Review: Katinkas Kaboom Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Just before our holidays moneysupermarket.com asked if I’d like to review the Katinkas Kaboom Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. It was a perfectly timed email reminding me to sort out our holiday insurance which I always leave to the last minute. Apart from comparing insurance, loans and all the usual jazz they also compare things like mobile phones and other techy/geeky devices that I’m partial to.

We are currently without a DAB radio at home so I thought a bluetooth speaker would be an ideal friend whilst washing up our mountain of dishes or for relaxing in the bath, catching up on Spotify playlists from my phone. Luckily the device arrived before we headed to Australia and has become my perfect little beach/pool accessory…I think it has taken to the sunshine.

Here’s how Mr. Kaboom and I got on:

Looks

It’s cute. I like cute. It’s blue. I adore blue. The pod like shape fits in nicely with any surroundings and it’s super light to pop in your bag for portable use. 10/10

Sounds

I was impressed with the quality of sound for such a little fella. The sound is crisp and clear but not too loud to cause a nuisance. 7/10

Features

You can connect to the speaker via mobile phone, laptop, iPad or tablet and comes with a USB charging cable and carry strap. It has three rubber buttons on the base of the ‘pod’ which you can push down from the top for ease of use. Simply hold down the play button to turn off and on (it sounds a little beep to let you know) and skip from track to track with the rewind or fast forward buttons. Also, the device is chargeable so no batteries needed, hurrah! 7/10

Ease of Use

This is where I became frustrated. No instructions came with the device, and although I think I’m pretty tech-savvy, I was flummoxed at the beginning and wanted to throw the darn thing across the room. I watched a few videos on YouTube and managed to work it out (all in German) as there was nothing of use on the Katinkas website. Thumbs down. 5/10

Value For Money 

This device retails at £41 in the UK ($49.99) which I think is a little pricey compared to other speakers on the market. However, if you’re looking for a portable device to pop by your bath, kitchen sink, or thankfully in my case, the beach or pool it may be worth the pennies considering you don’t need to buy batteries for it. 6/10

Would I buy this myself? Yes. We listen to music, podcasts and audio books almost everyday so I’m happy with our new little travel buddy and I know it will be used everyday at home.

♥