This new model, the Mirtune S100, aims to be similar in appearance to JBL's range of portable speakers, but at half the price. The first impression is intriguing, but what is it really like? Maybe it's just another lame copy, or maybe this 50W speaker will wipe the nose of the kings of portable speakers? In this review, I will discuss how the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 fared in a duel against the JBL Charge 5, so let's turn up the volume and measure the decibels!

Unboxing

Opening the thin cardboard box reveals a speaker wrapped in a plastic bag, which is modestly framed in shock-absorbing foam on the sides. Along with the user manual and USB-C charging cable, this is all you need to use the Tronsmart Mirtune S100.

Probably the manufacturer of Tronsmart did not pay too much attention to the product packaging, but this speaker will arrive safely at the recipient's door. Well, unless there are obstacles in the path of the package to the addressee, the column itself will probably feel the effects of impacts due to the unprotected middle part of the column. However, it may not be worth worrying about the packaging when this portable speaker is not afraid of shocks or water.

First impressions

Perhaps the manufacturer of Tronsmart overlooks the attractive and high-quality packaging, but perhaps this product will surprise you with its powerful sound? As soon as you unpack this speaker, you get the idea that it is just an ordinary copy of the JBL Charge series, which usually lags far behind the original. The design has a lot of similarities with this king of portable speakers: the oval elongated shape, the arrangement of speakers and buttons, the body covered with material...

Let's take a closer look at the Tronsmart Mirtune S100. This device can be controlled using the physical buttons located on the front of the speaker. On/off, Bluetooth pairing, as well as volume up and play/pause buttons are installed in the row. There's also a noteworthy SOUND PULSE button here, more on that a bit later. 

The silicone handle hidden above the control panel is for carrying the speaker. It easily pulls out and hides when not in use. When the knob is folded back to its original position, it becomes barely noticeable as it aligns with the speaker body. Simple and convenient.

The sides of the speaker are equipped with passive radiators that glow in various shades for low-frequency reproduction. The lights are not too eye-catching, they liven up the party, but they are not really necessary during the day, and they also reduce the battery life. At the back, you can find the charging port along with the USB, AUX and MicroSD inputs, which are covered by a silicone cover.

The portable speaker itself has a lot of promising weight, and the body itself seems solidly put together. Since the manufacturer declares IPX7 resistance to moisture and dust, the speaker turned out to be solid enough, but also raises questions. However, the previously mentioned silicone cover on the back caught the eye. It comes off very easily and looks like it can let a little water or dust through.

Features of use

When I turned on this Tronsmart product, I was greeted by a soft and unobtrusive melody accompanied by neon side-lighting colors. While I watched the sides of this speaker flicker, the device was already waiting for me to connect to it. You can start a party and get your friends moving with music by connecting to the Trosnsmart Mirtune speaker via Bluetooth.

Bluetooth connection

First of all, it came to mind to connect to the speaker via Bluetooth, since the phone is always at hand. The process is fast, because the speaker is detected immediately, so connecting to the speaker is without problems. However, there are some nuances.

There is a delay in trying to turn down the speaker volume using the phone buttons and the second or third time the mute is successful. Well, but the connection does not break, even when moving away from the column 10-20 meters. Also, this speaker has an integrated microphone, so when you answer a call on the phone, you will be able to talk freely with the interlocutor and you will be perfectly heard.

Use of external media

Happily, even to this day, the time-tested USB, Micro SD and AUX inputs are not forgotten. By inserting a USB or Micro SD card in the back of the device, you can control the music you are listening to with physical buttons, as well as with the help of the Tronsmart app. You can switch the sound track by pressing the corresponding sound buttons for a longer time, which I found a bit inconvenient.

To make it faster and more convenient, when you open the app, you will have a separate control for both increasing the volume and switching the audio track. Maybe these features are a bit outdated, but they really come in handy from time to time and I think this is a big plus for this portable speaker.

Tronsmart app

In order to take advantage of all the features and benefits of Tronsmart Mirtune, you must additionally download the Tronsmart app. Information about the app is provided in the instructions. The app itself consists of three sections.

