Have you ever thought about getting a Bluetooth speaker that costs $7 or £8.99? I'll confess I never have – in part because I didn't even realize such a product was available.
But, astonish me, I recently discovered that Amazon does provide exactly that, in the form of the ultra-low-costWGO Bluetooth Speaker(although it's currently unavailable on the US site). So I couldn't resist the urge to get one and compare it to the alternatives: surely a speaker this inexpensive couldn't possibly sound good?
Honestly, I was hoping I would dislike the WGO Bluetooth Speaker. Part of this is because I'm a journalist, and we tend to enjoy sharing sarcastic opinions over weak coffee. However, the main reason is that as an audiophile, one of my fundamental beliefs is that if you want your music to sound great, you must be willing to invest accordingly – and if it turns out that decent sound quality can be achieved at low prices, it would challenge my delicate perspective.
So I was a bit disappointed when I found out that the WGO Bluetooth Speaker is... you know,fine.
Don't misunderstand me: it has obvious audio flaws that I definitely wouldn't accept from any top Bluetooth speakers. However, it is pricedjust $7I spend almost that much on my morning bagel. At that cost, I expected it to sound distorted or even damaged. I anticipated frequent dropouts. I expected the frequencies to be as balanced as a tightrope walker suffering from severe vertigo. Instead, it was just unremarkable – weak praise that isn't really too harsh considering the price.
Trapped in the center with the WGO Bluetooth Speaker
When I first started using the WGO, I'll confess I winced a bit. The bass doesn't really hold back; instead, it folds up and waits for the referee to declare it out. Listening toMusic Matters (Axwell Remix)By Faithless, the typically energetic kick drum sounded as if someone was hitting a squash ball against the wall—the bass seemed to plunge off a cliff steeper than El Capitan. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the hats also lacked sharpness and clarity, although this issue wasn't as severe as in the lower frequencies.
Honestly, this sounds not very impressive. So why am I being so lenient? Because in the mid-range it somewhat makes up for it. Starting upCirrusby Bonobo, much of the track's clarity is found in the mid-range, where the WGO feels most at ease—the repeating thumb pianos that propel much of the song sounded sharp and prominent, while the percussion still had space to stand out.
Playing some of his go-to testing tracks, I found the same applies to vocal-heavy mixes. For example, listening to Paul Simon’sDiamonds on the Bottom of Her ShoesHis voice rose above the mix, while the African percussion continued to cut through with notable accuracy. Indeed, the bass guitar sounds somewhat vague, as if it's coming from deep below, like from the bottom of a well, but it isn't completely devoid of energy.
Although the WGO Bluetooth Speaker's sound isn't as harsh as I anticipated, its design definitely met my expectations. It certainly feels like it's made from $7 worth of materials. The grille is at least made of metal - although it's not the most durable one I've come across - but the rest of the body is the kind of cheap plastic I usually associate with children's toys rather than audio devices. Visually, though, it looks a lot like theAnker Soundcore 2, so if you don't mind the reduced durability, this is a great way to achieve that appearance for significantly less money
Honestly, if you have even a little concern for quality, you won't want to purchase the WGO. Although it's less expensive than any other product available, you can obtain significantly more for only a small additional cost. For instance, theTribit Xsound Plus 2priced at $59.99 / £59.99 but provides a wider range of frequencies. Alternatively, if you're looking for the deep bass impact that the WGO cannot deliver, the $79.95 / £49.99 option is available.JBL Clip 5is more inclined to provide the results.
However, there is a gap in the market for a device such as this, and it's not intended for individuals like me. I recall being in my early teens—just barely—and my two main requirements for speakers were A: portable and B: inexpensive, with the £15 / $12 I had in my pocket at the time. I wasn't concerned about audio quality because I couldn't afford it; what I needed was sound that wasn't actively unpleasant but that I could access with my limited means.
That's precisely where the WGO Bluetooth Speaker belongs. And I'm somewhat pleased it's available for those who require it.
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