Gadget Review: Kitsound Hive Bluetooth Wireless portable stereo speaker Review

Kitsound Hive Bluetooth portable speaker
(with a few friends of the Kitsound Buddy bee speaker and Trendz USB bee.)

Ive something exciting for your music-o-holics out there today, I know Ive brought you quite a number of mini portable speakers this year; but The Kitsound Hive is one I'm excited about as Ive heard so many good things and seen so many great reviews.

Ive also had the opportunity to review a few of Kitsound's products already and know what great quality they are.

So when Kitsound offered to send me a couple of their best speakers to bring you to review I couldn't wait to try them.

The Kitsound Hive and The Kitsound Boombar 2

(The Boombar 2 is an upgrade to the Boombar.)

Today I'm bringing you The Kitsound Hive

Click on the jump to read my full photo-loaded review and video below

Packaging
You know I love great packaging on products as I feel if the company has taken the time and effort on the outside; the inside has to be good.
Kitsound always make a huge effort on their packaging and the Hive is no exception. Great colour design of elegant greys and yellow contrasting sides with a good product photo.
Inside you pull out an inner box which is...yes you guessed it is bright yellow.

This bright yellow inner box has some cool hive hexagonal shape designs cutouts so you can pop them out and use it as a gift box with your own writing on. Inside this you have yet another...yellow box containing the cables, pouch and user manual. Along side it you have your Hive in a soft plastic bag.

In the box you get your

Hive speaker.
Micro USB charging cable.
Axillary cable.
User manual.
Velvet black pouch storage bag.

Description

The Hive Bluetooth Wireless portable stereo speaker does alot for its cute size; this black rubberized coated speaker is built to withstand a few knocks which I love as in this house we have pets that can be quite curious. I also like to take my portable speakers outside in the garden or to another room and don't want to be worrying about chipping paint etc.

I absolutely adore the Hive design as they've used the bee hive hexagonal styling for the speaker cutouts and added accents all over the speaker. Ive always had a soft spot for bees so I really appreciate the design.

Even the three buttons across the top are hexagonal in shape to add something different to round buttons. You have your Bluetooth, minus and plus buttons which are extremely responsive and have a high quality feel to them.

The side of the speaker has the Auxiliary in port, the transparent on/off button with LEDs, plus the Micro USB charging port.

Each of these are very neatly set into a hexagon accent; everything has been thoroughly thought out.

The back of the Hive also has the added hexagonal accents so it looks good from all sides.

Underneath the hive its hexagonal theme even extends to the four little rubber feet. Here you can see the passive radiator to provide full warm, bass sound.

The Science Bit

Bluetooth; V2.1.
Range: Up to 10 meters.
Playtime: Up to 10 hours.
Output: 5W RMS (2.5W@4ohm x2).
S/N Ratio: 78dB.
Frequency response: 50Hz - 20kHz.
Aux: 3.5mm.

Measurements
16.5cm long x 4.9cm depth x 6.1cm high.
Weight is 400g.

Charging
Its easy to charge the Hive, simply plug in the micro USB to your USB on PC or wall and leave for at least 4 hours especially the first time.

When charging the on/off button glows red and once charged it glows green. Once green you then have 6-10 hours play time; depending on volume levels.

Pairing

This couldn't be easier.

Turn on the Hive via side on/off button.
Press and hold the Bluetooth button on the top for 5 seconds and you will get a lovely electronic bleep and the indicator light on the front bottom right hand side will flash red and blue alternatively.
Turn on Bluetooth on the device you wish to use and my phone scanned and found it within a few seconds; saying Hive on my Bluetooth list.
The light on the front will remain a stationary blue once its found the connection.

Your ready to rock!

My own Sound Comparison between my Samsung S4 and the gorgeous Hive.

Sound

I was expecting alot from this little guy and I wasn't disappointed, the Hive really does deliver gorgeous controlled mid ranges and trebles as well as warm bass. I still personally wanted a bit more bass but its certainly gave some rumble when turned up to around 3/4. Anymore and I got distortion on my bass so you may have to juggle with your devices equalizer to get it just right.

I'm so happy the sound is gorgeous all round and definitely one of the best speakers I have in sound, design and the fact its Bluetooth with brilliant range. It states 10m, but I left it upstairs went to the bottom of the stairs and it still worked, turned to another room and it faltered a bit. We live in a cottage with foot thick bricks; outside it managed at least 15m with nothing in between so its quite impressive.

Portability
I love companies that offer pouches and cases to use with their products and again we get a lovely black velvet pouch to store the Hive in.

Its portable to a limit but its actually a bit too big for most of my handbags, it would fit easily into a tote size bag or large handbag or even a rucksack; but its a bit weighty to carry around all day especially if hiking etc; if your based at a camp site its perfect.

Weight wise, I would say its equivalent to a tin of baked beans and a tin opener, or a small first aid kit; so incase of a zombie apocalypse what would you rather have a tin of baked beans or your music.

This adorable Hive is ideal as a home speaker to move from room to room or take outside for a barbeque or while your gardening or to take away in a caravan its ideal as its rectangular design is very stable and wont roll around.

But its not mobile enough to carry around while hiking its a little too heavy for me.

It almost comes in as an in between size speaker for me.

If you need really portable I would recommend the Kitsound Cadet I reviewed earlier this year as its quite a bit smaller and rounder it fits easier into a handbag.
Or the cute Kitsound Buddy bee speaker.

Opinion

This gorgeous Hive fills a room with your favorite vibes, it looks elegant and stylish especially with the choice of colours available and it can take a knock or two with its tough rubberized coat; although this coat also shows up finger prints and dust. It has good bass and with a bit of juggling with your equalizers you can turn it up high with no distortion. The radiator underneath really does make a difference for such a small speaker. I even turned it on its end so the bass side faces me and it gives you more bassey sound. But I personally still wanted a bit more, but that's just me as Im a complete bass-aholic.

Its one of the best bass speakers I own and its really getting some use here on my desk infront of me as I type.

The fact its stereo 5 Watt speakers (2.5W x 2) too makes the sound really good. It looks yummy on my desk and it gets alot of admiring glances from friends and family.

The fact it comes with a lovely velvet pouch means I can pop it in a bag and take it with me and the rubberized coat will protect it from any bangs and small falls.

Pro's