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A Deep Dive Into Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt Bluetooth Speaker
It comes with mounting brackets so that you can attach it to your bike to take your tunes to the trails, or maybe your golf cart for listening to a podcast out on the links. If partying at the beach or around the pool is more your thing, you can connect multiple speakers with House Party Pairing for booming sounds. Or Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt can be used in a pair at home, or elsewhere, as left and right channels.
It’s equipped with a power bank to remotely charge your mobile devices and has an on-board microphone so that you can answer your calls hands-free. Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt is compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices including Apple and Android devices, tablets, and laptops. It’s even Voice Assistant Integrated so that you can use it with Siri or Google Assistant.
Originally released in August 2018, the latest versions of Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt have an extended battery life of up to 40 hours on a single charge. The Bluetooth range is now an incredible 100 feet.
Who’s It For?
Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt features, or even shows off, a rugged design to match your adventurous personality. Altec Lansing boasts that it’s ‘Everything-Proof’ and is ready to take on anything that is thrown it’s way. Shockproof, snowproof, dirtproof, and waterproof – it will even float. You can take it along when you’re snow-bombing the moguls, mount it on a white-water rafting trip, or just carry it onto the beach or down to the pool without a worry!
To be honest, from an audio perspective, it’s unrealistic to expect too much from a speaker this size and price, but the sound quality is good enough, especially for outdoor use. Its 7.5-watt speakers deliver a solid sound that’s not too bass-heavy and doesn’t distort at the high ranges.
But that’s kind of missing the point of the Jolt and the other models in Altec-Lansing’s LifeJacket range. You’re buying it because of lifestyle and personality – it even comes in a choice of funky colorways – rather than audio performance. So, if you want or need a fully waterproof and floating speaker, and/or one that’s protected from shock, snow, and dust, then Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt could be just the fit.
To help you decide, we took this rugged Bluetooth speaker away with us on a trip, putting it through its paces. Read on to find out what we made of it…
What We Like About Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt Bluetooth Speaker
Despite having a distinctly rugged aesthetic and functional design, we were surprised by how soft and smooth the exterior rubber material is.
It’s available in several attractive colorways, some that even accent the circumference of the face of the internal speakers with colored lights.
Even though the Jolt is one of the largest models in the LifeJacket, this Mini version is still compact enough for easy portability for anywhere you might be going. And we really do mean ANYWHERE. The speaker’s IP67 rating means it is protected from dust, snow, and can be submerged in water up to 1 meter without issue as long as you close up the port cover. It also floats, and thanks to that soft rubber body, is shockproof.
Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt has an extended battery life of up to 40 hours on a single charge. And it’s convenience as a portable travel device is further enhanced by its built-in Qi wireless charging pad, allowing you to give your Qi-enabled devices an instant wireless boost. If they’re not Qi-enabled, no problem, the built-in micro USB charging port and included cable ensure that other devices can be charged on the go!
As far as usability, it’s quick and simple to set up and pair with those to stream your favorite music. And you can do that up to 100 feet away from your device; its advanced antenna design with Bluetooth 4.2 provides greater wireless range and faster Bluetooth connection. As well as Bluetooth, Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt has a 3.5mm AUX input for wired listening, with a short audio cable is also included.
Another neat feature is the Voice Assistant Integrated ‘Just Ask’, which lets you use Google Voice Assistant or Siri, and is compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices including Apple and Android smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Plus, if you download the ‘Just Listen’ app you can unlock every feature that your Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt has to offer, customize your speaker to your liking, receive instant support, be the first to receive sale updates, and more.
As we had two speakers, we were able to pair and use them as separate left and right channels for a wider stereo soundscape. A nice touch! Similarly, we were also able to test its ‘House Party’ feature this way; albeit with only two speakers and not the multiple, up to 50, that it’s possible with.
