LG XBoom XO2T review: a groovy Bluetooth speaker that does the business
LG XBoom XTO2: Two-minute review
The LG XBOOM XO2T is not the company’s first attempt at a stylish portable speaker – the slightly larger XO3C is still available, for instance – but it is, in LG’s own estimation, the best iteration. At least, that is how it was presented to me when LG gave a demonstration on this speaker.
While I can’t confirm how it stacks up against LG’s previous iterations (since those weren't made available to me), I’ve spent plenty of time with the XO2T reviewed here and I have to say that I’m impressed. Is it among the best Bluetooth speakers out there? I think so, though it does depend on your needs.
To start with, there’s plenty of volume on tap that stays surprisingly clear at higher volumes, plus it sounds very good for its size. It might not be audiophile-grade, sonically speaking, but most people will be impressed with the amount of low-end it musters up, not to mention the detail-rich sound. The high-end is ever-so-slightly dull and is the main difference, audio-wise at least, that keeps it from rivalling a truly premium, Bang-and-Olufsen-style product. But it gets close.
Due to its form factor, you’ll miss out on stereo audio, unfortunately, though you can always pair it with a second one for that. But there are plenty of features available, mostly through the app, to make up for it. Also, this is a portable speaker meant to deliver quality audio no matter where you’re located in relation to it.
Just as striking as its audio performance is the way it looks. Not many portable speakers make me want to upgrade my furniture to something from Ethan Allen or grab a bourbon on the rocks. This one does. It has a sleek, almost teardrop shape, but also mood lighting for an experience you just don’t get from most portable speakers. The only real issue is that its fabric covering does tend to attract hair, so if you have a pet, you might end up with a somewhat fluffier LG XBoom XO2T.
LG XBoom XTO2 review: Price and release date
- $199.99 / £199.99 (about AU$300)
- Launched March 2024
Since the LG XBoom XO2T is a relatively new speaker, having been released in March of 2024, it is not a model you’re going to see a whole lot of offers for – yet. While you can certainly wait to hopefully get a discount, the asking price of $199.99 / £199.99 (about AU$300) is really not a bad figure for what you get – although it's true that you can buy myriad rugged, outdoorsy barrel-shaped Bluetooth speaker options for a lot less.
It’s currently only available in one color, unlike the XO3, which is available in black and beige. More importantly, it seems to not be available in Australia at the moment. Whether that will change in the near future remains to be seen since it’s relatively new. However, this review is coming out five months (August 2024) after the speaker’s initial release.
LG XBoom XTO2 review: Specs
LG XBoom XTO2 review: Features
- Customization for both sound and lighting
- Can link with other LG speakers
- Multipoint connectivity
When it comes to features, the LG XBoom XO2T has a good assortment. Just about all the features discussed here are available through the app including the ability to adjust the sound and lighting. As far as adjusting the sound goes, it might seem light at first glance as there’s a Standard, Soundboost for listening to music, and Custom selection available. However, when choosing custom, you can pull up a six band EQ tab with up to 6 dB of boost per band. That’s pretty significant.
There’s actually much more in the way of customization when it comes to the light at the top of the speaker. There are three different types of mood lighting available: Ambient, Nature, and Party, with each type having three presets and a My Pick selection where you can customize the hue and saturation. Plus, the Ambient and Party modes have a Candle Effect and Party Strobe effect to add some movement to the lighting. My particular favorite is the “Comfort of a cozy night” setting under the Ambient selection. You can also adjust the lighting’s brightness.
There are some other features on hand as well, such as the Wireless Party Link mode that lets you use multiple LG speakers at one time. This is where you can pair two XO2Ts together for a stereo experience. There’s also an XBoom Lab selection, where you can play with new features. Currently, there’s a "Healing Therapy" section listed, where you can download and play healing sounds that are pre-paired with specific mood lighting settings. Also worthy of mention is a One Touch Mode that gives you the ability to hold the Lighting button on the speaker for two seconds to bring up a specific playlist and lighting setting. However, it only works with the Apple Music Library or Apple Music (at least on my iPhone). At least multipoint connectivity is available.
- Features score: 4.5/5
LG XBoom XTO2 review: Design
- Chic lamp-like design
- Bluetooth-only connectivity
- Good battery life
The LG XBoom XO2T resembles a fancy 1960s lamp more than a portable speaker, and it’s a design choice that I truly appreciate. I’ve tested and used quite a few different Bluetooth speakers and very few inspired me from a design perspective. This one is one of the few.
Of course, it probably resembles a lamp because it is. Sure, you have the bulk of the body covered by a fabric as well as an upward-facing silver grill to emanate audio in all directions. But, it also has an overhang that houses a downward-facing LED light.
