I love listening to podcasts in my car. Unfortunately, the vehicles I own don’t have Bluetooth speaker capability, so I’ve been forced to use the speakers on my iPhone 5s which don’t cut it. It’s like trying to listen to audio during the Knob Creek shoot. You can barely hear the audio over the ambient sound in the car.
My Mom gave my Son a gift for his birthday which turned out to be the perfect solution for me. The device is called a Boom Swimmer Jr. and its a Bluetooth speaker by Polk Audio. The entire speaker is coated in rubber which allows it to function while wet which is kinda cool.
A Beefy Little Sound Blaster With a Tail
The speaker has heft. When you turn it on it makes a base sound that vibrates your hand with an impressive amount of energy. This Bluetooth speaker is beefy and very loud for its size. Reviewers complain about the vibration and how rolls off tables if not secured. How is this an objection? A Bluetooth speaker that’s strong enough to vibrate itself off a table is incredible!
It’s Mono But Who Cares
The purpose of this speaker is to project sound in an environment where there may be other sounds that impact your ability to hear it. If you are looking to listen to books on tape or digest your favorite podcast, this Bluetooth device is perfect for the job. Use your earbuds for music. The Boom Swimmer is not optimum for music. But listening to vocal communication is ideal for the Boom Swimmer.
- It’s Shockproof – Don’t Worry About Dropping It
- It’s Dustproof – Construction site? Not a problem
- Connect it to a Window with Suction Cup Get Louder Base
- IPX7 Waterproof Rating – Submerge it Up to 3 Feet of Water
- Rechargeable Battery Lasts 8 Hours
- Get Stereo With Two
The Ultimate Bluetooth Speaker For Car Use
You can hang the Boom Swimmer from your rearview mirror, and it cranks out the sound loud enough to be heard over the ambient car noise. The rubber coating makes it resistant to temperature and the sun so leaving hang off your mirror is not a big deal in the summer months. You can even use it in the shower, but I suggest you keep tech out of the shower. It does not promote out of the box thinking.
How Can Such A Small Bluetooth Speaker Create Such Strong Base Sound?
The Boom Swimmer Jr. creates a massive base with something called a “passive radiator.” This is a fancy name for “air sealed speaker box”. It means the speaker box itself contributes to the projection of the sound. When the driver vibrates (the main speaker) the air pushes a part of the box that can move with it because the air is sealed. It’s a base amplifier. Old speakers compensated with larger boxes. It’s always better to go small. Oh snap, can you imagine how powerful a Pevey base amp would be with a passive radiator in it? Whoah!
How it Works Using a JBL Bluetooth speaker
Why Sound is Improved With Passive Radiating Speakers
- The Old School Speaker Base Hole Hole is Removed
- Air Turbulence Noise from the Base Hole is Gone
- High Frequency Escape Through the Base Hole is Gone
- Speakers Can be Smaller and Create the Same Big Base.
What Color Should You Buy?
I recommend you go with black because it’s harder to see. This is a benefit if you plan to leave it the Boom Swimmer Jr. hanging on your rearview mirror insider your car. Bright colors attract attention. You don’t want this, especially in the city.
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