The sound quality is pretty good considering its small size. It packs quite a punch, and with a maximum of 15 watts, it’s plenty loud enough. You won’t have any problem hearing it wherever you are. The deep bass has clarity and zero distortion thanks to its two high-sensitivity drivers. There’s a bright treble presence, which is ideal for outdoor listening; the higher frequencies can often get a little lost in an open, wall-free setting. Also, plenty of high-mid presence to keep things sharp.
The Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt basically has a mid- and high-focused sound signature, with some decent low-mid presence, although not enough deep lows to satisfy serious bass heads.
What We Don’t Like About Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt Bluetooth Speaker
The volume buttons also double as track navigation controls if held in. A little inconvenient and can occasionally result in an unintentionally skipped track.
Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt uses digital signal processing (DSP), so expect some tamping down of powerful bass frequencies when the volume is high. And when it is, it can distort at top volumes.
The DSP also sometimes makes the volume seem like it’s dipping on tracks with powerful deep bass when the levels are nearly maxed out – which is simply down to the dynamics of the mix being controlled, so that they don’t distort, but not always working. Even when it does, the dipping remains, which can be annoying. And let’s not forget, that you might need those top volumes in outdoor settings.
PROS
- Works when wet
- Nice and loud
- Bluetooth speaker system for people on the go
- Durable, waterproof, loud, and long-lasting battery. Can’t be beaten!
- Can really get loud and with minimal distortion
CONS
- Switching between different Bluetooth devices takes a bit of effort
- Not a true Google assistant device as it’s advertised, it just has a button on top that will attempt to activate the assistant on your phone. It has no “Hey Google” or handsfree support
- It doesn’t work as it should for calls and Siri – callers cannot hear you nor can Siri.
What’s Included?
The speaker system itself, mounting brackets, 1 Lithium-ion battery, wall socket power adapter, USB micro cable, Aux audio cable, user guide, and warranty card.
Overview Of Features
Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt is a rugged, rubber-bodied Bluetooth speaker. Certified IP67 rated, it’s waterproof, shockproof, snowproof, and dustproof. It comes with mounting brackets for attaching it, for example, to a bike, boat, or golf cart.
Behind the black speaker grille, two 1.5-inch neodymium drivers work with a back-firing passive bass radiator to deliver a maximum volume of 15 watts.
The top panel houses a power button and plus/minus volume controls (which work in conjunction with your mobile device’s master volume levels). The power button doubles for play/pause (you hold it to power down, tap it to play), as well as call management for the built-in speakerphone. The volume buttons also double as track navigation controls if held in.
On the back panel, a snap-shut compartment houses a built-in Qi wireless charging pad, a micro USB port for charging (a micro USB cable is included), a 3.5mm aux input for wired listening (a short audio cable is also included),
Altec Lansing also includes a wall socket power adapter (the USB cable plugs into it) for charging the Lithium-ion battery. The estimated battery life is 40 hours on a single charge, but results will vary depending on your volume levels and the mix of wired and wireless usage.
It has a Bluetooth range of 100 feet; you can use the Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt up to 100 feet away from your device. Its advanced antenna design with Bluetooth 4.2 provides a greater wireless range and faster Bluetooth connection. It’s compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices including Apple and Android smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
The ‘House Party’ feature allows you to connect with up to 50 other LifeJacket devices. You can pair them with just one other and use them as separate left and right channels.
Other features are the Voice Assistant Integrated ‘Just Ask’, which lets you use Google Voice Assistant or Siri, and the ‘Just Listen’ app to unlock every feature that your Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt has to offer.
Review Summary
With Mini LifeJacket Jolt, Altec Lansing really has provided a rugged speaker that can stand up to all that it claims, for the perfect companion for anyone who loves music AND the great outdoors.
In terms of sound, its DSP is not subtle on deep bass tracks, but the positives of this speaker are undeniable and definitely outweigh the cons. These exist mostly in their rugged, waterproof design, extended battery life, and long Bluetooth range.
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