Klipsch The Austin Portable Bluetooth Speaker with a 1.5" Full Range Driver, IP67 dust and Waterproof Rating, 12 Hours of Playtime for a Premium Live Concert Experience

PJUnited States

this speaker is awesome!!!!! Could not imagine more, especially for this $$

This speaker puts out great sound (even better with two in stereo!). It fills the room with beautiful sound. Two in stereo are even better. I did have a little trouble with connectivity, but even though I am not super tech-savvy, I got it worked out. (Update: one time I had to re-boot my phone to get it to link up, not sure why.) Downloading the app allows you to make a few adjustments, such as adjust bass, mids and treble, which I appreciate, because it was set at too much bass for me. I compared the sound with my old but top-quality Yamaha stereo system and found it hard to tell them apart. I like that there are speakers on both sides of the unit. This allows you to turn the name/logo to the back if you wish (some speakers 'scream' their name at you). It is a hefty weight, and therefore seems well-built. It goes off after about 20-25 minutes of inactivity. You can turn off all sounds in the app, which is great for retreats, bedtime, etc when you do not want operational sounds interrupting your quiet. Though the battery indicator is not always on, the exact level also shows in the app. You can also check it by quickly pressing the on/off button when the speaker is on. It has 5 bars that show up when it is full. So, each bar represents 20% of battery storage. They blink while charging, so you can watch charging progress (even without opening the app). Battery life seems good and in a pinch, it will charge your phone!! Update: I now have 2 of these for stereo sound. The instructions for linking them together for stereo are not clear. 1. You must have only ONE speaker paired to Bluetooth. That one 'feeds' sound to the other once they are linked. 2. With both speakers turned on and music playing out of the paired one, simultaneously press the power and volume down buttons on BOTH speakers at the same time for a few seconds. In a few more seconds, the 2nd speaker will pick up the other channel. If you do not want phone calls and other notifications interrupting your listening time, you may need to figure out how to stop them without using "Do Not Disturb", since that setting (on my phone, at least) shuts off the phone's sound output altogether (including output to the speaker[s]). I finally got around the incoming calls issue (the tough one) by forwarding all calls to VM. (Also need to turn off other apps' sound notifications.)

starman jonesUnited States

Great travel accessory for a vacation rental.

There's only so much one can reasonably expect from small Bluetooth speakers streaming music from the suboptimal DACs found in most phones and tablets. That's why I've got quality wired music systems in my home and studio for serious music listening. I do however use different Bluetooth speakers for different situations. I mainly listen to vintage jazz and some Americana at normal volumes. I'm pretty old and don't frolic on the beach or hang by the pool with vivacious young people listening to pop music on JBL Boom Boxes at deafening volumes. I have a little UE Wonderboom 4 for listening to podcasts while working outside. It's lightweight, rugged, inexpensive and sounds fine. For quiet background music while visiting with friends on the back porch I'll grab my Soundcore Boom 2 or Klipsch Detroit, both with decent sound, even at lower volumes. And I keep a used compact JBL Flip 7 that stays directly connected to my laptop for the occasional youtube video. It stays charged from the laptop and I don't have to connect it by Bluetooth every time I turn on my laptop. But for travelling by suitcase to vacation Air B&B's or condo rentals, I always take a pair of Klipsch Nashville speakers. Their shape makes them easy to pack, and once you figure out how to link them (!), they play in true stereo. They offer excellent, balanced sound with a tight, unmuddied bass. They are loud enough for a large room and feature good transparency and impressive soundstage. A close second choice would have been a pair of the Marshall Emberton II's. They have the same brick shape as the Klipsch but are even smaller and lighter. They too have very good sound but I prefer the the more robust sound of the Klipsch. And the Embertons do not link in true stereo separation, since each speaker plays "stereo sound." They would be a good choice however for someone travelling who wants to save even more space and weight. I went with the Klipsch because I found the sound quality and price (under $100 each) worth carrying the extra weight.

GeoffUnited States

Best of sound and value

After searching for over a year to find a really good Bluetooth speaker without paying an arm and leg, I finally found it - the Klipsch Nashville. It did need some tuning, but that was easy using the Klipsch software. This speaker excels with Rock, Jazz, Country, and Classical music. Put it to the test: Theme to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" by John Williams, at medium-high volume. Other speakers failed, but this one produced thrilling sound detail; if you listen for a particular instrument, you will hear it. Similar to the Marshall Emberton, there are speakers on both sides, which project sound that can fill a room (neither JBL nor Bose have this feature). I think it's very effective. If you travel a lot, the option of using the hefty battery to charge your cell phone comes in handy. These features, plus EQ software, set the Klipsch Nashville apart. One important thing to note: third-party cases can be found for other brands (Bose, JBL, even Marshall) but none for the Klipsch Nashville. So I found a product that works for this speaker, the MEIJIA IP67 waterproof hard compact camera case (8.12”x6.56”x 3.56”). Just take out the block of foam and put the Klipsch Nashville inside. It's very snug at first but the layers of foam at the top and bottom compresses for a perfect fit. Protect your investment. This speaker is the best in terms of sound quality and value for your dollar, especially if it is discounted. And, its made in the USA (Hope, Arkansas)!

DonJohnUnited States

This is the one!!! This speaker BOOMS and sounds so good!

Breakdown: Just to get it out of the way, I love this speaker. It sounds amazing for something so portable. Obviously the soundstage is limited by its width, but it seriously packs a punch for all genres of music. Size-wise, it’s literally built like a brick. The Nashville measures 7” x 3.2” x 3.1” (a brick comes in at 7.6” x 3.6” x 2.2”), and it has a good solid heft to it, though it ‘only’ weighs about half as much as a brick. I’ve seen a lot of talk about battery life, but I get an easy 12 hours at 50% volume. Yay!: 1. Sound quality and volume, obviously! 2. Looks cool! Not quite as retro as the Marshall speakers, but kind of along those lines. Honestly I’d like it if the Klipsch branding was a little more prominent even. 3. IP67 so it’s good to go in the rain, in the shower, or next to the pool. Nay!: 1. No strap, and from what I can tell, no easy or even semi-easy way to add one. I *LOVE* this speaker, but the lack of a strap limits it a bit. Tips: 1. No tip from me, but if you find a decent strap for it, pls let me know! Bottom line: Price-wise the Nashville falls into the JBL Flip 7 range, but in sound quality, there is no comparison. I don’t pretend to be an audiophile, but I know what I like, and this just makes music sound better. I haven’t tried the newest JBL Charge models, but to me the Nashville sounds cleaner (better!) than the Charge 5, although the Charge is louder.