This LG Bluetooth speaker impressed me with a design feature that I haven’t seen on its competitors

Key points of ZDNET

• The LG XBoom 360 XO2 is a great Bluetooth speaker for professional chillers, couches, and relaxers, and it costs $197.
• Highlights include a focus on soft mood lighting and elegant design.
• Below-average battery life and lack of advanced features may make this speaker too simple for some.

More purchasing options

There’s nothing like having someone you can trust Bluetooth speaker offers a portable listening style. Today, many Bluetooth speaker manufacturers focus on making their speakers suitable for outdoor use, choosing rugged, angular designs with dust and water resistance for use at the beach or on hikes. long distance.

Also: This humble Bluetooth speaker surprised me with its big bass and clear midrange

However, if you never take your Bluetooth speaker outside the house, you probably don’t want this new speaker’s main advantage to be that it can survive the apocalypse. I want my speaker to look like it belongs in my house and not at my local REI.

If you’re like me, you appreciate the latest LG XBoom 360 XO2 The Bluetooth speaker I’ll call the XO2 speaker to avoid confusion with the many speakers in LG’s XBoom 360 line. I spent a month with it, providing the soundtrack to my evenings at home, so let me explain why it’s the best speaker for homebodies and pros. .

The XO2 speaker sounds great and has multiple EQ settings to customize the sound to your personal preferences. You can choose preset EQ settings or adjust the sound on the five-band equalizer in the LG XBoom companion app.

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The XO2 doesn’t have the clarity of speakers like Apple’s HomePod or the Sonos Era 100, but those speakers transmit audio over Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth, which improves sound quality. The XO2 doesn’t support fancy audio features like spatial audio, so if you want a simplified listening experience then you’ve come to the right place.

Usually, when I want to relax at home and listen to music, I queue up songs on my computer. Sonos Arc sound bar. AirPlay compatibility is convenient because notifications don’t interrupt my music. However, the Arc is huge, making it difficult to move from room to room and keeping me from starting to use the Sonos app to notify me that I’ve changed rooms.

The XO2 has an interesting shape that mimics a small porch lantern. The flat top contains touch controls that let you play/pause tracks, control volume, and change lighting settings with just a short tap.

Also: Finally, a portable Bluetooth speaker that sounds amazing but won’t break the bank

I listened to albums like John Mayer’s Room for square, Frank Ocean’s blonde, and Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto while I cook, clean, and read on my couch. The XO2 has outstanding bass response, but the bass doesn’t muddy the mellow instruments I crave during evening relaxation.

In spite of beats And Bose Having mastered the art of designing a humble Bluetooth speaker, the XO2 has one standout feature that sets it apart: mood lighting. Many speakers offer a series of multicolored flashing LED lights for party purposes, but the XO2 focuses on lighting for relaxing entertainment meetings.

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In the XBoom 360 app, you can choose your lighting settings, with options to simulate soft morning sun or peaceful sunset. There is the option of lighting candles for optimal tranquility. There are also party lighting settings, but I’m not yet familiar with using them.

The XO2 can withstand outdoor use, being rated IP55, making it water-resistant in the rain or splashes while playing poolside. With 15 hours of continuous playback, the XO2 speaker doesn’t last as long as other speakers at a similar price, so you’ll have to choose between ambient or battery life.

ZDNET Buying Tips

If you want a portable speaker that can set the mood for whatever mood you want, especially those quieter, solo sessions at home, then LG XBoom 360 XO2 is the right choice. Its distinctive design can blend in with any home decor while providing an enjoyable listening experience.

The XO2 is perfect for listening in bed or on the couch. Its simplicity and lack of advanced controls best serve those who don’t want calendars, voice assistants, or digital reminders to interrupt their evening podcast or solo album listening party.

If you expect more from your speaker, like AirPlay compatibility, Wi-Fi audio streaming, and voice assistant capabilities, the XO2 isn’t for you. the Sonos 100 era or Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) are more up your alley, but remember they require a power source.

If you want a speaker with more battery capacity, increased water resistance, and an equally classy look without the mood lighting, consider Drug Beat (2024).