Review: Teaming three of Blue Ant's X4 speakers together is as simple as pressing a button.
Plug in the microphone that comes in the box with each and you're all but guaranteed a good time with the right group of karaoke-loving, story-telling friends.
Blue Ant's $249 (on sale) 50-watt Bluetooth speaker comes in five intense colours: black, white, blue, pink and purple. In every way, it is the smaller brother to Blue Ant's bigger and older X5 9news.com.au reviewed last year.
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It features the same coloured light show, many of the same controls, is more portable (and less powerful) thanks to its smaller size and comes with one wired microphone in the box, instead of two.
As you'd expect, it's also cheaper; $50 less when on sale, $100 at full price ($299 vs $399) without sacrificing too much sound.
100dB is noticeably quieter than 110dB at full volume but the X4's smaller form factor and cheaper price make it the much more attractive option for those looking to buy two or more for parties and travel.
As lockdown ended, our team geared up for a Dolly Parton sing along with three X4 speakers which were synced and ready in seconds.
It proved to be as simple as holding down the party button on the main speaker, then repeating the process on the two remaining "slave" speakers (that's what they're called in the manual and no one was comfortable with it).
Everything is controlled from the main speaker, which helps prevent interference from those fiddling around with buttons on others or trying to hijack the Bluetooth connection.
When three X4s are spaced around the room properly and working together, it's hard not to be impressed.
Outrageously, you can connect up to 100 in party mode — a limit few if any will get near.
Two is enough to appreciate how perfectly the Bluetooth connection syncs between them for a powerful sound that would take most picnics and family gatherings to another level.
By comparison, the X5 can sync with just one other speaker but features a longer battery life (20 vs 12 hours) and a somewhat outdated AUX input that's missing on the X4.
At 50 watts, the X4 holds its own in audio quality against similar, more expensive options and its more compact, Australian-designed form factor makes it a much easier option to throw in the boot of a car when heading camping or to the beach.
Keep in mind however that while the X4 is splash-proof, it won't survive being submerged in water.
Bluetooth speakers are a hot item every Christmas, but the bold colours and smaller form factor of the substantial X4 are sure to satisfy.
Parents beware, children love to pick up that mic.
Thankfully you can add and increase the "echo" to the microphone separately from the music which improves (but could not save) our newsroom's mostly tone-deaf renditions of "9 to 5".
But, like us, you'll likely be having too much fun to care.
Blue Ant provided 9news.com.au with three X4 speakers for the purposes of this review.
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