Logitech Pure-Fi Mobile Speaker review

Battery-powered, portable speakers normally come in two flavours: tiny and tinny or bulky and booming. Logitech's latest is tiny, but its volume and quality surprise completely. For such a small box it makes an astonishing amount of noise, and doesn't distort even when turned up uncomfortably loud. This is thanks to the four identically-sized speakers, two of which are devoted solely to bass frequencies.

You can connect it to a variety of sources: to a mobile phone via Bluetooth, an MP3 player via line-in or even a PC over USB. When connected to a phone it can stream any media played on the handset, but can also function as what could very well be the world's loudest hands-free kit. This can be extremely useful, as you can leave your phone in a bag or jacket pocket, but still answer calls with the connect and disconnect buttons on the top of the unit.

The speakers themselves are well designed, with a stylish glossy black front and a silver back which houses the fold-out feet. The build quality is impressive, but a padded carry case is nevertheless included to protect it when on the go. Perhaps the best part is that the speakers include an internal battery that is charged with the included AC adapter, giving access to all these features even when outside the house. Logitech claims a 12-hour battery life, although this will depend on what volume and which input is used.

Unfortunately this quality doesn't come cheap, and the speakers cost almost £100 - far higher than comparable models on the market. The thing is, there aren't any truly comparable models out there; certainly none that can match the sheer volume and quality of audio, with the versatility of inputs, and for that reason the Logitech just about justifies its hefty price tag.

Author: Matthew Sparkes