Jabra Solemate review

Decent enough, but for the money we'd want better sound Tested at £150

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Decent enough, but for the money we'd want better sound

Pros

  • +

    Good battery life

  • +

    Speakerphone mode

  • +

    Rugged design

Cons

  • -

    Treble is a little bright

  • -

    Short leash on volume

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Jabra straddles the space between portable music speakers and more business-orientated ‘speakerphones’ and headsets, and this Solemate is a good example.

A portable Bluetooth speaker that’s good for around eight hours’ playback when fully charged via USB, it can also switch to speakerphone mode and take voice calls via its built-in mic.

As a package it’s clearly aiming to flag up its portability with a fairly rugged design, attached carry handle, bundled bag and even an integrated 3.5mm cable.

But it’s Bluetooth wireless connectivity that brings the Solemate alive. It connects easily – just hold the Bluetooth button.

Jabra Solemate: Sound qualityThe volume of sound produced is decent: the Jabra sounds bigger than it looks and produces genuine hints of bass, but treble notes are a little bright.

Crank up the volume – don’t worry, you won’t bother the neighbours – and it starts to toughen up and lose composure.

All told, it’s fine – but for £150, we feel it should sound a bit better.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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