Beats lastly realized it used to make audio system, too. The Apple-owned audio model launched its final speaker, Capsule+, round a decade in the past, and lately got here out with its successor, Capsule, in June.

The Capsule is priced at $150 and I couldn’t assist however examine it to the recently-released $130 Sony Ult Discipline 1 all through my testing. It has the identical tablet form design, a mono output system, and a mid-range worth that targets non-audiophiles who need first rate, room-filling sound for picnics, mountain climbing, or solo listening.

Beats Capsule Overview: Design

Wouldn’t be my best choice for a mountain climbing journey.

Design-wise, you possibly can inform Beats tried to maximise portability on the Capsule. It contains a beneficiant quantity of shock-resistant rubber together with silicon, and a protracted lanyard that may loop onto your backpack for a mountain climbing journey. The Capsule can be rated IP67, which is the best stage of mud resistance you will get and virtually the best water resistance (IP68 is the best). It checks all of the containers and would even be adequate for the typical shopper who needs to hold some massive audio with them in a small package deal to locations just like the seashore or park.

However in the event you’re somebody who likes to all the time take your speaker all over the place you go (me), you’d in all probability be extra snug taking the Ult Discipline 1 on an journey. It’s additionally rated IP67 however sports activities a significantly extra rugged look and an total sturdier-looking physique. I like that its Kind-C charging port is roofed with a rubberized flap to stop water from getting inside. The uncovered USB-C port on the Beats Capsule, in distinction, would barely concern me if I’m on the seashore or across the pool.

Each audio system characteristic the lanyard, however Sony does it a lot better. The lanyard on the Ult Discipline 1 is far thicker, appears extra sturdy and strong, and in addition gives an extra loop alongside the physique of the speaker that doubles as a deal with while you’re taking it on the go. The Ult Discipline 1 can be noticeably lighter at 650g versus the Capsule, which weighs 680g.

Beats Capsule Overview: Battery Life

Twice of what you’d get on a speaker this measurement.

Although design may be the one space the place the Capsule outshines the Ult Discipline 1. By way of battery life, the Capsule lasts a whopping 24 hours, whereas the Discipline 1 provides up after 12 hours. My utilization of the Capsule has been sporadic over a few weeks, and I nonetheless haven’t needed to cost it but. It additionally options a couple of bells and whistles that different audio system on this vary—the Ult Discipline 1, and Sonos Roam 2— don’t supply. You get lossless audio over a USB-C connection so you possibly can take pleasure in hi-res audio whereas the speaker is linked to your laptop computer or different appropriate units. I felt a slight improve in audio, however not sufficient for me to be tethered to a wire after I can go wi-fi.

I’m additionally glad about Beats lastly focusing on Android customers and introducing the identical native options for it because it does for iOS. The Capsule gives the identical one-touch connectivity with each methods in addition to a Discover My (for iOS) for Discover My Machine (for Android) possibility. Following the EU mandate, Beats has additionally moved from a lightning port on the Capsule’s predecessor to a USB-C port on the Capsule, which additional eases compatibility with non-Apple units.

Beats Capsule Overview: Sound

Higher for high-end than bass.

Beats guarantees a brand new, revamped racetrack woofer that apparently pushes 90% extra air for extra highly effective bass. After listening to some Fred Once more on each audio system, I might nonetheless advocate the Ult Discipline 1 in the event you’re into the sort of overpowering bass that typically takes over different components of your orchestra. Even with its bass enhance button off, the Capsule delivers wealthy and highly effective low-end sound. Some bass-heavy tracks may come off a bit of thick or overbearing, however you possibly can merely select to show it down in such instances.

The Capsule performs higher within the mids (or vocals) and treble. The vocals observe that’s layered onto “Marea” sounded a lot clearer on the Capsule. The orchestra didn’t sound clustered and featured adequate house for every of its components to shine by itself. Beats declare its tweeter has been upgraded to supply crisp highs and wealthy mids and it is a declare I might attest to after jamming to a couple treble-heavy songs.

One other fancy characteristic that the Capsule is surprisingly beneficiant sufficient to offer in its modest price ticket is Amplify and Stereo Modes. You possibly can pair two Capsules for upgraded sound in Amplify Mode the place it does precisely what the identify of the mode suggests: present louder sound. Or you possibly can put them in Stereo Mode the place the audio system act as left and proper outputs. I attempted the modes on the pair of Capsules Beats despatched to us, and so they had been extraordinarily simple to arrange. You deliver the 2 audio system shut to one another and long-press the multi-function button on the speaker to allow or cycle between them. I can think about Amplify Mode coming in useful throughout a home celebration the place you possibly can place two audio system in two completely different rooms.

Beats Capsule Overview: Verdict

I imagine the Capsule is a modestly-priced speaker that gives a lot greater than you’d anticipate from it. It additionally has seemingly no premium for being made by Apple, generally known as the Apple Tax, which is shocking. At simply $150, it options spectacular high-end and mids, a bunch of portability-focused options, and a few frills such because the Amplify and Stereo Modes or the lossless audio over USB-C. There are punchier low-end options on the market for a similar worth so I wouldn’t advocate the Capsule for simply the bass. The 24-hour battery life is greater than double what you get on comparable audio system on this vary (10-15 hours) and the brand new Android compatibility options lengthen the target market who wish to carry round a small speaker that may produce some massive audio.