Today's review will be quite unusual compared to the previous ones. If you've been following Samsung Magazine for a long time, then you could mainly find reviews of phones, tablets and other purely technological products on our website. But Samsung is not only about them, and the South Korean giant produces much more. Among other things, also audio technology, which is why today we will look at the Samsung Level Box mini portable speaker, which you can find on the market for a quite attractive price of €70, which will definitely please you at a time when Beats Pill, for example, is trying to break into the portable speaker market, whose price is significantly higher.
Design
But let's look at the Level Box mini. This speaker is characterized by a very simple design, which can be described simply as a rounded cuboid. It is a modern and pleasant design, which also does not try to emphasize the brand. The Samsung logo on the top of the speaker disappears depending on the lighting and viewing angle, so in most cases you will only see the Level Box inscription and the controls on it. The emphasis on simplicity can also be seen here. There are only four buttons, for increasing and decreasing the volume, starting and pausing the music and finally turning off the speaker. Another button is then located on the back and it is a button for activating Bluetooth.
And that brings us to connectivity. Level Box mini can be connected to a phone using a Bluetooth interface (also for example k iPhone), using the classic 3,5-mm audio jack and finally also using NFC. The pairing options are therefore numerous and will definitely please you. NFC is located on the top of the speaker, and since it's marked in the same style as the "SAMSUNG" logo, you'll miss it here too. Other forms of connection can be implemented on the back of the speaker. There is also a microUSB port for charging the speaker. The connectivity doesn't detract from the design and you can see that the people who designed this speaker have taste. This is a piece characterized by a modern design, although not everyone may like this style. For example, I prefer speakers with a "street" style, i.e. speakers in the shape of a can.
Sound
When I mention cans like that, you definitely don't need to associate them with sound. While it's true that you can't expect audiophile sound quality from a smaller wireless speaker, the Samsung Level Box mini is still a speaker that will surprise you with its sound. Namely, I had the opportunity to compare it with several speakers, and this one can boast both sound quality and volume, which can be really high and can fill an apartment without any problems. And when I mention the high volume, I have to mention one big plus. Unlike many other speakers, when you play music too loud on the Level Box, the speaker stays put and doesn't start to shake or jump like smaller portable speakers tend to do when you turn it up to maximum volume.
As for the sound quality, you will definitely be pleased with the quality highs and mids and the fact that it is a stereo speaker. Bass intensity is (again) weaker, but still not too weak. So when you listen to Hudson Mohawk or Rytmus, you will be satisfied with the resulting quality. If you want to listen to techno, trance or similar electronic genres here, you may feel the absence of bass on some tracks, but not on all. The trick of increasing the bass intensity by turning the speaker, similar to what was possible in the case of the Beats Pill, does not work here. Listening to rock or metal songs does not cause problems for the little Samsung, so if you are a fan of LP, Metallica, AC/DC or others, the speaker will certainly not disappoint you, even if you probably prefer live performances or at least high-end audio sets. However, if you're looking for something that has a clear sound, you're looking at the right product. The purity of the sound is also reflected in calls. The loudspeaker contains a built-in microphone, thanks to which it is possible to make phone calls even in such a loud voice. The sound quality is very good and this applies on both sides, thanks to the ability to cancel the echo.
var sklikData = { elm: "sklikReklama_47925", zoneId: 47925, w: 600, h: 190 };
Drums
In my opinion, the battery life is visibly better than that of competing solutions, as the life of several speakers is around 10 hours. The Smasung Level Box mini, however, offers a battery with a capacity of 1 mAh, which should last up to 600 hours. Personally, I managed to get about 25 hours, so yes, the longevity is very good. Of course, it also depends on the volume and the method of connectivity (Bluetooth 19 is used for wireless connection). During the entire time that I used the speaker, I listened to music mostly at 3.0% volume. When it's running low, it'll let you know by beeping during playback. The speaker will beep like this a few times while listening to music and then it will run out of power, so it needs to be recharged using the USB port. Unfortunately, the charger is not part of the package, it only has a USB port, so you have to rely on chargers at home or on your laptop. I think Samsung could have done a bit of work in this regard and could have adjusted the power button on the top of the speaker to light up depending on the battery level. Currently it only lights up when the mini is charging.
Summary
What to add in conclusion? Someone may tell you that Samsung is not the company to buy speakers from, but that you should look at other brands. But I don't think so, and when using the Samsung Level Box mini I was pleasantly surprised that the music you play through it doesn't sound bad at all. Of course, it also depends on the genre, and if you're looking for tracks with intense bass, you should look for something else. But if you are a music listener who simply wants to listen to music in such a way that your eardrums don't explode, the speaker will please you. The test playlist, which included some trance tracks, Rytmus, Hudson Mohawke, Linkin Park, Metallica and more, revealed practically everything about him. The priority is mainly highs, mids and volume. It is very high, and despite the fact that it is a fairly small speaker, you can use it to fill your apartment with sound, and therefore you can also use it at a party, unless you want to invest in a large setup that does not take up much space and lasts for several hours. And 19 hours is definitely not enough, but it depends on several factors, so at high volume it can happen that it is discharged within 10 hours. However, it should be taken as an advantage that the high volume does not cause problems for him and even when it is active, the speaker does not shake or jump, in short it stands still. Personally, I was interested in the modern design of the speaker, and it can look with certain furniture as if it were a natural modern part of it, and the speaker will thus find a new home, for example next to the TV in your living room or on the work table in the study. The design looks elegant to me and I can't imagine you'd take it outside like the circular wireless speakers that are suitable for outdoor events. However, if we are talking about in-door actions, then the Samsung Level Box mini is on point. Also because you will notice the weight of almost 400 grams when carrying it for a long time.
var sklikData = { elm: "sklikReklama_47926", zoneId: 47926, w: 600, h: 190 };
Photos for Samsung Magazine: Milan Pulc
