Review on Sony SRS-XB12 Mini Bluetooth Speaker with Extra Bass - Portable Wireless Speaker for Phone Calls - Waterproof and Dustproof Travel Music Speaker - Black (SRS-XB12/B) by Joe Fulce

At the age of 71 I know a thing or two about music and how it should sound out of a speaker. I also know how it should NOT sound like. Music should sound alive and happy. Melodic and rhythmic tones shouldn't hide behind a menacing dark curtain turning it into a sloppy, muddy mess. I wanted a small portable speaker that would fit in my travel bag. The Sony SRS-XB12 got me there, but only after a long and tiring journey. YouTube is a good place to listen to speakers. Use headphones and be aware of the deplorable condition of some used home microphones. Such a small speaker has obvious limitations. I am amazed at the purity of the vocals and instruments and the natural tones of the bass. Remember that bass notes are produced by plucking the strings on a bass guitar. Even synthesized bass sounds better when it's clear and not muffled. Sony's predecessor to this speaker, the XB10, had way too much of that nasty, dirty sound. And here's another important note. Even the young hipsters of today's generation must appreciate the quality when they hear recorded sounds that no one dares to call "music". When a rapper rants about killing cops or what drugs are the coolest, maybe his fans would benefit if they could hear the lyrics clearly. (Or maybe not). Either way, Sony engineers have mastered this little gem of a speaker. Whether you prefer Dean Martin's smooth and upbeat "Magic Is the Moonlight" or Ventures' rocking knockout version of Sandy Nelson's 1962 "Let There Be Drums," this speaker will do it admirably. Even some crazy modern stuff that doesn't make sense actually sounds realistic and fun on this speaker! And understand this. To pair a Bluetooth device, all you have to do is turn it on and press and hold the power button for 3 seconds. The blue will flash and connect to your device immediately. You can even choose some awesome colors.