The modern portable gaming market on tablet and mobile devices has come a long way in terms of quality and production value, and there is definitely a wider range of quality gaming experiences to choose from. The music and sounds packed into games like Kingdom Rush, Year Walk, and Threes! rival that of games designed for more traditional gaming platforms. However, the speaker quality on these devices is lacking to some extent, and more often than not it is almost a necessity to attach your own headphones to supplement the on board audio systems. This is even more of problem when more than one person is trying to enjoy a shared gaming – or other media – experience on any of these devices. Sharing a set of headphones is a crude option at best.
Well Bayan Audio has set out to remedy mobile sound problem with their portable Bluetooth Soundbook wireless speakers that can connect with almost any modern Bluetooth enabled device. The one pound speakers produce not only high level of sound quality, but they do so over an extended period of time and at a greater range than most others. The speakers are compact and durable enough to survive extended travel use, and for people on the go this is a big plus.
I’ve tried the speakers out at a multitude of different situations, of course with an added focus on games. But the modern gamer is multimedia savvy and will appreciate the practicality this peripheral as an excellent complement to any device.
First and foremost, the Soundbook is loud enough to fill a room full of people with music and sounds, and is perfect for group gaming sessions in any environment. Mobile board games are rapidly gaining in popularity all the rage right now as people are looking to clear up their closest space. What better group game to play with friends than Settlers of Catan? While trying to enjoy a game with friends at a gaming party I found that the on board speakers of the iPad were really not up to par when stacked against the noise from the rest of the party. However, the Soundbook provided more than enough speaker strength to make the gaming experience more enjoyable session for the entire group.
Those looking for a more traditional gaming experience can sit down in the comfort of their own home and enjoy any number of quality games. The Soundbook can rest easy on your table with its padded slip resistance bottom, providing big sound for your small screen. This is a boon to those with small children who can enjoy the sights and sounds of some of the more family friendly games like Kingdom Rush.
Switching to music is as easy as changing the app on the any phone, and great for walking around the apartment with the speakers left in one room. In what was a pleasant surprise I was able to walk around my long rail road apartment while streaming music through the speakers. They have also proved to be great supplemental speakers for watching television from an iPad or laptop; I’m looking at you, Game of Thrones. Additionally they are loud enough that my neighbor has complained when I’ve turned them all the way up to test the volume levels, and trust me they can be incredibly loud.
For those who enjoy hands free calling while driving or working, the Soundbook comes equipped with a built in microphone that automatically switches over when a call comes in. Furthermore, once the speakers have been connect to a device they will automatically take over as the primary sound source when the “book cover” is opened. Unfortunately, I was unable to test them on PlayStation Vita but they are supposed to work on any device that is V4.0 Bluetooth enabled, with the PlayStation 3 is as well.
Priced at $149.99 (USD) the Soundbook speakers are simple enough for anyone to set up and use and require little maintenance for their reasonable cost in comparison to other mobile speaker devices on the market.
Thus far, my experience with Bayan Audio’s Soundbook speakers has been a great one, and I would recommend them as a buy to anyone who is on the go or finds that the stock speakers on their mobile/tablet devices are lacking. You will not be disappointed with the level of quality in sound that they can produce, and the battery charge lasts long enough that I frequently forget to check before I step out of the house for the day. Plus, visually they’re cool and modern while sticking with a minimalist design that Apple has set as a standard for the tech industry and gel well as a great audio device with games.
Check out Bayan Audio on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram - or further details directly from the Soundbook site.
Brian Kale
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