Sodapop Bluetooth Headphones Review: Bottled

However, to test the contrast, I first listened to the speaker without its bass bottle. The sound was very loud for a small speaker, and in my office I couldn’t handle volume above 30 percent. It’s just not an enjoyable listen, as it sounds harsh and disappointing without any discernible bass. It’s not quite as bad as putting your old iPhone in a cup for extra amplification, but it’s not far off — and at least you can actually drink from the cup afterward.

But we’re here for the sound-boosting bottle, and I can definitively say that the acoustically tuned plastic bottle actually boosts the low frequencies, and makes the speaker sound much better. The bottle takes the edge off the volume, and there’s noticeable depth to the mids and bass once plugged in. You can really hear the difference in mix and balance, and the contrast between the sound with the bottle on and off is impressive.

Push the volume up, however, and the bass quickly becomes muddy, with sharp edges appearing back in the mix. It’s not terrible, but compared to the competition, it’s not fun to listen to, which is a shame, because it sure looks nice on my desk.

Although it’s larger, the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 ($70) wipes the floor with the Sodapop, with crisp bass and clarity, even at high volume. Likewise, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 ($80) is small and portable, has full 360-degree sound, and comes with IP67 water resistance (floats), a significant upgrade to Sodapop’s IPX65 dust- and splash-resistant rating.

Playing alongside the well-proportioned and much cheaper $35 Tribit StormBox Micro 2 (IPX7 rating, 10 hours of playtime), the physical separation and large room between the drivers and bass port create a wider soundstage. There’s not much in terms of amount of bass and overall performance.