Sharp GX-BT60 Review: Compact Contender

Price When Reviewed

Unavailable in the United States

You can fork out a excellent sum of money for a transportable Bluetooth speaker. However, if you’re strapped for money and wish one thing that produces robust sound and is simple to take round with you, then you definately must imagine the Sharp GX-BT60. 

Sharp provides a number of Bluetooth audio system in its audio line-up, and the GX-BT60 is the smallest and most cost-effective of the bunch. I’ve spent a while with it to look the way it holds up daily. 

Design & Build 

• Small construct that may have compatibility in a pocket
• IP67 score

You can get the GX-BT60 in one in every of 3 colors: black, gray and blue. I examined out the latter, which is a daring and amusing color that can swimsuit customers preferring their tech to be extra outdoor of the field.  

The speaker itself measures 100 x 100 x 40mm and weighs 230g. This method it may possibly simply have compatibility in a single hand and is simple to port round in a small bag, and even a big pocket due to its sq. form very similar to the Tribit StormBox Micro. It additionally comes with a wrist strap which I used each for sporting it round and for securing it to objects.  

On the entrance aspect of the software, there are quantity controls and a play button. The quantity controls will also be used to skip ahead and backwards on tracks if you happen to grasp them down, and the playback button will also be used to turn on the voice assistant or take calls the usage of the integrated microphone. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The energy button is situated at the right-hand aspect of the software, in conjunction with a lined micro-USB port which can be utilized for charging. There may be a three.5mm aux-in port subsequent to this, must you wish to have a stressed out connection out of your software. Both cables come incorporated within the field.  

The GX-BT60 comes with an IP67 score, which means that it’s immune to mud and water. You must subsequently have the ability to take this by way of the pool or out on a wet day with out a worries about it getting broken.  

Sound Quality  

• Loud sound with respectable bass
• Some main points misplaced in highs and mids
• No beef up for aptX or AAC formats

Connectivity-wise, the Sharp GX-BT60 comes provided with Bluetooth 5.0, and beef up for each Siri and Google Assistant. Pairing the speaker is terribly fast and simple – it routinely is going into pairing mode if it’s not attached to a tool. In addition, you’ll be able to take your phone to another storey in your home while nonetheless taking part in your song. 

Whilst the Sharp GX-BT60 best has a 45mm motive force and a 6W output, it nonetheless packs a punch, with a powerful bass and a tight quantity output. I for my part most well-liked the usage of this speaker for chilled out song, streams and the occasional giant rock track to in reality push that bass to the prohibit.  

However, the ones giant bass tones finally end up overshadowing one of the mids. For instance, when paying attention to Sebastian Bohm’s quilt of Call Me by way of Blondie, the low tones had been thumping all through, however the backing operatic vocals had been slightly noticeable over the remainder of the song. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Highs are clearer, however if you happen to crank the quantity the entire means up then they are able to sound spiky and sharp. Podcasts and YouTube movies are enough, however don’t be expecting any majorly vibrant or detailed audio that you’d to find on dearer audio system. 

Sound is basically directed from the centre of the speaker, and can fill a room if you happen to place it within the center. However, you received’t wish to position it face down, differently the audio will grow to be reasonably muffled.

Whilst I’ve now not for my part had the chance to check it, you’ll be able to additionally hyperlink up two GX-BT60 audio system for a extra stereo enjoy, or to spice up the ones quantity ranges if you’re the usage of them at a birthday party.  

Sadly, there is not any beef up for aptX or AAC formats – however this is reasonably not unusual on Bluetooth audio system on this worth vary.  

Battery Life 

• Up to 13 hours of battery existence
• Micro-USB charging

Sharp claims that the GX-BT60 has as much as 13 hours of battery existence. However, if you’re enjoying the speaker at complete blast, you are going to get lower than this. Regardless, the speaker must remaining you the day if you’re taking it out on a commute.  

The GX-BT60 makes use of micro-USB charging quite than the extra usual and trendy USB-C. This is reasonably worrying and out of date, however you do get a cable supplied within the field. It kind of takes round 3 hours to price the speaker from flat to complete so it’s now not rapid.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Price & Availability  

The Sharp GX-BT60 Bluetooth Speaker prices £29.99 in the United Kingdom, and you’ll be able to these days get it from Amazon and Currys. The GX-BT60 isn’t to be had to buy in the United States.  

Considering the respectable battery existence, the waterproofing and powerful audio, this can be a aggressive worth for a Bluetooth speaker and undercuts competitors which give a identical audio enjoy. 

Our top-rated affordable Bluetooth speaker is the EarFun Uboom, which retails for round £50. This comes with other audio modes, together with a devoted out of doors mode. For a identical worth to the Sharp style, I might additionally suggest the Tribit StormBox Micro – which additionally boasts the similar compact sq. design however has higher audio high quality total.  

You can take a look at additional choices in our chart of the most productive affordable Bluetooth audio system, in addition to the most productive Bluetooth audio system total which incorporates some extra top class choices.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Verdict

If you don’t want to fork out a whole lot of cash for a Bluetooth speaker, then the Sharp GX-BT60 speaker suits the invoice. With a compact, water-resistant design, all-day battery existence and respectable bass tones, there’s a lot going for it.  

However, the audio high quality doesn’t reasonably fit up with what competitors can produce – with mid tones like vocals drowned out by way of the lows and highs sounding sharp when cranked up. If you aren’t too fussy concerning the audio high quality regardless that, then it’s nonetheless a viable choice for paying attention to song at the move.  

Specs

• Three colors: Blue, black and gray
• 100 x 100 x 40mm
• 230g
• Micro-USB port
• 3.5mm aux-in port
• IP67 score
• Playback and quantity controls
• Siri/Google Assistant beef up
• 45mm motive force
• 6W output
• Hand strap incorporated