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Xander Audio Disco Bluetooth Speaker Review

Xander Audio Disco Bluetooth Speaker Review

By Gopal Sathe | Updated: 1 December 2016 16:30 IST

Highlights

The Disco speaker has built in 'disco' lighting
Its lights pulse to the beat of the music that's playing
Audio quality leaves a lot to be desired

There are a lot of different Bluetooth speakers available in the market today, and it's safe to say that the Xander Audio Disco speaker does not distinguish itself when it comes to audio quality. It is strictly passable, and if you're a music lover then the audio quality will make you turn away from this speaker no matter the price. But if you're looking for a fun toy that does not cost too much, then keep reading, because this speaker has a gimmick that might make you feel groovy.

The Xander Audio Disco speaker has a light projection system on its top, which throws a constantly shifting pattern of lights onto your ceiling. The speaker is loud enough, and it's definitely bright, so if you're having a house party on a budget, the appeal is clear to see. It helps that the speaker looks cute and feels relatively durable, and also supports a number of different inputs. Let's take a detailed look at what the Xander Audio Disco Bluetooth Speaker brings to the table.

Xander Audio Disco Bluetooth Speaker design
The speaker itself is a compact cylinder, roughly the size of a small cup of coffee. On top, there's a plastic hemisphere which houses the lighting setup - once the lights are on, light is fired upwards and to the sides, so do not place this speaker on a desk where you're working unless you want to be very irritated.

Below that, there's a plastic mesh layer, which is where sound emanates from. Then there is a sleek metallic surface and a slightly curved base. The overall look is cute, but there is one aspect of the design we didn't like too much: the controls are all on the bottom of the device, so you can use them only by picking it up, which is obviously a big problem.

A thick rubberised ring on the bottom keeps the buttons from being pressed by mistake and also gives the speaker a firm grip. There are buttons for volume, call handling, lights, and power. The various inputs are clustered on the back, just above the bottom - you have Micro-USB for charging, a standard 3.5mm aux in, USB, and a microSD card slot, along with FM radio reception. That's a good range of input options for an affordable speaker.

Bluetooth pairing was simple and straightforward. Xander Audio hasn't specified the capacity of the Disco's battery but claims that it can be charged fully in about two hours, and can run for 6-8 hours at medium volume. We found that the charging time claim is accurate, but don't expect to get more than four hours out of this speaker if you're playing music at a reasonable volume level with the lights on. Of course, it will run for longer without the lights, but as we already stated, the lights are this speaker's main appeal.

Xander Audio Disco Bluetooth Speaker performance
The Xander Audio Disco's volume is reasonably loud, though not as much as others in the same price range. In terms of both clarity and bass, it leaves a lot to be desired. At higher volumes, different notes just overlap completely, and there's no soundstage or imaging to speak of.

It is what it is, and that's a gimmicky toy. Turn the room lights off, fire up the Disco's lights, play some Hindi dance numbers, and no one is going to complain.

Verdict
In terms of audio performance, the Xander Audio Disco simply doesn't come anywhere near similarly priced devices. We found many similarly priced Bluetooth speakers with disco lights, and it's probably safe to assume that none of them sound much better - but few looked as nice, or as portable as the Disco. The JBL Pulse, which is a much better known speaker with lighting effects, costs nearly ten times as much.

This is not a product for music lovers, much less audiophiles. Don't even consider it if you want to enjoy high-quality music with all its subtle nuances alone at home. The Disco is an unapologetically silly novelty, and we kind of like it for that reason. It's a little expensive for what it is, but it could be a fun gift for a college-aged kid living in a hostel, or someone who just wants an amusement for when friends come over.

Price (MRP): Rs. 2,599

Pros

Small, portable, and cute
Feels durable
Multiple input options

Cons

Audio quality is not good
Physical controls at the bottom
Battery life is only around 4 hours

Ratings (out of 5)

Design: 3
Performance: 2
Value for money: 2.5
Overall: 2

Comments

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