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Back in my day, the size of your speakers said a little something about the quality of your audio system. In other words, I'm old. Seriously though, you no longer need a big honkin' speaker system. All of the tunes that today’s music lover could ever want or need are typically packed inside a smartphone. That said, smartphones sound kind of horrible.
For your budding audiophile, eKids has developed the Robo iHome RI-26 Rechargeable Speaker.
This portable speaker looks like the perfect match for any Android device. And yes, there's a bit or irony that the word "iHome" is emblazoned on the front of a device that looks like Android's mascot. However, that appearance is just coincidental – or maybe it's just to entice the kiddie clientele that the company is going for with this product.
After all, who doesn’t love a rockin' robot?
With an MSRP of $24.99, the Robo is pretty simple. It's a single speaker, with an on/off switch, a mini-USB port and moving arms – because they can, I guess. Sadly, 25 bucks doesn't buy any type of wireless streaming, so there's no Bluetooth or AirPlay support. Instead, the Robo is designed to work with any device with a 3.5mm jack. Smartphones, gaming devices, CD players, and even an old cassette player; the Robo doesn't discriminate.
It also doesn't take up a lot of room. Measuring a mere 4.5 inches high, the Robo is perfect for a dresser or desktop. Inside the package, the Robo comes packed with a multitasking cord and minimal instructions. That's because this type of product requires very little instruction.
One end of that cord is a mini USB plug designed to go into the Robo; the other end splits into a standard USB connector to power up the Robo and a 3.5mm audio plug for hooking up an audio source.
Out of the box, the Robo is ready to rock, but you're probably going to want to charge it up first. On a full charge, eKids says that the Robo can get up to 10 hours of playtime, depending on the volume. It certainly delivers on that claim and then some, making it perfect for a day at work or play. Once that battery starts to die, so will the sound quality. Robo's eyes are designed to be an indicator, so if those blue peepers start to dim, it's time for a charge.
Typically, I would power up the speaker overnight just for good measure. During testing, I used it with my Kindle Fire and an iPhone 4, cranking out Spotify, SiriusXM, audio books, and everything else.
Now, Robo isn't some high-powered speaker, but it definitely offers an improvement over that tinny sound that comes out of most portables. Just don't expect the Robo to rock all that hard. The Robo doesn't offer volume control. That's done through your audio source. At one point, I cranked the iPhone as high as the volume would go, which was just a wee bit too much for Robo's capabilities. However, about two clicks down seemed to be the sweet spot and just enough for my home office, bedroom, kitchen and other small areas.
It's unfortunate that the Robo doesn't have wireless features. That said, it's hard to expect too many bells and whistles for such a low price. A few flashing lights probably would have been appreciated by this product's true target audience. For the money, though, this would make a nice little stocking stuffer. If your wee ones have any type of portable device, the Robo certainly provides a nice little audio boost without rocking the house too hard.
eKids provided me with the Robo iHome RI-26 Rechargeable Speaker for this review.
