Singapore-born company Xmi Pte Ltd has made a comeback with the X-mini Clear. On first glance, this portable sound system looks way bigger than its predecessors at 218 mm x 89.5 mm x 112 mm and boxed in a rather clear sarcophagus.
Moreover, this not-so-minuscule speaker is somewhat weighty at 920 g and seemingly made heavier by its cumbersome power cables.
Nevertheless, the X-mini Clear allows for mobility, in particular at a 10 hour chalet party and no more, then it is back to a three-hour charging period for the enablement of the same playback time. During playtime, this fabby can steadily stream your favourite tunes from most, if not all smart devices, via Bluetooth, or NFC, or otherwise a 3.5 mm Male-to-Male Stereo Cable, and while a USB socket is also available, this outlet is modestly for only charging.
The sound: the speakers are mediocre, however it is seemingly brilliant for acoustics and vocals as it somewhat magnifies the amplitude of the surrounds, and surely does not scatter, or break at high volumes.
The X-mini Clear has a set of felt-touch controls. However decent external lighting is essential for finding the Power and Bluetooth icons.
In addition, the X-mini Clear features a three-mode Mood Lighting system that syncs with the rhythms of the playing-music and romanticism must be forgone should Mariah Carey perform her three octave runs as it would have seemed like a flash of a series of coloured lightning in a darkened room.
And finally the microphone that is essentially inept unless you are intending to speak with your girlfriend in-between grooves.
Priced at S$299, the X-mini Clear is available in Singapore at Best Denki, BHG, Courts, Digital Style, Epicentre, Gain City, Harvey Norman, Tangs, nubox, Popular and Takashimaya.
About the writer Derrick Chan is a graduate from EEE engineering and management. He loves music, specifically Indie, Alternative and Industrial Rock. He likes only beer and books plus one’s lively imagination. Derrick also aspires to be filthy rich.