
I remake. Hercules sign here a coherent portable speaker no real weakness, but without real little extra that would make a difference either. Perfect background music for a hotel room, an evening relaxing with friends or at the beach, since it is resistant to sand!