If you frequent the gadget stores in malls, then you might have encountered products from Promate. One of them is the Promate Conex which is a pair of portable Bluetooth speakers that can offer stereo sound. Check out our quick review below.
Table of Contents
Design and Construction
As mentioned earlier, the Promate Conex is a pair of portable Bluetooth speakers. By portable, meaning they’re both small enough to be carried in a backpack. It features a cone-like design with a plastic build.
On the front are the speaker grille surrounded by a plastic chrome-like frame. Hiding behind the grille is the LED indicator as well as the microphone. On the right are the AUX ports and microUSB port for charging.
Up top is the multifunction key, while down at the bottom are the metallic stand and soft rubber nubs.
The whole body is mostly made of plastic. Although we’re not fans of the plasticky chrome frame on the front, the rear part has a rubber-like finish which feels good to the touch and resists smudges well.
When it comes to weight, the Conex have a decent heft to them, enough to keep them planted on the surface. I’d like to add that you’ll have to remember to put plastic sleeves on the metal feet as they are sharp and can leave marks on your furniture.
Connectivity and Features
The Conex features Bluetooth 4.1 with support for A2DP, HFP, and HSP profiles. Setup takes quite a while but simple to do. First, you need to power the speakers and pair them together by pressing and holding the multifunction button at the same time.
It will then provide voice prompts for the following – pairing, pairing successful, and to indicate which speaker is to the left or right channel. Once that bit is sorted out, you can now connect your mobile device via Bluetooth and play your music.
The speakers also function as a hands-free speaker for calls. It even features noise-cancelling technology for clearer audio. And in case you don’t have a Bluetooth connection, you can always go for wired via the AUX port.
Sound Quality
We weren’t expecting much from the Conex given its price and brand, but after firing the speakers we were actually quite impressed. Having two separate speakers is more immersive compared to a single-speaker setup. We like placing it by around two feet apart for that surround feel.
After playing hours of music from multiple genres, we find the Conex to be more inclined towards the higher end of the spectrum. Trebles are crisp and clear but sibilant in louder volumes. Listening to rock, jazz, acoustic, or live performances sound great. Bass is noticeable as well and can deliver those thumping beats but it lacks that deep rumbling found in more expensive and larger speakers. Still, it will suffice for most Hip Hop or R&B music.
Battery Life
Battery life is pegged at 8 hours playtime. So far with our usage, we get around 7 to 8 hours on average, juggling between 60 to 90% volume. Charging is done via microUSB ports and takes around 2.5 hours from zero to full.
Conclusion
Promate has a pair of good-sounding speakers in the form of the Conex. It may not exude a “high-end” appeal but it can deliver the kind of sound quality that can appease different kinds of listeners. It offers something new on the table as well thanks to its dual stereo speaker setup which provides an immersive listening experience. Lastly, it only costs Php3,495 SRP (Php2,495 until January 5, 2017) so it’s not going to break the bank.
The Promate products are available at the following stores: SM North EDSA Annex, SM Clark, Ayala Cebu, Robinsons Place Ermita, Silicon Valley Stores nationwide, and Lazada Promate Store.
Promate Conex specs:
Speaker output: 3W x2
Impedance: 4ohms
Bluetooth 4.1 A2DP, HFP, HSP
10m operating distance
550mAh battery
Pros:
* Portable
* Dual speaker setup
* Good sound quality
* Affordable
Cons:
* Not so premium build
* Boring design
saan po makakabili nito with discounted price na hanngang January 2017? tia.
The Promate products are available at the following stores: SM North EDSA Annex, SM Clark, Ayala Cebu, Robinsons Place Ermita, Silicon Valley Stores nationwide, and Lazada.