Alright folks, one of the perks of being a music editor (on top of the listening events, interviews and overall radness of my gig) are the toys! The good folks over at Braven sent over the way awesome Braven HD 570 Wireless Speaker for me to play with and after a few days of blasting my very inappropriate music in the office, here’s what I came up with.

What Can The Speaker Do: The Braven 570 is a bluetooth wireless speaker that turns any mediocre listening experience into a party.  If you’re just in your house, press the power button and wirelessly stream music from your smart phone or iPod. If you’re low on battery life, not to worry. The USB port can also act as a charging station for your phone and with 10 hours of battery life, you might actually tire out before the Braven does.

The Design: Braven kept it pretty simple with the design, which is a good and bad thing. I was sent the all black speaker, which lacks aesthetics and is kind of boring. However, buyers aren’t just stuck with one color. Customers can opt for five others including blue, red, white, lime green and purple.

The Sound: Braven didn’t skimp on the sound, but didn’t offer me a grand musical experience. While the speakers were certainly better than that of your traditional radio or iPhone,  when I tried to rock out and play the air drums during Phil Collins classic “In the Air Tonight” it lacked the umph I needed.

The Reach: I performed a test with The Braven 570. After connecting it to my iPhone 5, I left the speaker at my desk and asked my coworkers  to let me know when the sound began to fade. Fifty-feet later, the Braven 570 was still going strong. Sweet!

Price Tag: For $99 The Braven 570 HD Wireless Speaker is the perfect gift for a college freshman or for a tech nerd like myself. It’s an excellent stocking stuffer and it doesn’t break the bank.

Synopsis: Overall, I support the Braven 570. Its a small wireless speaker that helps turn your average listening experience into an actual fun time. Whether you’re just cleaning around the house or hosting a barbecue with friends, you’ll be glad you purchased the Braven. it doesn’t disturb the neighbors, but its loud enough to turn a small gathering.