DBest (http://www.dbest.co.uk) — you gotta love the company’s name — says its US$70 Rechargeable Bluetooth Duo Mini-Speaker set from — is the world’s smallest Bluetooth hi-fi system. I don’t know if that’s true, but the set — which we’ll just call the Duo — is very portable and very cute. You can use it wired (via a line input) or wirelessly (via Bluetooth) with Macs, iPads, iPhones, iPods and other devices.
Of course, cute is fine, but means nothing if the sound isn’t good. The PS4003BT Duo is pretty good for such a tiny device thanks to a built-in amplifier. The sound is relatively crisp and full. You can’t crank up the volume very much and the speakers crackle a bit at top volume.
That said, you’re probably not going to use the Duo as your desktop’s main speaker. It’s better suited for on-the-go use with a Mac laptop or iOS device. Continuous playback time using built-in rechargeable batteries is up to 20 hours in wireless mode and up to 40 hours in wired mode. And they’re exceptionally portable. A very cool touch: magnets in the base of each speaker lock together for easy transportation.
For their size and price, you can’t expect the Duo to compete with bigger, pricier speakers. It’s great for small devices needing better than built-in sound.
Rating: 8 out of 10
— Dennis Sellers