Armor Plus Mpow Bluetooth Speaker
An extremely rugged and waterproof portable speaker designed for the outdoors.
The Mpow Bluetooth speaker pumps out a huge sound, has an impressive 22 hours of playtime and a USB output for charging mobile devices.
Highlights
- Bluetooth 4.0 and AUX playback
- 22 Hours Playtime and Handsfree
- USB output for charging Smartphones
- 2 x 8W powerful speaker drivers
- IPX5 Water Resistance
- Lanyard and carry pouch
Pros and Cons
Where to Buy?
| MBS7 Mpow Bluetooth speaker |
Amazon Marketplace | $ |
view |
1Design and Build Quality
The Armor Plus comes in a plain box with moulded foam protection inside – not that it needs it!. Included with the Bluetooth speaker is a user guide, USB charging cable, AUX cable, lanyard, and a very nice drawstring pouch.
It’s similar in size and shape to a regular house brick but with chamfered corners. The front and back surfaces have a recessed pin-hole mesh grill to protect the speaker drivers and rear bass radiator.
Further protection is provided by a tough plastic trim that’s bolted over the mesh to absorb impact when dropped.
There’s a rubberized finish around the entire speaker featuring neat rebated lines that provide excellent grip when handled.
All the manual controls are found on the top surface. Uncommonly there are seven individual buttons. Most Bluetooth speakers will use long press actions to double up the volume and track skip controls. I much prefer them separated like they are on the Armor Plus.
The access ports are well protected by a large rubber flap on the right side of the speaker. Underneath is a micro USB input for recharging the device and a regular USB port which can provide emergency power to mobile devices.
Additionally, there’s also a 3.5mm auxiliary port, a factory reset pinhole, and four battery indicator lights to display the remaining charge.
| MBS7 Armor Plus |
Matte black | 33 x 12.2 x 9.2 cm | 1.2kg (2.6lbs) |
2Features and Specs
The Mpow Armor Plus has some impressive features when compared to similar priced Bluetooth speakers. With a large 5200mAh internal battery, the Mpow can last 22 hours on a single charge. This large battery can also be utilised as a Powerbank to provide an emergency charge to your mobile devices. While I’ve seen this feature on Bluetooth speakers before, it’s usually a fairly low output. The Armor Plus, however, puts out a decent 2 Amps which should allow you to charge larger devices such as an iPad.
| Version 4.0 |
10M (33 feet) | 22 Hours | 3-4 Hours |
Mpow specified a Bluetooth range for the Armor Plus of 66 feet (20 metres) on the Amazon product page – I think this is an oversight. The range is a solid 10 metres (33 feet) which is what you’d expect from a Bluetooth 4.0 device.
A notable feature that I’ve not come across before is the EQ toggle. It’s supposedly meant for switching between indoor and outdoor environments. To my ears, it simply drops and raises the low-end by a small amount.
My six-year-old son had no trouble spotting the difference – an audiophile in the making!
3Sound Quality
This is certainly where the Mpow Armor Plus shines. The dual 8W speaker drivers and rear passive radiator kick out-out an impressive volume with a surprisingly clear sound quality. I also like how well balanced the sound remains throughout its volume range.
As always, audio performance needs to be gauged by the price of the speakers. At its current price, the Mpow Armor is up there with the best. The volume is great and the bass feels punchy. Having the ability to drop the lows with the EQ button is also handy, especially if you have the speaker placed close to a wall.
4Verdict
I can highly recommend the Mpow Bluetooth speaker to anyone looking for a robust and waterproof portable speaker in this price range. The only reason I can see to look for an alternative would be if weight is a major factor in your decision.
I occasionally go on long hikes, for those trips, I’d certainly reach for a smaller and lighter Bluetooth speaker. For camping, beach excursions or working outdoors, the Mpow Armor Plus would definitely be my number one choice.
| MBS7 Mpow Bluetooth speaker |
Amazon Marketplace | $ |
view |
To see more products from Mpow, visit their website or check out their Amazon Store.
I hope you found the review useful. If you did, please share it socially or please leave a comment below
Tough looking speaker, any signs of rust on the front mesh?