With so many speaker solutions out in the market these days, it’s nice to see a company that makes their design a little edgier and with character. Literally. The Boombotix Boombot2 brings functionality and collectible character in their Bluetooth and wired portable speaker, making is a pretty neat gift for kids (and they even have a boring gray version for adults).

If you are looking for a hearty and functional portable speaker to give as a gift this holiday season, Santa has just the device for you. This light-weight speaker seems to be built to withstand an active lifestyle – think of a kid throwing this in their backpack. It is built to endure the bounces and bumps typically associated with a kid’s lifestyle and it got a personality to match.

Here’s what you get in the package:

• The Boombot2
• Instructions
• A snazzy sticker
• A USB charging cable
• A headphone cable
• A personality depending on the Japanese-inspired urban design you choose

But how does it work? Pretty well actually. I got my hands on the “boring” gunmetal gray version.

There are 3 buttons on the top: 2 for volume control and 1 for power and changing the source. On the back are two covered ports, one for the USB cable used for charging and the other for a line-in for the included headphone cable (1/8″ inch size).

You can also see an handy clip on the back that lets you attach the Boombot2 to a backpack or clothing. One more thing that I should add, the Boombot2 is weather resistant. That isn’t to say that you can leave it out in the rain, but it will do its best to keep snow and light rain out of the innards and let you continue to rock out in the elements without worry.

To fire it up, just push down on the power button. There is a light on the front, in the form of a star, that will indicate if the power is on as well as the type of audio connection. When the star light is green, you have a line-in connection and when it is blue, you have a Bluetooth connection.

Pairing the Bluetooth couldn’t be easier. It is so easy that even a child could do it. Just get it to the Bluetooth state (two clicks of the power button) and then pair it with your Bluetooth-enabled device using a pairing code of 0000 (look for the “BoomBot2” device name).

The instructions are easy to read and in multiple languages. Read them once and you can recycle them.

In terms of playback, I found the Boombot2 to be pretty good for a portable, rechargeable speaker. When paired to Bluetooth, you can control the volume on either your device or on the speaker itself. Do note, to avoid distortion (which you can achieve pretty easily at high volumes), be sure to not max out the volume on both the device and the Boombot2. There is no “subwoofer” so don’t expect the bass to boom. But the playback is balanced and quite good.

The range of the Bluetooth is pretty good. I was able to stream music from another room, perhaps 30 feet away. But remember that Bluetooth is a short range wireless connection. In close proximity, it’s definitely fine.

To power off the speaker, just press and hold the power button. You will hear an audio confirmation (two beeps) and the star light will go off.

HighTechDad Ratings

The Boombotix Boombot2 has a retail price of $69.99 and you can currently pick it up on Amazon for about $40.00 (which is a good deal in my opinion). There are a lot of personalities and design styles to choose from (7 including 3 Limited Editions and 2 Artist Styles). The fact that it is rechargeable is a definite plus as you won’t be hunting for batteries. Just plug it into a USB port on your computer and let it charge. It has an estimated 8 hour play time. I found the set-up to be extremely easy – I taught my kids how to use it in less than a minute. It’s very light weight and seems to be pretty durable (and water resistance is always a plus as well). Do note, the USB port is for charging only. You cannot connect the Boombot2 as a USB-speaker. But with the Bluetooth streaming capabilities, who needs cords anyway?

I do feel the $70 price point is slightly high, so be sure to look for it on sale in the $40-50 range. I believe that is the sweet spot. At that price, you can’t go wrong! Also, I cannot evaluate the durability of the device as I have only used it for a few hours. But the manufacturing seems to be pretty decent.

EASY TO GEEK FACTOR – is the device easy to get up and running

FAMILY FRIENDLY – does the device fit well into family environments

RECOMMENDABILITY– would I recommend it to others (more means “yes”)

PRICE POINT – does the price reflect the product function

OVERALL – my general rating

Disclosure Text : I have a material connection because I received a gift or sample of a product for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item or gift after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own. More information can be found in my About page as well as here.

HTD says: Bring that beat back with the Boombotix Boombot2 – it’s rugged, easy to use, streams music via Bluetooth and has a crazy personality and design to make it unique!

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