Bluetooth technology has its critics, but one of the best things about it is you can take your music with you everywhere. And this FUGOO Sport Review is going to show we mean ‘everywhere.’ The Fugoo Sport portable Bluetooth speaker proves we are no longer tied to our system at home. Now we just take our music with us – anywhere…
(4.5 / 5)FUGOO Sport Overview
Fugoo makes Bluetooth speakers, which are, to say the least, rugged items. We see a lot of manufacturers claiming all sorts of wondrous attributes for their speakers for the active person. The Fugoo Sport Bluetooth wireless speaker goes everywhere.
On motorbikes, bikes, up mountains in the water on kayaks and paddleboards. They’ll probably even go where you might not want to. With long battery life and capable of handling mud, water, and sand, it is ready for most things.
So, let’s take a closer look…
The Build
As we said in our introduction, some manufacturers claim all kinds of wondrous attributes for their’ activity speakers’. Let’s explore the Figoo Sport credentials a little more.
It has been given an IP67 rating. That isn’t the highest you can achieve, but it does mean that it can be submerged in water, salt or otherwise, for up to thirty minutes. This at a depth of no more than 3 feet. Within those guidelines, no damage will occur to any of its internals.
While many, not all, manufacturers claim their speakers are waterproof, they are actually water-resistant – there is a big difference. The Fugoo Sport speaker is waterproof. So in the pool, strapped to your boat – providing, you don’t sink, or on your board it is fine.
This rating also means that it is sand, snow, and dustproof and also includes mud and other such substances. Riding your bike in the pouring rain on a mud track with it flying in all directions? No problems at all.
The build is rugged, as you would expect. Inside it is made from tough plastic. It is covered on the outside with a robust and hard-wearing cover that is interchangeable. And measures 4 inches by 7 by 9 inches and weighs just over a pound. It has six drivers with Neodymium magnets on four sides of the speaker. This gives you a 360-degree circle of sound.
One of the exceptional design points of this speaker is its ability to be a good speakerphone. It has a built-in microphone that gives a better than average sound for this type of unit. It has a full-duplex transmission. The waterproofing means you don’t need to get out of the pool to answer the phone. Conversations are, of course, hands-free. You can also call up Siri or Google Now.
The battery life is quite staggering. The manufacturers claim 40 hours. This will depend upon the level of volume you use, of course. But at half volume, you should be getting 40 hours. You can charge the speaker with the built-in micro USB. This is located on one end of the speaker. The speaker can be used whilst it is being charged. This USB port won’t charge other devices,
Not in many ways. A remote control unit would have been useful, and the controls located on the top of the speakers are basic, to say the least. Note deal-breaking problems at all. Well-made with good features and a rugged design. Just about all you need for a speaker to involve in your activities.
Also see: Anker Soundcore Review
The Connections
Bluetooth compatibility is included, and it has the same reception distance, 30 feet, as most units. It is compatible with Apple and Android devices. Obviously, to use this speaker, the devices must be Bluetooth enabled.
We have already mentioned Siri and Google Now accessibility, which is these days seen as a necessity with Bluetooth speakers. It also has an Aux socket that will connect to any device with the same connection, including Smartphones, MP3 players, etc.
The Bluetooth connections are good most of the time but unfortunately can be a little unstable at times. For listening to music using Bluetooth is adequate but rarely is better than using a ‘wire.’ This speaker has that option, and it might be the better option in our view.
The Sound
The critical area and what most people are interested in. The overall sound is acceptable, given what it is. These portable speakers can never produce what could be called a great sound. The best you can hope for is that it is adequate.
We wouldn’t say that this speaker excels in the sound department. It does deliver sound at nearly, but not quite 360 degrees, so in that respect, it is good. The downside is it is really quite quiet. If you were at a noisy beach, it might struggle and especially at 50% power to maintain its full battery life. It generates a meager 6 watts of RMS power, so that is clearly a little underpowered,
The bass is present in the mix, and the high frequencies are not too overpowering. Usually, Bluetooth speakers do not have great sound. This is partly to do with Bluetooth itself.
Generally speaking, the more speakers you have, the better. This, of course, has six, so you might think there would be a difference. It is only really noticeable when using it wired. That is where the sound seems to be better balanced.
This speaker did earn a few points with its build and design, but it loses a few in the sound department.
FUGOO Sport Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highly versatile.
- 100% waterproof and shockproof.
- Incredible battery life.
Cons
- Slightly heavier and larger than most outdoor Bluetooth speakers.
- The bass response could be better.
- Nowhere near the loudest option available.
Other Excellent Bluetooth Options
Need Bluetooth? No problem at all, check out our reviews of the Best Solar Powered Bluetooth Speakers, the Best Bluetooth Speakers with Radio, the Best Bluetooth Headphones under 100 Dollars, and the Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones currently available.
What We Think
The Fugoo sport Bluetooth wireless speaker is a difficult speaker to fully assess because it will certainly depend on why it is being bought.
If so you will probably be more interested in the sound and in that respect you might be disappointed. This speaker might be remembered for some things but probably not for sound quality.
Having said that, that applies to most speakers of this kind. So when compared to similar products, it is not much better or worse. However, given the price point, you can certainly get better sounding speakers at a lower price.
If you are buying it for activities, then it does fulfill that role very well. It has all the necessary certifications to prove it will survive most things. If you are considering it for that role, then it is worth looking at.
Assuming your quality of sound level expectations is not too high. It is unlikely you are going to find a speaker that will fulfill the activity role and sound excellent as well. It doesn’t really work like that.
Firstly, as we mentioned, it is not the loudest speaker you will find. Having such a restricted volume could certainly be a problem in some circumstances. Secondly, it is not cheap, in fact, if you are buying it as an ordinary Bluetooth speaker it is quite expensive.
The third issue concerns Bluetooth. It can be unreliable at the best of times. In a speaker like this, in some situations that unreliability will be more obvious. Don’t expect a perfect, trouble-free reception. It is unlikely to happen in some circumstances.
It will suit those who are not that concerned about the volume or sound quality. And it will also be ok for those who want to take their music into places other speakers cannot go. It is well-suited and has a tough enough build to cope with that.
The Fugoo Sport portable Bluetooth speaker is an interesting product, but we feel it has a limited user range.