Minirig4

Package	Standalone	Collaborate with Other Devices
Necessary and Sufficient	Stable	The sound really is great.

　BT-compatible portable speakers are available from a variety of manufacturers, including Sony and BOSE. If you check Amazon, you’ll find Chinese-made models as well, with prices ranging from low to high. Given that, a speaker costing just under 40,000 yen is quite an expense, but I bought it because I fell in love with its design and the story behind it (Made in Bristol). As for the sound quality—which is what really matters—I feel like it delivers great bass, perhaps because the unit itself is heavy. But keep in mind that my old-timer’s ears aren’t exactly the sharpest, so take that with a grain of salt. As long as a gadget is fun to look at and touch, and has a bit of a story behind it, that’s good enough for me.

　Other than the weight, there aren’t really any drawbacks to taking it outside. What about Bluetooth? I’m a little concerned about whether it has obtained technical compliance certification, but since it can also be connected via a wired connection, those who are concerned can use that method instead. The battery life is so long that it practically functions as an external battery—in fact, I can’t even think of a reason to use it indoors.