Verdict
A big speaker for the money , but one that offer too little in the way of audio operation and claimed barrage fire life .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
With its chunky build and optional shoulder strap , Monoprice ’s Harmony Capsule 300 is aBluetooth speakerthat ’s ready to go .
forebode long barrage spirit , a waterproofed chassis , 30W of world power , and the ability to saddle your telephone set off it , the Capsule 300 look like a tantalizing proposition on paper , particularly when you consider it costs just $ 80 . So does it perform well enough to pull in a space on your next camping trip ?
Design
Like Monoprice ’s smaller , cheaperCapsule 200 Bluetooth speaker , the 300 also birth quite the resemblance to something made by JBL , although this sentence it ’s a hybridisation between theCharge 5and theXtreme 3 . The Monoprice is insipid than either of those , though , lacking any real pattern flourishes . Plus it ’s only useable in black .
The Capsule 300 is a jolly goodish thing , about the size of a two - litre Coke nursing bottle , with a rubber pedestal incorporated into the groundwork to keep it upright . It weigh just over 1.5 kg – about the same as a14 - inch MacBook Pro – so it ’s not something you ’ll want to ferry around a lot , but it feels like it could defy being knocked about a bit in transportation .
When you do need to move it from A to B , it come with a shoulder strap that can be attached to metal ring above the passive bass radiators at each oddment , which gives it a slightly older - school boombox vibe . The snap ring - expressive style clips feel sturdy and well - built , but the glossy material the shoulder strap itself is made of feel a spot on the cheap side , like something you ’d happen on a budget laptop computer bag – scarcely befit the furrowed styling of the respite of the speaker .
The driver are covered with a obtuse black mesh that picks up detritus pretty easily , with a rubberize charge plate measure across the top that houses a set of nice - sized push button . These allow you to control playback , volume and superpower , switch between source , and actuate the TWS two-channel union mode . You need a second speaker for this so I was n’t able to test it .
On top you ’ll also find a readiness of four lights that indicate how much battery is left , plus a separate LED strip that seems to flash pointlessly the whole prison term the speaker is powered on , which just seems like a gratuitous waste of juice .
Features
The Capsule 300 backs up its furrowed flavor with an IPX7 stamina rating , which means it ’s protect against detritus and you may plunge it in piddle to dampen it off without make to vex about breaking it .
Underneath you ’ll find a chunky rubber panel that can be removed to discover its three port : 3.5 mm for going wired , USB - A for using the Capsule 300 as a massive power bank , and micro USB for charging the battery . That ’s quite an sometime - fashioned line - up , but being able to share its barrage fire is definitely ready to hand .
The aux port seems increasingly unnecessary with earphone socket becoming hard and harder to find , though , and charging a freshly release speaker by micro USB in 2022 feels like a material eruption from the past tense . Nobody ’s look all the very later tech for $ 80 , but would USB - C have been too much to ask for ?
There are two 5000mAh batteries inside the Capsule 300 , which is about doubly as much world power as you get inside most smartphones . According to Monoprice that should jibe to as much as 30 hours of playback at 50 % volume , but I got just over 16 at less than that . That ’s still a fairly useful innings , but way light of the routine claimed .
With such a enceinte battery to satiate it also take an absolute age to charge . Again , Monoprice claim it should take about six hour , but even when leave plug away in overnight it never seemed to reach full capacity , with the fourth crimson light-emitting diode always blinking as it if had n’t quite finished . When unite to a MacBook Air , macOS ’s battery gauge for link up machine had it down as only being 90 % charged .
Wireless connectivity come in the kind ofBluetooth 5 . Range is n’t speculative , although put a wall or two in the mode and it ’ll start to cut out long before you turn over the theoretical 10 - metre limit . Considering it ’s clearly design to primarily be used outside that should n’t be too big a trouble . It does n’t support multipoint pairing either so you ’re circumscribed to connecting one gadget at a time .
The fairly small-scale feature of speech set is fill in by an onboard microphone , which does a decent enough job of picking up voices but no more than that . It ’ll do for the odd call or determine reminders via your phone ’s voice assistant .
Sound Quality
Monoprice has armed the Capsule 300 with 30 watts of power and two 2.5 in drivers . They ’re both set on the same side , so you ’ll demand to have it pointing towards you to hear it at its best .
That ’s important because the Capsule 300 ’s right is middling average . While it certainly does n’t lack volume , there is n’t a immense amount of detail or depth to the strait . The percussion section in Speed Trials by Elliott Smith sounds thin and muted , with all the instruments squeezed together rather than being pass space to breathe .
It sounds better when given Ball and Biscuit by The White Stripes but the guitars still lack texture and the drums could do with a bit more oomph , while the bass line in Mac Miller ’s Ladders is n’t as taut or bouncy as it ’s supposed to be . Of naturally , you have to take the Capsule 300 ’s price into story when pronounce its performance , but for a utterer of its size you ’d expect skilful , especially from the bass .
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Should you buy it?
While the monetary value of the Capsule 300 still is n’t spare modification , it ’s cheap enough to be relatively expendable . If you want something that you do n’t have to vex about look after , perhaps for the kids or the garden , it could be an affordable alternative .
To a lot of people the Capsule 300 will sound just o.k. . Not everyone needs gamy - ending carrying into action and it goes pretty loud , but you do n’t need to be an audiophile to hear the shortcoming in its carrying into action .
Final Thoughts
If you ’re count for something comparatively expendable that go loud and wo n’t mind a scrap of mistreatment , the Capsule 300 certainly has its benefit , but if audio quality is more than a petty considerateness you may discover something smaller that sounds better for a similar price .
The Capsule 300 feel like the kind of speaker you might buy for festivals or other position where if it was damaged you would n’t feel it too much in the pocket . In almost any other context , there are better alternatives out there .
Trusted Score
How we test
We examine every wireless loudspeaker system we retrospect thoroughly over an prolonged period of clip . We employ industriousness standard test to compare features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we happen . We never , ever , have money to review a merchandise .
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FAQs
The Capsule 300 does n’t substantiate Bluetooth multipoint , so can only be associate to one ware at a time .
Full Specs
Sustainability
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As part of this mission , whenever we review a product we send out the company a serial of questions to help us judge and make pellucid the impact the gimmick has on the environment .
We presently have n’t received answers to the questions on this product , but will update this page the import we do . you could see a elaborate breakdown of the dubiousness we ask and why in oursustainability information Thomas Nelson Page .
