Wireless acoustics InterStep SBS-160: reviews, instructions. Blutuz Column

In the modern world, music has become a familiar and integral part of life for most people. In view of this, an increasing number of portable gadgets are created, allowing you to listen to music tracks anywhere and anytime. Some of them are quite trivial, while others are a product of futuristic art. Sometimes the manufacturer decides to combine several functions, and as a result, something practical and unusual is produced, like a portable speaker with a battery for charging any gadgets of the Interstep SBS-160, which is underscored by the practicality of such a design. Let's consider the characteristics of such a tandem, distinguishing features, and then analyze the user's reviews to conclude whether it is worth buying this model and under what conditions it is best to use it.

What to look for when choosing

To make a choice in favor of this or that gadget often forces its price. However, sometimes it is not necessary to save on quality or comfort during operation. The same rules apply to such devices that can not be called vital, for example, Interstep SBS-160 portable speakers, the price of which may seem somewhat high for some, and is about 5 thousand rubles.

It should immediately be determined in what conditions the gadget will be used. If these are hikes or bike trips, then the model, which became the hero of today's review, will be perfect for such purposes due to its characteristics, which we will analyze a little later.

Important will be the weight and size of the device, because at long distances to carry an extra load on itself is not always pleasant. Therefore, when making a choice, always try to find the golden mean between the power of sound, autonomy and external dimensions.

Factory outfit and appearance of the portable speaker

Having received in the store on hand a box with Interstep SBS-160 Gray, you can see that it is made of plain white cardboard, decorated with a laminated branded orange strip. On its sides is all sorts of information, including the main features, as well as detailed characteristics of the gadget. In the upper part there is a hinge on which the package can be hung in the store or for transportation.

Inside there is a large amount of seal, which indicates the manufacturer's desire to protect the device as much as possible during transportation. It divides directly the very column Interstep SBS-160 Red and a small box located inside, in which all accessories and documents fit. The set of accessories was slightly larger than that of similar devices, and consists of an AUX cable for playing music through the line input; A carabiner for hanging, for example, on a backpack; As well as a micro-USB cable, which can be used both for charging the heavy built-in battery of the column itself and for other devices when the gadget is used as a power bank.

On sale there are columns of orange and black. Everyone can choose one that suits him. The body is in the form of a cylinder. As practice has shown, this is the most practical solution at the moment, since it allows to combine good sound characteristics and compact case.

In the case of the bluetooth-column a metal ring is built in, designed to suspend the column behind the carbine. In addition, it is possible to purchase additional attachments, for example, on the bicycle frame. On the case there is a rubber door, behind which are located all the interface connectors.

IPX5 protection - what it is

On the web, you can often find feedback about this column, that she did not survive the pouring rain or even swimming in the pond. However, all of them unreasonably criticize the manufacturer, because he did not promise that such an impact can not hurt her. In fact, this standard of protection, which has a portable column Interstep SBS-160 can guarantee only that the device is not afraid of random drops, splashes or the ingress of sand particles.

That is, the column is able to survive an accidental short-term exposure to a jet from the shower, water that shatters from a shaking dog nearby after bathing, or sand that gets inside after the storm, but no more. Therefore, it is strongly discouraged to put "survivability experiments", as they may end up hitting the store behind a new device.

Control

To configure and manage a small keyboard, located on the side face. The manufacturer has ensured that it has a pleasant bluish illumination, which makes it possible to use the column in hikes even in total darkness. Buttons are not so much, and it will not be difficult to understand them, because standard pictograms are used that have not changed for several decades.

Separately it is necessary to highlight a button with a lightning bolt. After reading about the Interstep SBS-160 review, you can not understand what it's for, and it's an activator of one of the key functions. Since the column has a second purpose, namely the ability to charge other devices from the built-in powerful battery, this function must be somehow turned on. It is for this purpose that an additional key is needed, when pressed, voltage is applied to the built-in USB port. This function is automatically disabled if no output is detected, indicating full charge or no connected gadget.

Despite the fact that the buttons themselves are not sensory, this can not be called a minus. On the contrary, they are much easier to press in the field gloves, and in general they look more reliable.

The disadvantage, perhaps, is the lack of a display that would allow you to visualize the current mode and other parameters. So, without it, managing the tracks reproduced through the built-in card reader is quite problematic. In other respects, the Interstep SBS-160 wireless speaker, which can be reset using the answer button on the call, has friendly controls.

Sources of sound

Here the user of the bluetooth-column has a smart choice. So, if there are no additional gadgets, you can listen to music using the built-in FM radio. Do you consider blasphemy to use good acoustics for this purpose? Install a memory card with MP3 files recorded in advance and listen to music, especially as the audio is decoded fairly qualitatively. However, as mentioned above, you have to reconcile with the order of tracks that the gadget will choose, because with the help of controls you can only switch to the next or previous one. The spread of folders is also ignored, all music is combined into one large multi-thousand playlist.

If such an order of things does not suit, then you can connect any source of sound, for example an MP3 player, using a bundled cable. Or do without cables, using a phone or a player with a built-in Bluetooth module. It should be noted that in the Interstep SBS-160 column, which will be reviewed at the end of the article, there is a "snake" version 4.0, so there will be no problems with connecting several devices at the same time.

