I’ve worked as a journalist in the tech space for a few years now, so I’m used to seeing whacky creations – some of which are genuinely innovative, while others are plain gimmicky.
And recently, I came across a Bluetooth speaker that was unlike anything I’d ever seen – something that deeply intrigued me. The product in question is the Sodapop Bluetooth speaker, a bizarre creation that certainly stands out in what is undoubtedly a congested market.
This model houses a small Bluetooth speaker inside plastic casing shaped like a soda bottle. You can remove the speaker, and screw it onto the casing – or any soda bottle you can find – which is intended to act as a low-frequency resonator. This is meant to provide deeper, heavier bass than the typical small-sized model. “It’s not a gimmick, it’s pure physics,” the manufacturer says.
Anyway, I’ve spent hours listening to tunes on Sodapop’s debut product to find out if it can stack up against the best Bluetooth speakers, or if it’s just a cool concept. Want to know if it’s actually worth buying? Well, here’s my verdict.
Sonically unsurprising
I’d like to start by pointing out that the Sodapop Bluetooth speaker is a fairly budget-friendly model. It has a list price of $84 / £59.99, which is in a similar ballpark to the JBL Clip 5, for instance. But as good as the Clip 5 is, a lot of rivals in its price bracket often have sonic shortcomings, like thin bass and highly compressed sound at higher volumes.
In honesty, the Sodapop did struggle in a few areas, but it outperformed a handful of rivals in others. First of all, let’s talk bass – the main focus of this model. Mid-bass and upper bass come through with decent impact. The funky bassline in Black Cow by Steely Dan, for instance, was pleasantly prominent, and didn’t sound overly muffled or muddy at middling volumes.
At top volumes, the picture became a little less clear – bass was a touch smothering, there was a lack of separation between vocals and the sax, and sounds in the treble range could get a little harsh.
Tracks with deeper bass, like Morning Wonders – Leo Pol Remix by Kolter, exposed issues with the Sodapop which are shared with a large portion of its small-sized rivals. The speaker didn’t have the bass extension to reach down to those dark, low notes, leaving the low end sounding a bit thin. Thrashing high-pitched percussion also sounded pretty abrasive as I ramped the volume up.
So, unfortunately, using a bottle as a bass chamber isn’t going to give you the most refined low-end response, but the Sodapop does perform decently elsewhere. It’s perfectly capable of handling more acoustic tracks, with guitars and vocals generally sounding clear. Podcasts come through nicely as well – during testing I was satisfied with the speaker’s decently forward sounding speech replication.
But all in all, I’d say the Sodapop Bluetooth speaker sounded about as good as I expected, nothing more. Although Sodapop claims the speaker’s design removes the need for a “bulky subwoofer,” I’d have to disagree – if you’ve got a good quality, powerful party speaker, it will offer substantially improved low-end performance.
Again though, this thing does sound OK for a small-sized model, so if you’re not too worried about ultra-punchy bass or detailed audio output, it may do the trick for you.
A seriously loveable, but not quite faultless design
So many Bluetooth speakers opt for a one-note, plain aesthetic, but Sodapop has well and truly gone against the grain in this regard. Not only is this the first Bluetooth speaker I’ve seen with a bottle-shaped design, but it comes in a range of funky colors – most of which are extremely attention-grabbing.
I tested out the creatively named ‘Skinny Dip’ colorway, which has an ocean blue look to it. There are a lot more, though: Scream, which is a pale green; Mandy, a purplish pink; and Sunburn, a deep orange, were just some of my favorites.
Even beyond its shape and colorways, there’s more to appreciate about this speaker’s design. It has an AUX port for wired listening, a protective carry case, and a lightweight feel. It’s also got a 1,600mAh battery, capable of providing 30 hours of playtime – this number will vary depending on playback volume, of course.
There are a few quirks that make the Sodapop come of second best in the face of rivals, though. First of all, it has an unremarkable IPX5 waterproof rating. That means it’s safe from splashes, but probably won’t fare too well with full on immersion in water. Meanwhile, a model like the LG xboom Go XG2T has military-grade protection against the elements, and can be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The volume buttons also act as skip and play previous track controls – something that confused me at first. If you want to adjust loudness, you instead have to long-press plus or minus – I wasn’t loving this configuration. At the time of writing, I couldn’t see a compatible companion app, either, which would be useful to adjust EQ and remotely control playback.
So, should I buy it?
Time to return to that big question then – is the Sodapop Bluetooth speaker worth buying? Well, if you’re seriously digging its design, and you don’t need the best audio around, then it may well be worth checking out. After all, it has a fun look, strong battery life, and versatile build.
But unless you’re all in on the soda bottle thing, I’d leave it – there are better-sounding models in this price and weight class.
I already mentioned the JBL Clip 5 – in my view the best value small speaker on the market. It offers impressively clean, punchy low-end performance, surprisingly detailed audio across the frequency range, and a convenient carabiner clip design. Oh, and there are plenty of vibrant color options to pick from too!
There are even more great picks out worth noting, though. The aforementioned LG xboom Go XG2T offers better protection against the elements, solid overall sound quality, and a well-equipped companion app. The Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 also appears for less than $100 / £100 on occasion, and if you’ve got the cash, it will unlock beautifully balanced, detailed audio alongside luxurious looks.
If you want the rundown on the best alternatives to the Sodapop, then make sure to check out my list of the best small Bluetooth speakers.
So, are you interested in grabbing the Sodapop Bluetooth speaker? Or do you have any thoughts about it you’d like to share? I’m all ears, so make sure to get chatting in the comments.
You may also like
- Need something that can brave the shower, or maybe even a pool? Then check out our guide to the best waterproof speakers
- Or maybe you’re looking for a Wi-Fi speaker that can help you get the most out of Spotify Lossless? Then head on over to our list of the best wireless speakers
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
