Jawbone JAMBOX (Red Dot)
Review by oluv : Disappointing compared to the "original"

I already have two Foxls from Soundmatters. The Jambox is based on the same acoustic design from Soundmatters but inside a different body and as claimed by Aliph with optimized and reinforced body design. Therefore I hoped the Jambox would give me some improvement in sound, but i was wrong.Both of my Foxls are different versions, the first one is version 2, the new one version 2.2 and there are significant differences in sound between both. The first Foxl had horrible bluetooth quality, apart from that my main criticism was the somewhat weak maximum volume. This improves a lot when plugged in, but from battery the Foxl was not loud enough for my taste resulting in distorted sound as soon as turned up a bit strogner. The newest Foxl is different, bluetooth quality has improved and the sound is more refined. Treble is less harsh while at the same time bass is stronger in the upper frequencies, as mids are clearer than before. Unfortunately the newest Foxl suffers even more at higher volume levels. The previous version applied some kind of compression/limiting to the music when turned up louder to avoid distortion. This is the typical effect you also get when listening to FM radio stations. To achieve maximum volume and drown any background noise, most radio stations apply compression to the music. The new Foxl doesn't do that anymore, so it distorts more quickly especially with peak-sounds like kick-drums etc. It tries to avoid distortion differently. When there is lots of bass, it lowers overall volume noticeably, which results in a somewhat "pumping" effect. I am not sure if I really like the new approach better than before. The previous compression was more "musical" and added a bit of "punch" to the music at higher levels. Now to the Jambox: It sounds more or less like the previous Foxl version with improved Bluetooth streaming quality. But the unit I received has additional problems with the housing that resonates when deeper bass notes are played. Compared to the newest Foxl the Jambox sounds inferior by all means when listening to both at normal levels. Bass from Foxl is stronger and cleaner at the same time, bluetooth quality is similar with both, but compared to a wired connection both still sound noticeably worse through bluetooth. At higher levels the Jambox behaves the same as the old Foxl, it seems to apply the same compression and sounds louder and less stressed than the newest Foxl, but overall I was not able to detect any improvements in sound compared to the "original". Despite of the bigger size, the Jambox still has the same low output like the Foxl. There is no dynamic sound adjustment depending on the output level. I was begging for this for a long time. Adding a bit more bass at lower volume and taking a bit of bass away at higher volume to optimize output at all listening levels.The only real difference is the design. So if you really want a blue, red or grey brick, you will be better off with a Jambox, otherwise i suggest you to take the Foxl. If you don't need loudest output, the newest Foxl version sounds definitely better and is smaller at the same time. But the differences in maximum volume between Foxl and Jambox are in reality not that huge. Both are not suitable at all for outside listening. It should also be mentioned that when plugged in, output is cleaner and louder from the Foxl. It plays with double power (2x4 Watt) then, unlike the Jambox which only has 2x2 Watt regardless if running from battery or plugged in.I am sending my Jambox back, as I see no real advances. Despite the rubber coating, the Jambox also dances around when playing bass-heavy music. You also have to use some cloth or additional rubber mat (like the one included with the Foxl) to avoid this.I am still hoping for an improved Jambox version. *crossingfingers*Update:
Meanwhile Jawbone has done 2 firmwareupdates. Version 2.0 was quite a disaster, because it lowered maximum volume quite a bit according to many disappointed users. I hadn't done the update as i didn't want to screw up the volume of my Jambox. But some weeks later Jawbone came up with a fix and announced firmware 2.1. The volume issue has been fixed and the user can choose now between clarity ON and OFF. OFF is the way how it was before, but ON makes the output considerable lower, thus all the complaints, although Jawbone still claims this is to provide a clearer distortion-free sound and is not lower at all... Well, I prefer it louder to tell the truth and have set clarity to OFF.
The more interesting feature is the new "Liveaudio" setting. Pressing both volume buttons simultanously you can switch between both modes. With Liveaudio the Jawbone sounds considerably larger at low volumes. The frequency response has been tweaked for a more bassheavy clearer sound, which is much broader at the same time. You have the impression if the sound was coming beyond the small Jambox. Unfortunately with active Liveaudio the maximum volume is as low as it is with clarity ON and the other problem is that Liveaudio distorts at higher volume levels. It sounds pretty good with low levels up to speech volume, but turn it a bit louder (still far from maximum volume in normal mode) and Liveaudio distorts heavily, especially noticeable with bassdrum sounds, or low bassnotes etc. I still hope Jawbone will do some further tweaks to improve sound in future. Liveaudio shows great potential, but it should adjust its sound to the volume automatically, now Liveaudio is trying to push too hard in the bass department which results in considerable distortion. It would have been better if Jawbone tuned the bass down, if you increase volume. I already complained, but nobody seems to listen....