Battery and autonomy

The main feature of this portable speaker is the presence of a volumetric built-in battery, the capacity of which is 6000 mAh. This is enough not only to power two powerful speakers, but also for recharging phones, tablets and other gadgets.

As the manufacturer assures, this element, if you do not spend its charge on charging other devices, enough to listen to music through the AUX-input at an average volume for 14-16 hours. As for the transfer of audio via Bluetooth, you will have to accept that the wireless speaker Interstep SBS-160 will work only 8 hours at maximum volume.

And yet, these are quite good indicators, because other manufacturers are often far from such values. Do not forget about the power of the built-in audio system, which generates a fairly high power consumption.

Audio system

As some experts note, this column was designed in such a way that the effect of the presence of a subwoofer was created, although physically it does not. For quite a powerful, but clear sound, there are two branded speakers, each of which has a power of 8 watts. In addition to the fact that the total power is quite high, passive resonators are arranged in the case, amplifying the sound and creating a sense of surround sound.

When listening, even at maximum volume, there is no desire to reduce it due to distortions, since they simply do not exist. The basses are quite deep, but with medium frequencies a little miscalculation, as a result of which they are not enough, and it is difficult to disassemble the sound of individual instruments. The rest of this column is enough to sound a forest camp broken in the forest without unnecessary strain and strain.

Use as a headset

Strangely enough, the manufacturer has laid the possibility of talking on the phone with the help of this column. It even has a built-in microphone. This is strange because in the Interstep SBS-160 there is no audio output to the headphones, and the conversation automatically ceases to be personal, becoming accessible to everyone listening. Whatever it was, if you decide to talk through the column, it will not be a problem due to the presence of a rather sensitive built-in microphone.

The only situation in which such a function can come in handy is when using the column as an acoustic bike system. In the separately purchased key fob that is mounted on the steering wheel, there is also a microphone, as well as answer and end buttons. Especially appreciate the cyclists can another button that is not on the column itself. This is a button that includes a fairly powerful horn signal, not to hear which is simply unrealistic.

Positive feedback about the column

In general, the Interstep SBS-160 column received fairly high ratings from different users, and this makes it the market leader in this segment. Here are listed not all the positive aspects, underlined by grateful buyers:

• High-quality sound . Designers and developers have tried to maximize, as far as the laws of physics allow, to assemble a compact case and to place in it a powerful acoustic system capable of pleasing high-quality sound, revealing almost all frequencies. There are small flaws, but you can close your eyes if you do not classify yourself as a musical gourmet. In the rest, the sound is clean, without unpleasant rales and distortions.
• Robust housing . The column is intended for those who lead an active lifestyle, which means that it must withstand physical influences. Some users have already checked this property, accidentally or specially. And the column with honor has withstood the fall, which shows its preparedness for extreme situations.
• Moisture and dust protection. The protection standard specified by the developers fully justifies itself and allows the column to remain operative after a brief contact with water or dust (not immersion in water, namely contact with splashes). For those who want full moisture protection, there are also such models, but their cost is an order of magnitude higher.
• A capacious battery. The battery life, although it does not seem too high, is actually almost record for this size. The 6000 milliampere battery is good for its task and provides up to 8 hours of operation at maximum load. As they say about Interstep SBS-160 reviews, this time is quite enough for any, even the longest walk, and the column is charged when there is a powerful charging unit quite quickly.
• Application as a power bank. Sometimes the need to charge a smartphone can be higher than the need for listening to music. It is in such situations that the column can come to the rescue, because its built-in battery is enough to fully or fully charge any of the modern phones or smartphones 3 times or 3 times.

These are the main positive aspects highlighted by users in their reviews. However, there are a number of negative aspects that may seem insignificant, but they should also be mentioned.

Negative aspects from user reviews

Among the minuses, one can clearly identify only one problem that most users of this column face. It is a poor level of reception of radio stations through the built-in FM radio. However, as the buyers themselves note, when they write about Interstep SBS-160 reviews, this function has to be used very rarely, and this does not bring much discomfort. Some even wondered why it is needed in a modern electronic device.

Of the minuses, you can still allocate quite a lot of weight, but it is due to the built-in powerful battery, and get rid of it simply will not give the laws of physics. Therefore, especially for those who consider this column to be heavy, the manufacturer has released light versions with smaller batteries.

Conclusion

As the reviewed reviews showed , the Interstep SBS-160 acoustics , the review of which you were able to read, is almost ideal and may suit most ordinary users. There are some disadvantages, but they are mostly insignificant. Advantages are clearly visible and do not need additional explanations. Additional accessories that can be purchased show that the manufacturer tried to achieve the maximum versatility of the gadget, but did not increase its cost for each customer, in compulsory mode, including them in the kit.

A special plus is a nice design, a well thought out case and a control system. With this column, there will be no problems even for those who have not encountered such devices before, and the detailed Interstep SBS-160 instruction will answer all the questions.

If you decide to purchase the first portable speaker in your life, then this model will be a good choice, combining almost all the positive aspects and practical developments gathered by the manufacturer during the years of creating such devices.