The very first and most basic is the control of the media played and the sound level. Another segment is a selection of sound presets together with an individual 5-band equalizer. Finally - the ability to control where you will listen to music (AUX, USB, SD), as well as the function of connecting several speakers and controlling LED light effects.

Tronsmart apps have three different light music effects, but if you don't like light music, this function can be turned off completely (by pressing the Power button twice). The app works flawlessly, the connection is simple, the use is simple and easy to understand, but the question arose, why do I need to re-find the Tronsmart column that is already connected to bluetooth every time I turn on this app. If the app remembers the connected device, use would be much faster.

Sound quality

In fact, when the speaker does not surprise with either the exclusive packaging or the set, it seems that the sound will not stand out either. However, it is easy to be fooled, because this modestly presented speaker emits a not so modest sound from its 2.1 speaker system. Two tweeters occupy the front of the column from the sides. Low frequencies are reproduced by the speaker in the middle, and the passive radiators on the side help to produce a deep and powerful sound.

A small 50W speaker emits really strong and powerful sound. Low and medium frequencies pleasantly vibrate a small room. Even when listening to music outdoors, from a distance of several meters it is hard to believe that only a 50W speaker is playing, because the sound is really powerful and reaches the listener's ear when the wind blows or the neighbor mows the grass next door.

The most effective low register sound can be heard when listening to rap or country style music. When listening to faster and punchier dance music, it lacks a little more accurate low-frequency reproduction. The treble seems a bit muffled, but becomes more pronounced when listening above the power of the 50%.

After "letting my hair down" and turning the speaker up to maximum power, I had to be a little disappointed. As long as the soundtrack contains only vocals and higher frequencies - everything is great, high-quality and clear. As soon as the low frequency starts - distortions appear. The speaker jams with every "punch" and it seems that the speaker's audio amplifier is no longer able to control the speakers and lacks power.

The purpose of the "Sound Pulse" button is quick access to one of the five equalizer options. In short, pressing this button will activate the Sound Pulse sound effect, which almost doubles the sound. Not bad sound amplification, which in my opinion drastically changes the sound, but the ear is tickled by an unpleasant extraneous sound.

When this function is enabled, a hissing sound occurs when the speaker is playing at a low volume. If you want to adjust the sound even more, you can do it by selecting one of the five preset equalizer settings in the app. Well, if you want to customize the sound, you can do it using the 5-band graphic equalizer.

Comparison with JBL Charge 5

Since the appearance of the Mirtune S100 resembles JBL products, and the sound pleasantly surprised me with its powerful sound, I tried to compare it with the JBL CHARGE 5 model, which is probably the most popular and most often purchased in the market of portable speakers.

Although the Mirtune S100 has a larger capacity battery (8000 mAh versus 7500 mAh), both speakers still claim the same operating time (up to 20 hours). It is worth noting that in order for the Tronsmart to work as long as the JBL Charge 5, you need to additionally turn off the LED lighting and listen to music up to the volume of the 50%. So, without doing any additional steps, the JBL Charge 5 will play longer because the LED lighting of the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 will drain the battery a little faster.

I mentioned earlier that the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 can read music files from USB or SD cards, and you can also listen via an AUX cable, so if you want to use such a function, JBL is not for you in this case.

In this case, the JBL Charge model is more resistant to moisture and dust, since it has an IPX67 rating, so the Mirtune S100, which has an IPX7 resistance, is slightly inferior, but you really do not need to worry about accidentally getting this device wet.

To make it easier to imagine how the speakers of both speakers work, I present the differences in sound quality in the video. It may not be possible to hear all the details, but JBL produces better sound quality. High frequencies are much clearer and more detailed. Although the Tronsmart is only 10W more powerful, its sound is much more powerful and the low frequency is much stronger.

Verdict

After testing the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 and comparing its capabilities with the high-end JBL Charge 5 model, I can safely say that for such a small amount, this speaker plays impressively. Sure, there are aspects of the JBL that I liked better, but we're talking about a budget and more wallet-friendly alternative.

After paying ~ 60 euros, you get a compact, but sufficiently powerful and high-quality product, which beats competitors twice as expensive. So, if you are looking for a speaker that will not only fill the background of the party, but also create a light and sound show, I recommend this Tronsmart Mirtune S100 speaker.