Review: Blueant M1 Bluetooth Speaker System

I love it when my iPhone toting friends start describing why their phone is the superior device on the smartphone market. My typical response is going through the list of things that my Tilt does that their precious iPhone does not. The primary weakness that I tend to bring up is the lack of A2DP (Bluetooth stereo audio) support.

We here at WMExperts have reviewed several accessories that support the A2DP Bluetooth profile, ranging from headphones to audio gateways intended to stream audio through your home stereo. One type of accessory that is just now starting to pick up steam among accessory manufacturers are Bluetooth enabled speaker systems, like Blueant’s M1.

Stick around for the juicy details.

Blueant is one of the premier makers of Bluetooth accessories. Their M1 Bluetooth speaker system is designed along the same vein as some of the premium speaker docks for Apple’s iPods from manufacturers such as Klipsch and Bose. The basic idea of the system is to allow for high quality audio through a compact, portable system. The $159.95 price point is competitive to those same speaker docks.

Build

This speaker system is just over a foot long and its height and depth are mere inches (12.2 x 3.50 x 2.55). The construction is solid, with the speakers angled slightly upward as the system sits on a desk surface or table. The front of the device features volume and playback controls, while the back has ports for power and line in (to support devices with a standard 3.5mm audio port).

The playback controls work with the AVRCP standard with one minor exception. The volume control on the speakers does not affect the volume level on your Windows Mobile device itself, but amplifies whatever signal is being streamed from your phone.

The M1 features a NiMh battery that allows 3-10 hours (depending on volume levels) of music playback without being plugged in to a power source. An LED on the rear gives you feedback on the status of the battery while charging.

Sound

While the M1 isn’t going to win any battles against any high end audio systems, its 28 watts RMS (2x8 for the stereo speakers, 12 for the internal subwoofer) is enough to listen to any type of music. The audio output isn’t enough to rattle any windows, but it’s perfect for music playback in a work environment and has enough thump to sate my addiction to bass.

Conclusion

My biggest problem with the M1 is the amount of drool that has accumulated on my desk from jealous coworkers, other than that I really don’t see a flaw. I use the M1 all the time with PocketTunes Deluxe on my Tilt. If the $159.95 price tag doesn’t scare you off, I would add the M1 to your list of must have accessories. Head on over to the WMExperts store and get yours today.