Jawbone JAMBOX (Red Dot)
Review by C. Pak : Expensive, sounds good, slightly under-whemling

I bought this product primarily to use as a speakerphone with my iPhone. I work from home a lot and using the built in speaker phone in the iPhone is a drag. As a speaker phone, the Jambox works great. I have it paired via Bluetooth (there is also a mini-RCA in) and the call quality is...good. Not great, just good. The microphone quality is good too, I gave a one hour talk during a conference call with the speaker about 1.5 feet from my face and everyone could hear me and I could hear them perfectly. From other reviews I have read about the Jambox, you have to be right in front of the speaker for it to pick up properly (which can be a good thing).

The controls are pretty slick, there are three buttons up top and a slider power switch on the side that glows to indicate status. You get audio feedback when pairing or to get battery information. The third button up top is programable as are the audio feedback voices.

Now for the under-whemling part...Music. For all the hot air on Jawbone's web site about the audio quality of this box, you'd think you could replace your home stereo. I didn't think that but I had high hopes for the music quality. It sounds good but there is obviously very little to no stereo separation. Also, I'm a little disappointed with the max volume and amount of bass. They advertise that this can get louder than a jet engine but I could never get the audio very loud on this thing, not that I want it that loud anyway...At it's max volume, the sound does not distort so that's a plus. The bass performance is pretty lacking considering the amount of marketing hype about this (but pretty good considering the size of this box). The speaker shakes like crazy (it will actually dance off your desk) during high bass audio but you don't really "hear" much of it.

I may update this review after a few weeks to give the speakers time to season.

Overall, I like this because my main purpose was for a speaker phone. It's pretty expensive but you pay for the design (it's compact, attractive and well put together).

UPDATE: 2/10

So I've had this for a few weeks now. I think I may have been a little harsh in my original review. The sound quality has either improved or it has grown on me. I find the sound quality for music very good (it's "warm" and full-bodied---is this coffee?). I'm very pleased with the sound on both music and phone. The directionality of the phone is still a bit odd, it almost seems like I have to be not only directly in front of the unit but in a sweet spot to get the best quality mic pick up.

Bluetooth reception is great, I take the unit into the bathroom so I can listen to music while I'm getting ready for work. The volume is not an issue, this unit gets plenty loud. I have since paired it to my iMac and the volume seems to be louder than when paired from the iPhone/iPad.

Bottom line, I'm still very happy with the unit and have upgraded my review from 3 to 4 stars. This unit is still very expensive but if you value sound quality, are OK with it's limitations and value design then this might be for you--again because you are paying a premium for the design/quality/name of the Jambox..

Jawbone JAMBOX (Red Dot)
Review by Steeler Nation "Peter" : Pricey, but impressive bluetooth speaker

I decided to try out this highly rated bluetooth speaker for my iPad and iPhone and was shocked at its ease of use, sound quality, small footprint, portability and long battery life. I liked the choice of colors which makes these small speakers standout and easy to spot. When I first opened the package, I was pleased that the company included several high quality cords including both short and long micro USB cords for recharging and computer synching, charge adapter, and a tangle-free audio cord for non-bluetooth sources. You can create an account on the Jawbone MyTALK site to download voice profiles and apps. In pairing mode, it easily connected with all of our iPads and iPhones. I tested the iPad first with Netflix, Pandora, Hulu+, Air Video Server, and iTunes. Considering that the speaker is only the size of 2 stacked Wii controllers, the sound was surprisingly strong, clear, full-bodied, and free of hisses or pops that I have experienced with other bluetooth speakers and maintained the bluetooth connection without a single drop. Next, I paired both an iPhone 4 and 3Gs and both easily paired with the speaker. I ran Pandora and tested the speakerphone function which worked nicely. You can program a quickdial number that can be immediately dialed by pushing the round botton on the top when paired with a phone. You can download apps for voice commands which I didn't try since I rarely ever use, but the transmission and receiving sound quality is quite good. The next day, I went to work in the operating room and everyone was curious when I pulled out the small speaker and placed my iPhone by its side. There's no need to bring any cords which is the real advantage of using this speaker for true convenient portability. When I started playing my Pandora selections from the iPhone, no one in the O.R. could believe it was coming out of this small speaker. It obviously isn't going to challenge a Bose SoundDock or Dr. Dre Beatbox, but we all had a pleasant day in the operating room doing a full day of cases with great tunes and the speaker lasted the entire day using only 50% of the battery life. At home, I was surprised when my son was playing games on the iPad downstairs and the sound was coming through the Jambox speakers located upstairs with perfect clarity. I researched all of the bluetooth speakers currently available, and this stands out by far. Personally, I prefer using this small speaker which I can pull out of my labcoat, rather than carrying around a large heavy sounddock with cords shoved in a bag. I now leave the sounddock in my office. The only reason I didn't rate this 5-stars is due to the sticker-shocker price which I personally feel is a bit excessive and would be more competitive in the $150 - $170 range. At the $200 pricepoint, most people are audiophiles and will likely make the unfair comparison to larger sounddocks. On the other hand, this is perfect for people like myself willing to sacrifice a bit of room-filling base-rumbling sound for a truly portable wireless speaker with accurate sound reproduction. Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase and will buy another when and if the price drops.*****update 9/18/2011******
True to my word, when this went on a Gold box deal for $149, I purchased a second speaker for the kids who used them on camping trips to watch movies on their iPads with their friends. I've been using this daily over the past year with only a few minor issues. I am not a big fan of the latest downloaded software update to add "Live Audio" sound processing which really dampens the sound volume too much to be effective and have only noticed a subtle difference for certain music files. I suspect there will be more reviewers who will knock this device due to dissatisifaction with the Live Audio update, but don't realize that this can be simply toggled on/off by depressing and holding the minus and plus buttons together a few seconds. After purchasing a second one for the kids to use with their iPads, I had to change the bluetooth device names to distinguish multiple speakers since it is default set as "JAMBOX by Jawbone." If you have already synced your i"Device" you will notice that it will keep the old name. Simply go to Settings/General/Bluetooth and select the Not Connected icon and select "Forget this device." This will reset the name for the device and you can simply rescan and resync with the speaker to update the name in your bluetooth device list. I don't understand why there are so many poor reviews for syncing problems which I have never experienced using iOS devices. Other reviewers have also recommended the Soundfreaq SFQ-1 which has equal (to my ears, slightly superior to others) bluetooth sound quality and comparable pricing. I like the SoundFreaq, but I still prefer the JAMBOX due to its smaller size and simple rectangular shape which easily fits in my coat pocket for portability. The sound quality coupled with design factor make this a much more flexible purchase. Ignore reviews that make unfair comparisons to larger expensive office/room audiophile speakers which serve different purposes. I use both the Bose SoundDock and Dr. Dre Beatbox and also really enjoyed the inexpensive, but discontinued Griffin Amplfi speaker which all give a wider and fuller sound experience but are all impractical to drag around with you.*** update 10/10/2011 ***
The new Jambox 2.1 software upgrade has fixed all the problems with the previous LiveAudio upgrade. The new SoundClarity algorithm is really nice and preserves the higher volume levels. I turn the LiveAudio off when we're in the operating room and it gives nice spatial sound and turn it back on when I'm alone in the office for a softer, but improved sound. I've noticed continued bad ratings complaining of frequent bluetooth connection drops. I have 2 Jambox speakers (blue and black) and have used them daily for 10 months with our iPhones, iPads, and recently an Asus Transformer android tablet and honestly have never had a single connection drop. I use the devices to listen to music in the operating room for 8-10 straight hours and we have have never had a dropped connection. I wonder if folks were unlucky to get a bad speaker or perhaps their problems are actually with their media devices that have outdated bluetooth protocols (i.e. non iOS devices)..

