Tech Report – BIG JAMBOX Bluetooth Portable Speaker

Every so often, a device comes along that’s so well-designed and engineered that it transforms an entire product category. The iPod did it for the fledgling MP3 player and the iPad did it for the even younger tablet industry. However, introducing a device that sets a new benchmark for a more mature product category is a lot harder. There are usually too many established players and too much money invested for an upstart outsider to make much of a difference.

That was the situation that Jawbone faced last year when it went up against industry giants like Bose and Logitech with its revolutionary JAMBOX Bluetooth portable speaker. At just 2.25 inches high, 6 inches wide, and 1.5 inches deep, the JAMBOX was the little speaker that could. Looking stylish with an embossed geometric pattern that came in four distinct colors, the JAMBOX connected with any Bluetooth-enabled device to blast out a full and balanced sound.

Now, emboldened by the huge success of the original JAMBOX, Jawbone has come back with BIG JAMBOX, which is designed to pump out the same quality sound to a much larger audience. “With BIG JAMBOX, we utilized state-of-the-art audio technology to fill a much larger space with amazing sound without sacrificing portability,” said Hosain Rahman, CEO of Jawbone, in a press release.

While there is no question that the BIG JAMBOX is still considered portable, it is noticeably bigger than its older sibling. It no longer balances on the palm of one hand, and its 2.7lbs means it’s not quite as easy to slip it into a pocketbook or backpack without noticing the extra load.

But with the extra size comes extra flexibility. The battery can now produce up to 15 hours of continuous play on a single charge, and the extra surface area accommodates enhanced controls that allow you to play, pause and skip songs without reaching for your phone or other music source.

The BIG JAMBOX also addresses one of the few deficiencies of the original JAMBOX by allowing it to pair with multiple devices at the same time “so anyone can be the DJ,” as Jawbone puts it. The BIG JAMBOX also incorporates LiveAudio™ surround-sound technology, and can be plugged into Jawbone’s MyTALK™ web site to access exclusive content, apps, and software updates.

At $299.99, the BIG JAMBOX is priced at the high end of its class, but for that you get a state-of-the-art device that produces a huge sound that is almost unique among stand-alone portable speakers. The BIG JAMBOX is available in red dot, white wave, and graphite hex and can be purchased at Jawbone.com, as well as at Best Buy and other electronics retailers.