I had the opportunity to try Chant BT ($79.99) Portable Bluetooth speaker. I never turn down the chance to review a product from House of Marley. The company's products are known for several things: terrific attention to detail, use of all-natural materials like wood and canvas, and of course, deep and rich sound, befitting Bob Marley's legacy. His family runs House of Marley and I've met with them at the Consumer Electronics Shows over the years. It's nice to know that Bob Marley's name and song "One Love," are being carried forward in the charity of the same name.
The Chant is about the size of a coffee mug or a short 12 oz. can of soda, and it even looks like a can, with a coozie around it, except the coozie is made from assorted colors (gray, green, or tan) in canvas. The speaker itself has accents of eco-friendly bamboo and recyclable aluminum. The Chant has been around for a while, but now House of Marley has added Bluetooth. There's even a caribiner so you can clip the Chant to your belt, backpack, or purse. The battery should last about eight hours and is rechargeable via microUSB.
The Chant BT even has a built-in microphone, so you can use it as a speakerphone. That could make it a great addition to a stuffy corporate boardroom. As with all of the headphones and speakers I've tried from House of Marley, the Chant offers great sound. Still, you can plug in directly if you want to avoid the distance limitations of Blutetooth. Some of the Marley items can be expensive ($300 to $1,000) but the Chant BT is affordably priced at under $80.
Pros
- Attention to detail
- Beautiful, natural materials like wood and canvas
- Proceeds go to charity
- Great sound
- Now wireless
Cons
- Hard to choose a color
Final Verdict
Everyone will love the Chant. It has great sound, is affordable, and is now wireless.
