Jukebox. Walkmans. iPod. A few gadgets that changed the way people listen to music. Each device brought with it their own set of features that perhaps revolutioned music. It was down to size or their design which bought a fundamental shift in consumption of music. While these gadgets came and went, the quintessential bulky music system with speakers on their side have somehow managed to survive. Boom boxes as they are better known were the go to gadget for music - be it for an outdoor party or just to make a "sound" statement.
We are in 2017 and the boom box is still very much around and we got our hands on one such gadget. Pebble, a company which is perhaps synonymous with smartphone accessories is dabbling into a new category with the Pebble Storm Bluetooth speaker. Is it a worthy gadget in a category which is flooded with speakers of various kinds? Read our full review to find out.
Design
The long, elongated design of the Pebble Storm is big let-down -- and the negatives don't end there. It resembles a miniaturised version of the tube in which Hulk was held captive in 2003 movie. This design mantra just does not feel right, either in the hands or if you want to carry it around.
The speaker is made of a metallic body and weighs 210 grams. While 210 grams doesn't sound too much, somehow the speaker weighs heavily in your hands. The 10W in-built speakers are located on either ends of the Storm. The edges of the speaker on either side are also designed with ridges which make it possible to align the speaker in a standing position. There are separate stands added into the body to keep the speaker in a flat position.
Pebble Storm provides you with many options to listen to music, apart from connecting via Bluetooth. You can go the traditional way of tuning to your favourite radio channels using the built-in FM radio. There is also an SD card reader slot in case you plan to keep the Storm permanently in your living room. The AUX port can be plugged into older devices like CD players or even connect your phone via the headphone jack.
All the ports are located on the same side of the Pebble Storm which makes it easier for users to deal with just one section of the speaker. The speaker is available in Red and Blue colour variants. It has to be said that the speaker does attract attention, no matter where they are placed.
Performance
When it comes to buying a Bluetooth speaker, users generally keep design and portability at the top of the list. Sound quality follows down the checklist of preferences they have. And we cover these next.
The pictures of the Pebble Storm just prove how big the speaker is. For prospective buyers who are out looking for speakers, the Storm can easily convince anyone that it has powerful audio drivers. The Red version of the Pebble Storm did turn a lot heads at our office. But the sheer size of the speaker made it difficult for us to carry it around. Had the Pebble Storm been a compact music gadget, it could have ticked the first two requirements easily. Alas, it was not the case here.
Looks can be deceiving. And the Pebble Storm, unlike its humungous design, failed to make an impression on us with its audio quality. The speakers are loud, but to the point that the treble is higher for any type of track you play. So, cranking up the volume during a party or while watching a movie with family and friends is a definitely thumbs up.
As mentioned previously, the speakers are placed at either end, but we noticed that the volume is higher on just one side. The speaker grilles on the side with the ports and volume controls seem to be muffled out due to this interface hardware. This did disappoint as we expected the Pebble Storm to perform better than competing speakers.
Verdict
The big-sized Pebble Storm (priced at Rs 2,750, but available at Rs 1,899) has a lot going for it except the fact that it doesn't really 'make the right noises'. The speaker has a form factor that says out loud that it feels comfortable being in just one particular location. The audio quality is limited to loudness with the treble taking high prominence. So, if you're out looking for a speaker under Rs 2,000 for an outdoor or indoor party, family picnic or just a movie night at your place, then the Pebble Storm fits the bill.
For others, you can alternatively put in a tad bit more money and consider the Logitech X100 which has a better design and sound quality.
We are in 2017 and the boom box is still very much around and we got our hands on one such gadget. Pebble, a company which is perhaps synonymous with smartphone accessories is dabbling into a new category with the Pebble Storm Bluetooth speaker. Is it a worthy gadget in a category which is flooded with speakers of various kinds? Read our full review to find out.
Design
The long, elongated design of the Pebble Storm is big let-down -- and the negatives don't end there. It resembles a miniaturised version of the tube in which Hulk was held captive in 2003 movie. This design mantra just does not feel right, either in the hands or if you want to carry it around.
The speaker is made of a metallic body and weighs 210 grams. While 210 grams doesn't sound too much, somehow the speaker weighs heavily in your hands. The 10W in-built speakers are located on either ends of the Storm. The edges of the speaker on either side are also designed with ridges which make it possible to align the speaker in a standing position. There are separate stands added into the body to keep the speaker in a flat position.
Pebble Storm provides you with many options to listen to music, apart from connecting via Bluetooth. You can go the traditional way of tuning to your favourite radio channels using the built-in FM radio. There is also an SD card reader slot in case you plan to keep the Storm permanently in your living room. The AUX port can be plugged into older devices like CD players or even connect your phone via the headphone jack.
All the ports are located on the same side of the Pebble Storm which makes it easier for users to deal with just one section of the speaker. The speaker is available in Red and Blue colour variants. It has to be said that the speaker does attract attention, no matter where they are placed.
Performance
When it comes to buying a Bluetooth speaker, users generally keep design and portability at the top of the list. Sound quality follows down the checklist of preferences they have. And we cover these next.
The pictures of the Pebble Storm just prove how big the speaker is. For prospective buyers who are out looking for speakers, the Storm can easily convince anyone that it has powerful audio drivers. The Red version of the Pebble Storm did turn a lot heads at our office. But the sheer size of the speaker made it difficult for us to carry it around. Had the Pebble Storm been a compact music gadget, it could have ticked the first two requirements easily. Alas, it was not the case here.
Looks can be deceiving. And the Pebble Storm, unlike its humungous design, failed to make an impression on us with its audio quality. The speakers are loud, but to the point that the treble is higher for any type of track you play. So, cranking up the volume during a party or while watching a movie with family and friends is a definitely thumbs up.
As mentioned previously, the speakers are placed at either end, but we noticed that the volume is higher on just one side. The speaker grilles on the side with the ports and volume controls seem to be muffled out due to this interface hardware. This did disappoint as we expected the Pebble Storm to perform better than competing speakers.
Verdict
The big-sized Pebble Storm (priced at Rs 2,750, but available at Rs 1,899) has a lot going for it except the fact that it doesn't really 'make the right noises'. The speaker has a form factor that says out loud that it feels comfortable being in just one particular location. The audio quality is limited to loudness with the treble taking high prominence. So, if you're out looking for a speaker under Rs 2,000 for an outdoor or indoor party, family picnic or just a movie night at your place, then the Pebble Storm fits the bill.
For others, you can alternatively put in a tad bit more money and consider the Logitech X100 which has a better design and sound quality.
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