Braven 570 – Performance (cont.)

Then again where some will have a decision to make is battery life. Dropping from 20 to 10 hours is a sizable reduction, even if 10 hours remains reasonable. It is worth considering that you’ll get closer to seven hours on Bluetooth as well with the 10 hours indicative of wired performance. Of course if audio quality and battery life remain your primary concern then the Pasce Minirig has them both licked. It’s 15W speaker is a cut above the 650 and 570, both in terms of quality and volume, and you’ll get up to 60 hours from a charge – it remains the audiophiles’ portable speaker of choice.

If features are more your focus though the Minirig lacks Bluetooth, can’t charge your phone and won’t act as a speakerphone and in this final regard the 570 again is excellent. Calls sound clear and loud on both ends making for a substantial upgrade on your phone and giving a far better experience than the Jawbone Jambox and Beats Pill, which it also bests in audio performance.

Braven 570 – Value

So here is the biggie. Whereas the Braven 650’s major caveat is its £160 RRP the 570 comes in at £99.99 and essentially matches it barring the aluminium finish, battery capacity and AptX. Given the polymer is still robust, up to 10 hours of battery life remains reasonable and AptX isn’t vital to a pair of 40mm drivers we’d go for the 570 unless your finances are plentiful. The 570 also makes a mockery of the £170 Beats Pill and £130 Jawbone Jambox RRPs and though the Jambox can be found online for less we’d choose the 570 every time.

Of course the black horse remains the Minirig. At £90 it is the cheapest of the lot, has the best build quality and battery and audio performance are on a different level. But it is purely a wired speaker so if the Bluetooth, speakerphone and device charging of the 570 strongly appeal it won’t be in the running.

Braven 570 – Verdict

With the 570 Braven has continued the excellent work of its 650 and, in some ways, undercut it. With a 60 per cent price saving the 570 delivers near identical music and speakerphone performance in a lighter package, though at the expense of battery life, aptX compatibility and build materials. Some may wish to splash out the extra for the full fat experience, but we think the 570 hits a real sweet spot and one that will have a lot of competitors rushing back to the drawing board.

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