Set the Mood with BenQ Trevolo
BenQ Trevolo, the world’s first portable wireless speaker to use electrostatic technology, is raising the bar in your travel game.
As a traveler, I’ve realized that the best way to make friends when in a new circle is to contribute something to the group. One thing that can easily be shared is music. Music sets the mood in any social gathering. Whether you are with a group of thrill-seekers taking refuge in an overnight camp, or with surfers admiring the sunset with some cold beers – having a good playlist and being appointed the group’s resident music person (a.k.a the guy with the nice speakers) can help you make a mark in your company’s memories. To be able to do this, all you need is a wide music library, and a powerful travel speaker.
So what do you want from a travel speaker? You need one that is powerful, so that you can truly enjoy clear and sharp audio, while having full control of its settings to be able to set the mood. You want one that is light and portable but impressive in form, so you can lug it around and impress people whatever the activity. You would also need it to have great connectivity, so that you and your friends – old or new – can effortlessly connect to it to share music with everyone. I’ve tried many in the past but the BenQ Trevolo has become a favorite. I am currently traveling in South America, and these speakers have helped me be the life of the spontaneous parties. Let’s explore the reasons why I love this cool speaker one by one so that you can get a better idea.
First things first – the specs.
Frequency response 60 Hz – 20 kHz
Playing time 12 hours (Dependence on user scenario)
Bluetooth® 4.1
Input types 3.5 mm stereo input, USB audio
aptX
Key definition Power Key, Volume Key (+-), Sound Mode Key (end call), Play/Pause(talk), BT Pairing Key
LED indicator Red LED x 1 ; Blue LED x 1; Green LED x 1
Battery Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Other features Built-in microphone for speakerphone function
IO port Micro USB x1 ; Line-in x1 ; Line-out x1 , Power Jack x1
Input power rating DC 12V 2A
Temperature range for use 0~40º C
Accessories AC/DC Charger, Quick start guide
Dimension 174.6×134.6×78.5mm (Closed)
Weight 1.2 kg
The Look
While there are so many Bluetooth speaker designs now to choose from, the Trevolo has a cool and unique design that truly sets it apart from its rivals. Its electrostatic speakers folds out as flat panel speakers which looks incredibly cool and also helps the speaker’s portability when hinged back to the sides of the device. It feels very solid, and comes in a cool grey and silver variation. Its trapezoid shape allows it to stand firmly wherever you put it, as it has some weight at the bottom. One thing that you will notice about it as well are the gold outlined circles on the front panel where the “wings” or the flat speaker meet. While it looks like they were put there to make it look like a cool spaceship, it also has great functionality, as it is actually the 2.5” woofers and large passive radiators that generate crisp, accurate bass, adding some punch to the sound.
Powerful Features
Not only is it BenQ’s first audio product, it is also the world’s first portable wireless speaker to use electrostatic technology. Now I’m not going to act like I’m a music pro, so I’ll let the folks at BenQ explain this for us –
“Electrostatic technology can be explained as a process of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy via the motion of the diaphragms within the speaker. You hear highly precise, soaring sound, plus remarkable clarity and significantly less harmonic distortion than traditional travel speakers.”
What this means is that it delivers music that is loud, crisp, and impactful – something you would expect from bigger, non-portable speakers. Travel speakers usually have the tendency to bring down the sound quality of the music you are playing. Trevolo is definitely an exception. It makes vocals sound real and personal, and helps instruments pop out with great clarity and volume.
Trevolo’s battery life stretches on for 12 hours from a single charge, varying of course on your volume usage. I am usually able to charge it and use it throughout a full day without having to charge it again.
It also steps into the new age by having an app instead of a remote control. Great call. It is very easy to use, with the main power button, volume buttons, and even buttons for answering a hanging up a phone are located on the top of the speaker in clear view. With a built-in noise-canceling microphone, Trevolo doubles as a crazy cool speaker phone.
Connectivity
When you have the speakers in a party, it is natural for everyone to want to line up songs that they want to play in it. This is when connectivity plays a great role in choosing BenQ Trevolo as your travel speaker. While you usually experience a hard time detecting bluetooth connections from other travel speakers, this one connects easily and supports up to 30 ft distance from the speaker. It is able to play a number of media formats thanks to its aptX technology. It also includes a micro-USB port and 3.5mm line out and line in ports.
Value
All in all, the BenQ Trevolo is a steal at US$299. You can buy the BenQ Trevolo on their website.