The light can get pretty bright, though I wouldn’t use it to replace anything but a nightlight. It’s better for use as mood lighting (which is what it’s advertised as anyway) via the app’s customization mentioned above.
While a lot of the features are available just via the app, the capacitive controls on top are good enough for general usage. The Bluetooth icon is the only one that stays lit, but a quick tap will light up all the available controls including Volume Up, Play / Pause, Volume Down, and Lighting.
The port selection is pretty minimal as there’s no Aux or 3.5mm input, just a USB-C port for charging. The LG XBOOM XO2T is a purely bluetooth experience. Plus, the USB-C port has a covering that’s difficult to pull out, though this is most likely to maintain the speaker’s IP55 rating, making it a little safer to use outside.
A little more impressive is the battery life. It’s rated as offering up to 15 hours of use. While there are some other speakers that offer more, this is not the type of speaker I imagine someone would take on a hike, so 15 hours is more than adequate. In fact, I actually appreciated running it over night for ambient music and a night light and only using 40% of the battery after 8 hours.
- Design score: 4.5/5
LG XBoom XTO2 review: Sound quality
- Goes nice and loud
- Great performance in the lows and mids
- High-end can come off a tad dull
First things first, this thing can get loud! Though LG doesn’t offer a specific dB rating for the LG XBoom XO2T, I was able to get it up to 90 dB. Pretty impressive for something this size with what appears to be a one-inch tweeter, a three-inch driver and passive radiator handling the sound. On top of that, it stays fairly clear at higher volumes except for loud, aggressive bass sounds.
More importantly, the XO2T sounds very good. Whether I was listening to Kavinsky’s Nightcall, Jidenna’s Long Live the Chief, or The Weeknd’s I Feel It Coming, the low-end is punchy and full. There’s not much in the way of sub-bass, but that’s to be expected.
Often smaller speakers – and I would consider the LG XBOOM XO2T to be in this category – you end up with something where the low-end and high-end (or bass and treble) are boosted while the mids suffer, offering a somewhat hollow sounding listening experience. Or, the mids are a bit too full so that you feel like you’re getting a good listening experience, but the audio isn’t exactly clear.
Higher quality speakers thread the needle and the LG does so well, as the mids are full but balanced. Voices and guitars (as well as other upper midrange instruments) have body to them without sounding distorted as I experienced with Paramore’s Now and Cocteau Twin’s Heaven or Las Vegas. Another example is Chris Stapleton’s version of Tennessee Whiskey, where I felt the full range of his voice – rich and full without sounding compressed or distorted.
The only place where the sound quality leaves something to be desired is in the high notes. While you can surely boost treble frequencies through the app’s EQ, there’s a slight shortfall in terms of detail here, as if there’s a very thin blanket over the audio. Considering the speaker’s construction – again there’s a 3-inch driver, a one-inch upward firing tweeter and a passive radiator – it’s not a huge surprise.
- Sound quality: 4.5/5
LG XBoom XTO2 review: Value
The LG XBOOM XO2T’s price tag of $199.99 / £199.99 (about AU$300) may seem to be in the premium bracket for portable speakers, it’s actually more in the midrange. Offerings from premium brands such as Bose, with the Bose SoundLink Max, will certainly put this speaker’s price tag into perspective, especially when you consider all that the LG XBoom XO2T has to offer.
The Ultimate Ears Everboom, for instance, also delivers 360-degree with plenty of oomph and comes with a nice aesthetic and build. It does have a little more battery life and a slightly better IP67 rating. But it will also set you back $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349.
The Sonos Roam 2 is another portable speaker in this range with its slightly lower $179 / £179 / AU$299 price tag. While you have access to the Sonos ecosystem for multi-room setup, you could do the same with the LG via the Wireless Party Link feature (more on that later). Plus, the LG XBOOM XO2T has better battery life and at least a more unique look, not to mention that mood lighting.
- Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the LG XBoom XTO2?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
LG XBoom XTO2 review: Also consider
How I tested the LG XBoom XTO2
- Tested for 2 weeks
- Listened to all sorts of genres of music as well as podcast and streaming video
- Predominantly tested using high fidelity streaming through Deezer and Podcast app on an iPhone 13
I spent two weeks testing the LG XBoom XO2T, having listened to all sorts of genres of music through the HiFi tier of the Deezer streaming app as well as watching some YouTube videos and listening to some podcasts through the iOS Podcast app. I also played around with the LG XBOOM app, to test all the features including customizing the lights and audio.
The LG XBoom XO2T, after all is said and done, seems to made for those that don’t want to pay quite the premium prices of Bang & Olufsen or Bose, but still want a quality speaker that looks as good as it sounds.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear including audio equipment, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.
- First reviewed: September 2024
0 comments:
Post a Comment