INTRODUCTION

   There are more portable wireless speaker manufacturers out in the market currently than i can even begin to count but the thing that really matters is that most of them have one thing in common, they don't seem to focus enough in producing high quality and high performance products mainly because the majority of their target audience places low-cost and design above everything else. There are certainly some exceptions to that rule so aside low-cost portable wireless speakers these companies do occasionally release good quality products but still not on par to what some other more "audiophile" oriented companies do. Grain Audio may not have been around for long but they've got a large following around the world simply because they cater to the needs of people who place quality and performance above cost and so it's no surprise that we just had to check out their latest products and the PWS.01 packable wireless speaker is the first to reach our doorstep.

    Headquartered in the USA, Grain Audio is the brainchild of three friends with backgrounds in acoustics, design, architecture and marketing. United by their love of music and their desire to hear it the way the artist intended, the Grain Audio team channeled their collective experience in consumer electronics and design to fuel their passion to create premiere audio devices. Realizing their desire to give back via social and environmental initiatives, Grain Audio employs eco-friendly practices and materials (including FSC-certified wood) that minimize the company's carbon footprint.

    For the PWS.01 packable wireless speaker Grain Audio followed an entirely different path compared to most other manufacturers since they decided to use solid walnut wood coated with oil for most of the exterior housing. This was not only to improve the quality, looks and feeling of the speaker but also to help produce warmer and more natural sound since solid wood due to its higher density compared to other materials (like for example plastic) doesn't resonate much. As far as specifications go the PWS.01 features Bluetooth v3.0 together with A2DP, aptX and AAC but that's not all since it also makes use of MaxxAudio DSP audio processing tool from Waves, a GRAMMY award winner company. Two 2” proprietary loudspeakers (frequency response of 65Hz-20KHz) and a proprietary passive radiator (with Grain Audios patented bass isolation system) are responsible for delivering audio while a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack gives the PWS.01 up to 8 full hours of playtime (at normal volume levels). Unfortunately the PWS.01 doesn't have a speakerphone function but I never expected one from an audiophile targeted product to begin with (besides i can't really say that any of us here uses that function with other portable wireless speakers).