This unassuming Bluetooth speaker caught me off guard with big bass and clear mids

If bass is your jam, then you probably know that most Bluetooth speakers don’t always deliver those deep low ends. There’s little “punch” or separation between the kick drum and bass guitar, and things can sound a bit muddy.

That’s why Brane decided to release a Bluetooth speaker (the Brane X<!–>) that is the first ever to include a true internal subwoofer. And, wow, does it sound good. This small speaker, albeit pricey, kicks out the jams in ways few Bluetooth speakers can match. Yeah, it’s almost $500, but if you’re serious about your portable music, this might be just the speaker you’re looking for.

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I’m not gonna lie; I was skeptical. I’ve reviewed so many Bluetooth speakers, all of which make promises they struggle to deliver on. The Brane X, however, delivers with a kick, a punch, and a thump.

The specs

• Amplification – 200 Watts
• Speakers – 6.5″ x 9″ RAD (Repel-Attract-Driver) subwoofer, 2 x 2.5″ midrange drivers, and 2 .75″ dome tweeters.
• Mics – 4 waterproof mics
• Connectivity – Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, streaming with Spotify Connect, Pandora, Prime Music, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and Tunein.
• Voice assistant – works with Amazon Alexa
• Battery – 72-watt-hour battery for 12 hours of playback (at moderate volume) and a full charge in 3 hours.
• AUX port – 3.5 mm aux port for connecting to compatible turntables or other devices.
• Waterproofing – IP57
• Dimensions – 6.1″ H x 9.3″ D x 7″ H
• Weight – 7.7 lbs
• Price – $499 on Amazon

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My experience

I’ve tested other Bluetooth speakers that claimed to include subwoofers but those claims are rarely true — especially at lower price points. The Brane X does include a true sub, and it shows; you can actually feel the bass. I placed the Brane X on my standing desk (comprised of two heavy-duty work tables) and fired up Rush’s “Signals” album. To my surprise, after holding my hands three or four inches from the Brane X, I could feel the vibrations.

My initial reaction? Wow. The Brane X speaker offers the cleanest, most exciting bass I’ve ever heard from a portable Bluetooth speaker. There’s even enough separation between the kick drum and the bass guitar, which is a difficult for a Bluetooth speaker to achieve.

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At first, I had the volume at about 50%, and the Brane X filled my office with glorious lows, smooth mids, and surprisingly crisp highs. When I cranked the speaker to about 75%, it was too loud for my office (which has a 15-foot ceiling). At that volume, I could feel the bass vibrating my hands as I typed. 

As an impromptu test, I crumpled up a small piece of paper, placed it on top of the speaker, and cranked up “Analog Kid” to 75%. The paper actually started dancing around as the bass moved it. That was about as unscientific a test as you’ll get, but it showed just how thunderous the bass on this speaker is.

I will say this about the volume: as you inch closer to 100%, the mids start to take over. Because of that, I decided to install the Brane app (Android/iOS). When I first attempted to connect the Brane X to the app, it failed on me. To get around that, I had to turn the speaker off and power it back on. 

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That got it to work, but then, even though the speaker said “Wi-Fi” was configured, the app failed to add it. Finally, after closing the app and restarting it, I was able to configure the features like voice assistance, streaming, bass, LED brightness, and update the firmware. 

There’s also a five-band EQ, which defaults to all bands set to flat. I toned down the mids, bumped up the bass and treble, and then went back to “Analog Kid.” Now, when I pushed the volume limits, the mids weren’t so glaring, and even at higher volumes, the sound was outstanding.

Since it’s the holidays, I decided to play one of my favorite Traditional Christmas Carols playlist on Spotify and found the voices (it’s a mostly vocal playlist) to be beautifully separated and clean.

ZDNET’s buying advice

It’s pricey, but the Brane X Bluetooth Speaker<!–> is probably the finest-sounding Bluetooth speaker I’ve reviewed to date. The bass is no joke, and with the help of the 5-band EQ, you can customize the sound to fit your tastes. 

If you (or someone you know) have discerning taste that tends to lean heavily into the heavy side of things, the Brane X speaker is as sure a thing as you’ll find in a Bluetooth speaker. Although it’s heft means it’s not something to toss into a backpack and carry with you, it does have a carrying handle, and the 7.7-pound weight isn’t that bad. 

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Is the Brane X worth the $500 price tag? If you have the money to spare and bass is your thing, then it is very much worth it. If $500 is too steep for you, skip it and go for either the Fender Rockster Cross or the Treblab HD 77.