SoundBot SB574 Review: Can a cheap and good looking speaker cut it?

SoundBot recently announced their SB574 wireless portable speakers. Bluetooth speakers are now becoming cheap by still maintaining a good sound quality. The market is filled with Bluetooth speakers and smart speakers which makes a tough competition. However, it's not easy to find a good looking speaker under Rs. 2,000. The SB574 by Soundbot is one handsome looking speaker but will it be able to match the style in sound?

Specifications

• Built-in 3.5mm audio port for wired and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity
• Playback time: Approx. 6 hours at 75% volume
• Speaker driver: 52mm
• Passive Radiator Subwoofer: Yes
• Charging time: 4-4.5 hours
• Connection range:  33 feet
• Operating frequency: 150-18KHz
• Battery Capacity: 2000mAh
• Dimension: 7.7 in. x 2.75 in. x 2 in.
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: ≥65db
• Distortion: ≤1%

Design

The SB547 is one of the best looking Bluetooth speakers in this segment. The speaker on the front has a cloth finish, which gives it a really impressive look. On the front, you get to see the SoundBot branding as well. The speaker is housed inside a plastic body. SoundBot used a really high-quality plastic and covered it with a grey wood finish to make the speaker look much more premium.

The speaker comes fitted with rubber standoffs at the bottom to give it a good amount of grip while you are listening to music at high volumes. On the top of the speaker sits the Volume rocker and power button which also allows the speaker to get into the pairing mode. The buttons are shaped according to their actions and are embossed to the body to give a nice feel when you click them.

Sound and Performance

The sound quality of the SoundBot SB574 is very satisfying and it manages to get loud enough. The bass is a little low for the speaker's size. The highs and mids were quite impressive. However, the lows were little too low for my taste. That's just a personal preference as I prefer highs in my music.

The SB574 does not pack in a lot of features. It takes around 2-3 hours to charge the speaker enough to get at least 5-6 hours of continuous usage at around 75 percent volume. The buttons on the top are firm and have a nice clicky feel to them. The microphone in the speaker is not that great. Also, the speaker makes a beeping sound while turning on or connecting to Bluetooth devices. We felt that beeping sound to be a little annoying.

The volume on the speaker is independent of the volume on the device it plays from so that makes it a bit frustrating. We tested on multiple devices including phones and computers and the result was the same. However, the range of the Bluetooth connectivity is excellent.

Conclusion

SoundBot SB574 is available on Flipkart for Rs. 1,790. For the price point, and the sound quality it offers, the SB574 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers in the market. If you are more of an audiophile, we'll recommend you to shell out a little more money for a better speaker. However, if the style is your thing, you won't find a better-looking speaker at this price bracket.