Logitech X100 Bluetooth speaker review: Decent sound for the price and well built too

Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes and with literally hundreds of options out there, manufacturers have been trying to one-up each other with interesting looking options. Logitech’s latest, the X100 is one such eye-catcher and brings a unique design to the mix. But does it deliver good audio? Time to find out.   Design and build quality Don’t leave the Logitech X100 in an ice hockey rink as it could very easily be mistaken for a puck. Its round design is only broken by the handle, where you will see the supplied lanyard. The lanyard lets you hang the X100 on a hook or on the bed stand, but it does look a little cheap. The X100 is available in a range of peppy colours, but we received the drab looking black and grey version, which frankly begs for a bit of colour. Thankfully, there are eye-catching options such as bright teal and turquoise, blue and orange, red and maroon, and yellow and deep blue as well.   [caption id=“attachment_227506” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Many colour options[/caption]   There’s not much to speak of in terms of design here, but Logitech have managed to add a nice rubberised bottom that grips nearly every surface. If it does manage to take a tumble, don’t worry as the body can take a few thuds without any problem. Overall, the build quality is good, but the lack of any design flourish leaves a very plain impression. The only time we see any flair is in the speaker grille on top, which has a concentric pattern that breaks the monotony.   [caption id=“attachment_227502” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Rubberised bottom grips surfaces[/caption]   Build quality is also good enough for weekend trips to the beach or a trek. Even when some water sprayed on it, the X100 was good to go without any issues.   Moving anti-clockwise around the body from the LED light on top, we have the power button, the volume up, a Bluetooth button, volume down. Those are the only buttons on the X100, while a 3.5mm jack for aux connections and a microUSB port for charging round off all available points of interest around the body.   Performance The small size of the X100 belies how loud it can get. But loud is all it does as the 1.5-inch driver shows as much flexibility as a can of soda. There’s no stereo sound and we have to settle for monaural output. At its loudest, we could hear some tearing and distortion, but nothing that’s terrible.   If you are in the mood for thump-heavy tracks then look elsewhere. The ‘bassy’ opening to Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Do I Wanna Know’ sounds ruthlessly lean, which is certainly not how the song is meant to be heard. Bass is certainly a pain point for the X100.   [caption id=“attachment_227503” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  The pattern on top[/caption]   What it lacks for in bass reproduction, it more than makes up in mids and highs. The X100 managed to play the OST of The Darjeeling Limited with great detail. When it came to the Indian tracks such as Charu’s Theme from Satyajit Ray’s Charulata, the sound was bright and clear. Even at full volume, we could not detect any shrillness in the high notes.   For regular voice calls, the X100 is more than adequate, though I can never get used to talking on Bluetooth speakers. Aux output was just fine too, and the X100 connected easily to a Windows PC, Android and Windows Phone device.   Bluetooth performance was a bit shaky, especially when the speakers are in a different room than the device playing the music. Despite just one wall in the middle and being within the 30m range, we found audio cracking up and completely stopping on more than one occasion. This may be a deal breaker if you are really fussy about not being in the same room as your device.   Battery life Logitech rates the X100 for five hours of battery life, but it lasted way beyond that during our testing. We got around six-and-a-half-hours of playback when not using it constantly. Recharging the battery is simple enough since it accepts microUSB. It takes a little over an hour to charge it back fully, but your mileage may vary, depending on your location.   [caption id=“attachment_227504” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Excellent battery life[/caption]   Verdict and price in India Yes, so the X100 is not for audiophiles, but it’s not meant to be. If you have sharp ears, you will notice the lack of depth. And that’s completely fine, because at Rs 2,995 we can wholeheartedly recommend it. It looks unique enough to become a conversation starter, though not as cool looking as **the JBL Pulse** .   For casual listening of Bollywood tracks, power ballads, and pop music, this one is a great option. However, we would suggest spending a few bucks more for an equally portable Jabra Solemate Mini has **better sound quality and looks more distinguished** , without having a very high price.