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As is the beauty of Bluetooth it’s fairly simple to pair devices with the Boombox, provided said device supports the aforementioned profile. Once your device and the Boombox have found each other all you need do is enter ‘0000’ as the pin and you’re your ready to make sweet, sweet music.

Unfortunately, we found that the Bluetooth range wasn’t as impressive as we would have hoped. Audio began to cut out at five metres using a Sony K800i, though when closer there were no appreciable problems. This makes streaming music from a PC in another room unlikely, though for all other scenarios it’s no great hardship.

To test the overall sound quality of the Boombox we used a variety of devices, including a mobile phone connected via Bluetooth, an iPod via the line-in and a PC using the line-in. And, overall, one can’t help but be impressed by the Parrot Boombox.

The Boombox sounded far warmer and clearer compared to the muddier iPod Hi-Fi, while pushing the volume higher also resulted in impressive results with the 60W digital amplifier reducing the level of distortion. Using Bluetooth the quality was very decent too, with minor compression on the high-range the only noticeable problem and the overall clarity was more than sufficient for casual listening.

High and mid-range clarity was excellent, and the Boombox produced a nicely balanced sound. Bass, though always warm and well defined, did a lack a little punch but for speakers such as these that’s no great surprise and isn’t a source of real complaint.

Moreover, when you compare the Boombox to its alternatives it comes out well. The £150 price is a good one, wedging it between the iPod Hi-Fi and the Acoustic Authority iPod Speaker Dock, which we still consider to be an excellent buy especially now they’re available for as little as £81. What they both lack, however, is Bluetooth, and this feature puts the Boombox in a privileged position providing easier connectivity to phones and other Bluetooth enabled devices.

Verdict

If you use your phone as an MP3 player and want something to play your music on then the Parrot Boombox is an excellent option. Sound quality was excellent, besting the iPod Hi-Fi comfortably with little loss of quality when streaming via Bluetooth. The only caveat is the slightly disappointing Bluetooth range, though this will only affect you if you plan on streaming music from another room. Otherwise it’s a smart, stylish and great sounding addition to your living room.

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