foxL v2 Bluetooth Speaker System (foreground) and JBL comparison system. Photo by Brad Moon.
Soundmatters’ foxL v2 Bluetooth speaker system was developed by Dr. Godehard Guenther, a former NASA engineer and its pedigree shows with impressive specs, high quality sound and solid build. At $199 for a handheld wireless speaker system, it’s not the on the low end of the price spectrum, but it’s definitely up there when it comes to performance — especially its bass output. I put one of these little Bluetooth marvels through its paces, but with a twist. Soundmatters offers a bicycle mount designed specifically for the foxL v2 and my brother Rick is both a road warrior who commutes to work on his bike (even in the Canadian winter) and a music nut. Once I’d had the opportunity to scope out its basic capabilities, I passed it on to Rick for some on-road testing.
Sound:
Soundmatters bills the foxL v2 as: “The world’s best sounding pocket-sized stereo speaker.” That’s a pretty big claim. Having an audiophile “rocket scientist” design the system brings it within the realm of possibility, but verifying boasts like this is what reviewing is all about. The foxL v2 packs a pair of digitally powered 1-inch “twoofers” and makes double use of its battery, which also serves as an acoustic suspension bass driver. This unique setup is responsible for some of the most incredible bass performance I’ve heard out of a device this size, thumping enough that Soundmatters provides a rubber cushion to keep the unit from jumping across smooth surfaces. Trust me, it needs it.
I have a pretty decent (if dated — it needs a cable to connect to an iPhone) portable unit I use as a reference unit, a JBL On Tour system with a pair of 1-inch Neodymium drivers powered by a Class-D digital amp. It may be old-school when it comes to connectivity, but for ultra-portable sound, it’s still tough to beat. The significantly smaller foxL v2 could keep up with the JBL when it came to volume, although the bigger system had more stereo separation and handled the high notes a little more cleanly. When it came to bass, there was no contest. The foxL v2 kicks it, making the JBL sound positively tinny in comparison. In fact it became a game to throw the most bass-heavy songs possible at the speaker (even pulling out the big guns like Spinal Tap’s “Big Bottom”) to see if it would choke, but it was rock solid and always booming. If you like bass heavy music, this is the portable speaker system for you.
Rick reported the speaker occasionally muting when at high volume, something he suspected was a volume limiter kicking in. I never experienced this myself. Apparently it was always Blues Traveler-related, so maybe something to consider if you like listening to “Run-Around” cranked up.
Size:
When Soundmatters says pocket-sized, they aren’t exaggerating (much). The foxL v2 measures just 5.6 x 2.2 x 1.4 inches and weighs 9.5 oz.
Battery Life:
This is an important one for a portable speaker system. While you can always plug it in, that defeats the whole wireless concept. Soundmatters claims up to 5 hours of battery life, but the company notes in in FAQs that it has raised that spec to 12 hours at normal volume. The “normal volume” designation — as always — is subject to interpretation and your version can cause a huge variation in battery life. Some reviewers are seeing an impressive 8-12 hours. I managed the 8 hour range several times with the speaker playing in the background (i.e., not in a party setting). Rick, who was likely cranking the volume to compensate for being outdoors in traffic, reports an average of just 3 to 3.5 hours per charge.
The foxL v2 as a bike-mounted sound system, ready to hit the snowy roads. Photo by Rick Moon
The Bike Mount:
Rick found the quick release handlebar mount ($29.95 at the Soundmatters accessory store) easy to install and notes that it is sturdy, well made and holds the speaker firmly — no danger of it falling out on the road. The only peeve he had with it was an articulating connector, which he felt wasn’t necessary, especially since this added an inch to the overall height of the unit which really raised it above the handlebars.
On the Road:
I’ve already covered off a basic audio overview of the foxL v2, but Rick put it through its paces as a mobile sound system, powering the tunes on his bike. He reports that on trails and bike paths, the speaker system was capable (although the sound was a little “washed away” outdoors); when competing against an idling car at a stop light, though, it was game over. Even with its volume cranked, the foxL v2 couldn’t compete. He also had some trouble with the volume controls while riding (they’re on the back of the unit and the bike mount can make accessing them tricky).
Overall, though, he was impressed with its performance as a bike-mounted stereo system:
“The sound really is remarkable for the size of the speaker and I’ve had so many people comment on the fact that I have a ‘sound system’ on my bike, and they can’t believe how ‘big’ it actually sounds. I could definitely get used to having this little gem on board…”
It’s important to note that the foxL v2 is not weatherproof, so if you’re riding in the rain (or snow), you need to stash it somewhere safe. Fortunately, it’s small enough to make that easy enough.
Wired: Bass is fantastic, punches above its weight for volume without distortion, Bluetooth pairing is simple, solid build (with exception of kickstand), very portable, solid quick-release bike mount is available (sold separately).
Tired: Plastic kickstand seems like an afterthought and the hinge frequently popped out of joint, occasional issues with sound muting when at high volume.
