Review: Bem Wireless Boom Box

Fact: Bluetooth was never designed to be an audio-streaming protocol. Sure, it's getting better thanks to higher bitrate ceilings and codecs like aptX. But the 30-foot wireless signal is still more suited for copying contacts from your phone and syncing a headset to an iPhone. When it comes to critical listening and streaming lossless music files, you'll almost always do better with a Wi-Fi-based protocol.

That said, the $250 Bēm Boom Box has quite a bit going for it. Sure, it kinda looks like a space-age toaster with a handle. And, yeah, it definitely can't compete with Sonos gear or any of the bigger speakers from Logitech UE. But the Boom Box does have plenty of bass, a lush sonic quality with distinct EQ, and a reliably steady Bluetooth stream for all your mobile tunage. It also lasts 10 hours on a charge, is made of a durable plastic with metal accents, and even has a 3.5mm audio out port for direct music connects.

Setup is remarkably easy. The Boom Box automatically goes into a Bluetooth discovery mode when turned on. After that, it's simply a matter of going into your phone's settings and pairing. If you decide to pair a second device, you can – but the Boom Box only lets you stream from one connected connected source at a time. (Unlike on some newer Bluetooth headsets, you can’t press a button and switch between Bluetooth sources.)

If you want to skip Bluetooth audio altogether, you can connect any gadget using the 3.5mm input. One slightly unusual feature: The Boom Box comes with a 3.5mm output too, which means you can use it as an intermediary device to, say, stream audio from your iPad to your home stereo.

It's worth nothing that there are only three buttons on the actual unit: play/pause, volume up, and volume down. There's no way to advance forward or back one track directly on the Boom Box. That simple feature can be nice if you like to maintain strict control over the pool playlist. And speaking of pools, I should note that unlike the more expensive Pioneer A3 and the less expensive UE Boom, the Bēm Boom Box is not water-resistant. So don't splash it, and certainly don't douse it. Keep it on a table or a chair if you're using it near the hot tub.

OK, so back to the sound quality. I decided to stream a few different tracks to a handful of wireless players. I started with "Ecstasy" by Iceage, a heavily distorted punk anthem that made the Boom Box go weak in the knees. But even the markedly superior-sounding Sonos Play:3 had trouble with this one.

Next, I went with a warmer, gentler, indie pop song, "Heart Beats" by Hey Marseilles. No problems there. The song, with its brilliantly choreographed drums, sounded rich and expansive on the Boom Box, much more so than on the similarly sized Denon Cocoon.

In the end, the Boom Box performed admirably – far better than many wireless speakers that cost nearly twice as much. On the other hand, if you're looking for a wireless streamer at this price point, we still recommend the Logitech UE Boombox. The bass is tighter and more controlled on the UE speaker. It also has better tonal quality and it plays much louder.

With the Bēm Boom Box though, you get tons of flexibility, decent sound for a Bluetooth streamer, and perhaps the most important feature any self-respecting ghetto blaster could have: a big-ass handle.

WIRED Easy streaming from any Bluetooth gadget. Fast setup. Decent sound. BIG handle.

TIRED Some noticeable distortion at higher volumes. Did not pass the Iceage test.