INTRODUCTION

   Portable speakers have been amongst my favorite mobile gadgets ever since i started using them roughly 5-6 years ago when i went to a place where there was hardly any electricity available (the generator just wasn't that good i guess). It didn't take long for me however to realize that wireless portable speakers could even replace full sized ones in some places (areas where you will never throw a serious party for example) so as i type these lines i use a grand total of 6 such devices. One of those i use whenever I’m away, three are permanently located in my place up in the mountains and 2 more located in both my house and the lab. Choosing however the proper wireless portable speaker is certainly not easy not only due to the very large number of manufacturers out in the market today but also due to the plethora of features and specifications offered by such devices. TDK just launched the latest addition in their TREK Flex line of portable speakers called the A28 and we've spend a good part of the last month using it to see if it's worth spending your hard earned money for.

   TDK Life on Record, a leading global brand with a rich audio legacy, is dedicated to personalizing and enhancing audiophiles’ ever-evolving digital music lifestyles. TDK Life on Record audio products are carefully crafted to focus on performance, marrying a clean, striking design with the precision and flexibility of modern technology. This world-class line of premium audio products delivers a warm, authentic, high-fidelity entertainment experience. The TDK Life on Record logo is a trademark owned by TDK Corporation and is licensed exclusively to Imation Corp., a leading global developer and marketer of brands that empower people to capture, save and enjoy digital information. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

   The TREK Flex A28 is yet another IP65 (dust and water proof) certified weatherproof (it's also IK07 shock resistant certified) wireless portable speaker but unlike previous models released by TDK this one features a cylindrical design very similar to that of the BOOM by Ultimate Ears (just smaller). Inside this cylindrical enclosure TDK has placed two 40mm full range dynamic drivers (4W power output each), one 90x42mm oval shaped passive radiator (featuring MaxxBass technology), NiMH (Nickel–metal hydride) rechargeable battery which can keep the A28 going for up to 8 hours and an microphone. The A28 also features Bluetooth v2.1+EDR (enhanced data rate) connectivity with NFC (near field communication), A2DP (advanced audio distribution profile), HFP (hands free profile), HSP (headset profile) and AVRCP (audio/video remote control profile).

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

We received the TREK Flex A28 inside a grey box with a product image at the front and of course the company logo.

At the top of the box we can actually see a picture of the top of the speaker in actual size.

The product features are printed at the rear of the box in 12 languages.

TDK claims that the A28 can deliver superior sound in all weather conditions.

Using a formed piece of cardboard is more than enough to provide protection for the speaker.

Inside the box you will find the TREK Flex A28 wireless portable speaker, microUSB charging cable, LINK product catalog, registration paper, warranty information paper, warning manual in two languages and the user manual in 4 languages.

THE TREK FLEX A28

The cylindrical body of the A28 weighs 572g, measures 197mm in length, 69mm in depth and 75mm in width and is made out of metal, rubber and polished plastic.

To have a better idea on just how large or small the A28 is we placed it right next to one of the largest (Jabra SOLEMATE MAX) and smallest (RockDoc memory) portable speakers in the market.

At the top of the speaker we find the power, volume, Bluetooth pairing and answer/end call buttons and their LEDs.

The near field sensor is located on the far top left of the speaker.

The company logo is placed on the left side right next to the model name (if you want to place the unit vertically you should use the right side).

A rubber flap is placed at the rear and in placed inside are the 3.5mm aux port, microUSB charge port and the power on/off switch.

Some information regarding the speaker along with several certification logos are the things printed on a metal area at the base of the speaker (this is also the battery compartment).

CONCLUSION

   Much like most things in the world the output power of a wireless portable speaker depends a lot on the size of its full range drivers (thus its overall size) so if its power you want then obviously the A28 was not designed for you. That's not to say that the TREK Flex A28 doesn't pack a punch since it does and quite a bit actually but simply put inferior to what its larger brothers the A74/35/34 models have to offer (on the bright side however it probably has a higher volume output compared to what you'd expect due to the size of all these solutions). In terms of build quality although just 572g heavy the A28 feels very sturdy. Mids and highs are quite good and so are its bass levels (for its size) but i have to admit that the also cylindrical BOOM by Ultimate Ears sounds a bit better overall and offers a far better 360 degree audio experience. Battery life is also quite good and although we were unable to hit 8 hours of continuous use we did surpass 6 hours (if only by a few minutes) with the volume turned almost all the way up. Some people may like the start/stop audio playback feature when the A28 connects and disconnects with a device so we can't really figure out if it's good or bad.

   The TREK Flex A28 wireless speaker by TDK currently retails for USD84.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 81Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk) a price tag which is actually quite good for a rugged wireless portable speaker with very good volume levels, good audio quality and good battery life. It goes without saying that the A28 is not perfect and personally i have no idea as to why TDK didn't make a slightly larger cylindrical speaker to compete directly with the BOOM by Ultimate Ears (would be able to fit more or larger drivers inside and even a higher capacity rechargeable battery pack). Still this is a very solid product with good and very good scores across the board and that's why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Design
- Size/Weight
- Weather Resistant Housing (IP65 Certified)
- IK07 Shock Resistant Certified
- Bluetooth & 3.5mm AUX Input
- Media Buttons
- Good Audio Quality & Bass Levels
- Very Good Volume Levels (For Its Size)
- Good Battery Life (Up To 8 Hours)
- NFC Support
- Vertical & Horizontal Placing

CONS

- Bluetooth v2.1 (Supported Range)
- 360 Degrees Feature Could Be Better