I am not going to lie - I am not a fan of winter weather anymore.
I do not like being cooped up for long periods of time, and the constant winter mess we’ve had lately has done just that. It does not make me a happy camper. So I do what I can to get out of the house whenever possible. When that doesn’t happen, which has been a lot lately, I try to keep busy.
I’ve been trying to do projects around the house to keep my mind off the fact that I’m iced in. I like listening to music to take the edge off the tedious chores, like house cleaning or organizing the media shelves that have gotten out of control. Up until now, I’ve used my phone’s feeble speaker to listen to music. That is, until I got a chance to try out a new speaker system from iHome.
The iBN26 wireless stereo speaker is made for almost any smartphone or music player with Bluetooth wireless capability, including Apple and Android-based phones, and even Blackberry phones. It also works with devices that are compatible with Near Field Communication wireless. Newer Android smartphones usually have this capability.
Although it’s made to be wireless, the iBN26 can work with non-Bluetooth devices as well. The package includes a wire that can connect audio devices via their 3.5-mm headphone jacks to an input jack on the back of the iHome device.
The iBN26 is very easy to set up. It’s a single-speaker system with an included power adapter and the audio cord. It’s incredibly easy with a Near Field Communication compatible device, such as an Android phone. It’s simply a matter of touching the device to the N symbol on the top of the iBN26. The speaker gives a couple of tones and the phone announces it’s now connected. It’s very quick and easy.
It’s also easy to set the speaker up to a Bluetooth-capable device, such as an iPhone. A Bluetooth button on the back can be pressed to put the device into search mode, but it also goes into that mode automatically as soon as it’s plugged in. It didn’t take long for the phone to pick up on the signal and connect.
One thing I did notice with this speaker - once you’re connected, you have to disconnect for the device to stop working with your phone. Otherwise, it will pick up on the signal automatically, even if off or in standby mode. It’s easy enough to disconnect with a Near Field Communication device - you simply touch the phone to the top of the iBN26 to disconnect. Butthe Bluetooth signal must be turned off on those devices to disconnect from the iHome device.
Disconnecting isn’t a problem if a call comes in on the phone. The iBN26 has a speakerphone built into it. The power and play buttons pick up a call or hang it up, in case you’re closer to it than to the phone. The speaker has decent volume to it during a phone call, though the person to whom I was speaking said it was difficult to hear me at times. However, that simply could have been a bad connection. It did seem to improve as the call continued.
The iBN26 has a little bonus feature on the back: A USB port makes it possible to charge a phone or MP3 device while it’s playing, or even when it isn’t. The device doesn’t come with a charging cable, so you’ll need to use one compatible with your phone.
Finally, there’s the sound. The iBN26 has good upper and midtone ranges. The bass is OK, though it can be more of a dull thump at times. The sound isn’t as rich as some systems I’ve heard, but it’s more than adequate if you just need a spare speaker fora room.
Given its round, compact design, it’s perfect as a small music system for the kitchen or living room. It looks nice and is even a little understated, so it fits easily into any room.
The iBN26 does just fine when you need a distraction from tedious chores or busy work to keep from going stir crazy. Hopefully, I won’t have to use it for that purpose much longer. Thankfully, there’s only 38 days until spring.
Melissa L. Jones can be reached via email at mljones72@me.com.
Where it’s @
The iHome iBN26 wireless speaker system requires a smartphone or audio device with Bluetooth or Near Field Communication compatibility for wireless connectivity. The product retails for $79. More information is available at www.ihomeaudio.com.
Business, Pages 19 on 02/10/2014