Polk Boom Bit wireless clip-on speaker review
Polk Boom Bit speaker
£30
Pros
- Water and dirt proof
- Great hands-free calling quality
- Strong clip
- Good price
- Neat size
Cons
- Music quality not awesome
The Polk Boom Bit has a different angle to other personal Bluetooth devices. Instead of being shoved in your ears, this clips to you.
The Boom Bit is the ideal hands-free speaker for cyclists. Being a fitness-phobe I handed this particular duty to my semi-tamed cyclist.
Take it away, David
Jay
Cycling, especially in London, means having your whits about you. It might be a great way to cover the miles but it can be dangerous. Wearing headphones means that you get music and hands-free calling. It also means that you might not be able to hear the traffic around you.
The Boom Bit enables you to take hands-free calls and hear your tunes.
Polk Boom Bit design
The Boom Bit is a small rubberised USB device. Around the rear is a steel clip, also covered in the same rubberised material.
There’s very little else to report on, aside the two buttons along one edge. These control the volume track selection and pairing.
Charging is done by a standard USB powered socket. It’s reasonably speedy – just plug it in and off it goes.
The design is really nice. It is light and easy to use. The clip is secure and it’s easy to attach to clothing or rucksack straps.
I wouldn’t be worried about it falling off and the buttons are easily accessible, even when you’re pinging along at speed.
The IPX7 waterproof enclosure really does keep water and dirt out.
Polk Boom Bit performance
Pairing
As always, instructions were ignored to start off with.
Then I had to admit defeat. To pair you need to press the + and – buttons together. Then you get an audible indicator that it is now in pairing mode. From then on it’s pretty standard.
The device is very easy to use.
The only issue I found was that the manual states a 2 second hold of + button to answer a call but I found clicking it twice is what works (iOS 10).
I am happy to report that there was no drop out at all when cycling.
Sound Quality
This is really good considering the size of this device. I was impressed that it is loud enough to be heard even amongst London traffic.
You cannot expect home Hi-Fi quality from this little speaker, obviously. But it is certainly good enough to keep you motivated.
Bass hunters may be left found wanting, but what do you expect from a speaker this small and this light.
Call quality is good and perhaps the Bit’s best… bit. The microphone and speaker work great together, even when going along at a good 20 kph.
The information states a 3-hour battery life. At the time of writing this, I have listened to music on it for almost an hour and all is fine.
Polk Boom Bit review conclusion
Overall, I am impressed.
This is a great little speaker and will fit the needs of people who are into fitness and cycling.
Its size means that it fits into most pockets and cycling handbar bags. Clip it on your top or the strap of a shoulder bag or backpack and you’re away.
The Boom Bit allows you to listen to music and take calls without making it too unsafe to do so.
Polk Boom Bit price and availability
You can buy the Boom Bit now for £29.99 from Amazon.co.uk.
