One thing that keeps us sane through long car journeys, loud plane journeys, and ridiculously crowded tube journeys is music. We both love listening to music through our headphones while traveling, occasionally sharing a pair when one phone dies or the music selection is just better. At home, we connect our phone to our Bluetooth speakers and blast our country playlists. Whether we’re cooking, cleaning, or just hanging around, it livens up our flat. We even put on a milder playlist when we are hosting or relaxing, just to have some background noise.
The thought of traveling with our speakers never occurred to us – we had a pair that we liked, and that were small enough, but we never felt the need to travel with them. Then, Bayan Audio introduced us to the Soundbook Go, and marketed it as a portable speaker. It instantly made so much sense! When they offered to send us a set in exchange for a review, we were thrilled. We charged them, set them up, and connected our phones the moment they arrived and have been obsessed ever since.
The first time we traveled with the speakers was to the Isle of Wight a couple of weeks ago. That trip proved that these are the perfect speakers for travelers. They’re compact, lightweight, and have awesome sound quality. You can take your dance party from your hotel room to the beach and back without any issue.
Sound Quality
The sound that comes out of the Soundbook Go is phenomenal. It easily connects to your phone via Bluetooth or NFC (or an Aux cable) and plays the music with crystal clear sound. The speakers automatically turn on when the front flap is opened and back off when it is shut. There is also a power button for manual power options.
When we first heard the speakers, we were immediately impressed by how loud they get. This is something that was lacking in our previous set of speakers, so it really mattered to us. With the volume up about half way on the speakers, and not even all the way up on our phones, a hotel room can be filled with music.
We read some review about the Soundbook Go that criticizes the sound quality. It’s important to note that these are portable speakers – and for that (and their cost) the sound quality exceeds expectations. If you are looking for something to set up in your house with a heavy bass or sound that travels through the entire house, then this may not be the product for you.
Portability
A compact design and lightweight materials make these speakers extremely easy to carry around. The speakers are about the size of an evening clutch and can be carried in one hand, thrown in the side pocket of a backpack, or even squeezed into the top of your suitcase. You’ll never want to leave them behind again!
In terms of weight, they feel lightweight to the carrier, but still weigh enough that they would make a difference if it comes down to your suitcase meeting the weight limit. Plan on carrying them in your carry-on bag. Anyway, you never know when you might need them!
Battery Life
Battery life is the one area where we think Bayan Audio could make an improvement to the Soundbook Go. The battery should last 9 hours and, while our set has never run out of battery when we’ve been away from the charge, we have needed to plug it in when listening to music all day while cleaning the house.
When traveling with the speakers, we have never run into an issue because we always recharge them in our hotel room or using our portable battery pack. On a big hiking trip or something where you are away from electricity for an extended period of time, something that requires actual batteries might make more sense than a rechargeable device.
More Information
The Bayan Audio Soundbook Go can be purchased directly through Bayan Audio or on Amazon. They also have a variety of other sound products, including the interconnectable, splash-proof SoundScene that would make for an epic garden party!
This is the first of four installments in our gift guide series. If you are still looking for gifts, keep checking back in our gift guide section for the others!
DISCLAIMER
We received a complementary Soundbook Go from Bayan Audio in exchange for an honest review. As always, all words and opinions above are 100% our own. This post does not contain any affiliate links – we will not benefit financially if you choose to make a purchase.
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