Photive Hydra review
Photive Hydra: Waterproof and Shockproof Lightweight Speaker
The Photive Hydra is a portable Bluetooth speaker with IPX66 waterproof rating which means that it’s capable of withstanding pressurized water jets and dusty environments. In addition, the speaker has a durable construction that protects its parts from numerous accidental drops or shocks. This way, it can be the best audio device to take with you to hiking, fishing, or anywhere where a standard speaker can be easily broken.
Dimensions
The Photive Hydra wireless Bluetooth speaker is 7 x 2 x 2 inches in total and weighs 15 ounces. This way, it’s extremely lightweight and compact, so you easily can grab the unit with one hand and carry it around for a long time without feeling tired. Its weight also allows hanging it on your clothes for hands-free transportation during hiking, for example.
Features
The Photive Hydra waterproof wireless Bluetooth speaker is optimized to consume less energy. Thus, it will last no less than 8 hours on one charge even if you are going to continuously listen to music at the max volume level.
When it comes to sound quality, this speaker has something to offer even to demanding music lovers. Being equipped with a powerful passive sub, it produces a mighty bass. The sound clarity is provided by two 40mm drivers. The speaker gives out a very natural sound in both high and low frequencies. You can clearly hear all the instruments and vocals just as if they all were played from different speakers.
The speaker features a total output power of 10W. It provides enough volume for an open environment, but some noticeable distortion can be heard at the max volume level.
The speaker is compatible with both Apple and Android devices. It supports Bluetooth 4.0 and has a wireless range of 33 feet (depending on conditions, it can be reduced to 30 feet). However, it can stream audio from only one source.
Thanks to the built-in microphone, the Photive Hydra can also function as a speakerphone, allowing for hands-free phone conversations.
The speaker goes along with such items as a USB charging cable and a 3.5mm audio cable.
Design
The Photive Hydra portable Bluetooth speaker features a rectangle shape and has an all-black enclosure. The speaker’s exterior is rubberized, providing a better grip, while the grill is made of aluminum. It is almost impossible to leave any scratches on its surface no matter how hard you try. This way, the speaker will look like new for a few years.
The Hydra has playback control buttons on board (play, pause, volume level controls, and Bluetooth disconnect button). They are located on the side of the speaker.
The device has an on/off switch, DC 5V input, and an AUX input that enables you to connect the speaker to some old devices that don’t support Bluetooth connection. They are covered with a round pop off cap to protects them against water, dust, and other negative factors. The cap can’t be fully removed as it’s connected to the unit by a special wire.
Conclusion
As a final verdict of this Photive Hydra review, I can assert that this model is definitely a worthy investment for those who don’t want to part with music even in extreme conditions. It does provide decent protection against water, dust, shocks, and drops. The speaker also offers both wired and wireless connectivity options and features modest dimensions which makes it a perfect solution for frequent transportations.