Jawbone JAMBOX (Red Dot)
Review by R. Yurkovic : Nice design - good value - just plain slick

It is a very good remote Bluetooth speaker with solid features. Good quality for a small box and plays well in a personal space ... even the bass is strong. The sound will fill a very large living room or conference room. Easily pairs with iPhone and iPad as well as Blackberry.

Playing music through Pandora or iTunes is an effortless setup and the sound is amazingly very good for a unit this small. If a phone call comes in, it interrupts the music and turns into a remote mic/speaker for multi-person conference calls ... good call quality. It also carries "personalities" that are downloadable through the MYtalk online site ... just for fun. I can fit it into my PC bag and it travels well. Good battery life. The top and bottom are cushioned protecting it against falls and bumps. The grill looks professional for a polished look. I can take this to an executive meeting and "wow" clients while the JAMBOX blasts out audio from a presentation. I can also take this to my girl's birthday party and play their favorite music from my iPhone. It will go to the beach when the weather gets warmer. I can hook it up to a non-Bluetooth iPod with a cable so it's very versatile. I also have the JAWBONE Icon so the JAMBOX completes my mobile toolkit along with the iPhone.

It has what I look for - good design, high quality, and solid performance. No complaints ... its a rock star with a cool attitude. Great innovation in a small package. Jawbone JAMBOX (Black Diamond).

Jawbone JAMBOX (Red Dot)
Review by zodact : Packs a punch!

From the minute you open the box, you can tell this is a quality product. It has stylish and sophisticated packaging, but it doesn't stop there. You'll need to charge it for about an hour, but after that you're off to the races. When you turn it on, it bleeps and gives a slight shaking feedback jolt. You really feel like this is a product from the future! It paired easily to my iphone and I was rocking out to tunes only seconds later.

The sound on this box is phenomenal given the size. As another reviewed mentions, you need to take size in to consideration. This isn't going to compete against a classic stereo system, but I challenge you to find another portable sound device that performs as well as this one. The highs/mids are very crisp and the bass packs a punch. The portability of this product is really the key advantage, as I can bring it with me to the park, or toss it on my overnight bag to use in my hotel room while on a business trip. The included protective case with magnetic clasps is a really cool too!

This device can also act as a bluetooth speaker phone. This was novel to use a few times, but the quality is not superior to other bluetooth headsets out there, so I don't use it for that purpose. But it's a nice bonus for anyone who might want to use that feature.

I agree the current $200 price tag is a little steep. I bought my Jambox on Black Friday through the Apple Store and was fortune to score it for only $150. Hopefully this product will come down in price after the holidays.

Rock on!.