Retro Wooden Speaker Handmade by Nuvitron - Model Bell, The Vintage Looking Bookshelf Speaker with an Internal Acoustic Soundwave Chamber for a Natural and Enhanced Sound - Bluetooth

Looks:The first thing that should draw you to this unit are the looks. It looks delightfully antique a is reminiscent of vintage radio horns and phonographs. The finish has a "rustic" quality; it isn't pristine and smooth, so that is something to keep in mind. It reminds me of the aged finish on my Edison C-250 phonograph in oak. The black metal horn is perfectly formed though. While it does not come across in the official photos, the unit is built in a way that it tapers backwards. This makes it stable since the metal horn would make it front heavy otherwise. It gives it an interesting look from the side too. The metal knob looks and feels great too.Sound:This unit sounds excellent, especially considering that the speaker itself is quite small. Being horn-loaded, the sounds is very directional and changes as you move around it. If you are to the side (or behind, for some reason) the sound is very warm and smooth. Straight in front, it is quite bright. The metal horn increases the efficiency of the speaker allowing it to be quite loud for its size. The cabinet is designed in such a way to increase the bass response and it can produce very solid bass, though its strength is in the mids and up. The sound also changes based upon distance and I suggest placing this unit around 10 feet away or further for best performance. It can really fill a room! The analog volume knob is smooth and there wans't any crackle when changing volume.Connectivity:I am not a Bluetooth guy myself, but i have been testing it and it seems pretty functional. My phone (Blackberry KeyOne, Android) detected the speaker very quickly and connected without issues. Oddly enough, the headphone jack on my phone has a limited maximum volume, so Bluetooth was capable of being louder in my situation. Otherwise, using an aux cable will produce better quality sound and is more reliable.Assembly:You just need to pop a piece of the case off, insert the horn, and put it back. Super easy and quick. It came well packed with lots of bubble wrap and the manual is delightfully retro.Conclusion:This unit is a tad pricey, but it is both an art piece and a very effective speaker. In a world of super cheap Bluetooth speakers, this stands out. If you like older things or just things of quality, consider this speaker. It comes with a braided Aux cable that looks antique too.