GSB 500 assessment
++ Very good price / performance ratio
++ Apt-x integrated
+ Good workmanship
+ Battery installed, sound even with battery as with power (but beware: the GSB 500 sounds only "perfect" when the battery is fully charged when you first use (more on this under "experiences")
+ Still acceptable size (and weight in something like two paperbacks with about 400 pages, slightly wider (2-3cm), as TB are high
+ BlueTooth connection goes smoothly and is stable
+ For size superior sound
+ Simple operability
+ Good haptics
+ USB port for charging other devices (when connected to the mains)
Provided no bag -
- Specialized power supply (16V, 1.8A) supplied, charging is not possible via USB
Operate no USB connection for example, updates or around the GSB as a "sound card" -.
- Relatively loud noise when no signal (AUX)
- No "internal" tone control option
Experiences
Player: FiiO X3 with "Line Out", without sound being affected by EQ / EQ
Music: Andreas Vollenweider, (The Essential), Friedemann (The Sun at Midnight), Dire Straits (Brothers in Arms), Loreena McKennitt (div), Jesse Cook (div) Inakustik Voices, Inakustik soundcheck, Mercan Dede (800) FLAC everything from CD / SACD
When commissioning, make sure that the battery is fully charged, if this is not observed, the GSB makes 500 unsightly distortion / noise.
Sound: GSB 500 sounds impressive. Very nice heights (cymbals, percussion ..) pleasant voices (even high women's voices and choirs) ... compared to SOLEMATE the mids and highs are undiscolored who SOLEMATE sounds in comparison a little "trötig" and covered.
The bass has a strong presence, but has for me the same little unnaturalness as the BOSE SoundLink mini and the BOSE SoundLink.
I assume that even so is at the BOSE LS (there was even able to test in-store only conditionally ...): The bass response of the GSB 500 is highly dependent on the location.
The GSB 500 has at the bottom as the SL mini rubber, with which he can akustich couple to the pad. Depending on the sound that clearly too much bass can cause. Or nice, taut and contoured bass ...
At high volume levels may cause a "pumping" in music with strong bass content that may have an impact on all the other pitches.
Then, however, the volume of the GSB 500 is many times greater than that of SOLEMATE.
This could interfere "According listener" ...
(To get both yes currently also betw. 150 and 200 euros) compared to the Denon Cocoon Home and portable is the GSB 500 completely under. Only at high frequencies he can still keep up close.
The Cocoon home sounds "right" stereo with quite good speakers and a good stereo effect compared to the GSB 500 as a. And above all, with bass that do not have this something unnatural effect from GSB 500, SL and SL mini ...
The stereo effect of the Cocoon Portable is naturally slightly lower, be "oomph" but hardly less than at home.
Bearing in mind that the Cocoons much offer more connectivity options, and have an Internet radio, can play directly from USB, these two devices are currently my "insider", starting from 150-180 for portable and 200-230 for the home.
Only: the portable is not really portable, for me are the most Cocoons for a longer stay in hotels used meaningfully.
Thus, for me a evaluation order
1. Denon Cocoon Home: complete success, no defects (except the size ... ;-), not really portable, but possibly bring me much time ... ;-)
2. Denon Cocoon portable: a huge success, a little less bass, hardly really portable
3. GRUNDIG GSB 500: very good for the asking price, very nice ups and good centers, great voice reproduction, something unnatural bass, no longer really "universal portable"
4. Jabra SOLEMATE, very portable, very suitable for outdoor use with a protective case (dust and splash-water protection), sound a bit dull, bass acceptable only when cheaper installation, many applications (as sound card, handsfree, very good design
Enjoy reading and future listening to music with one of the speakers discussed ...
Thank you, if you is not too expensive if you like my review, pressing the "helpful" button ... ;-)
VG
Bernd