Category: Accessories

Audio accessories are all hype in the Indian market specifically wireless audio devices such as speakers and headphones. And when you step out to buy a new wireless speaker you are flooded with options to choose from. We have seen a rising trend amongst the homegrown brands debuting into the audio market. Mivi is one of the Indian digital accessories brands that gradually expanded the lineup of its audio products. The company has marked a strong presence across the budget audio market.

One of the recent offerings by Mivi for the Indian audience is the Octave 3 wireless speaker. This latest Octave-series Bluetooth speaker is launched at Rs. 1,999 in India. You get several varieties of speakers under Rs. 2,000 price bracket in India but what gives the Octave 3 an edge over the others? Well, we have tested the latest MiVi Octave Bluetooth speaker’s performance and are breaking down all the pointers in this review article.

Pros And Cons

Pros

• Sturdy form factor
• Good bass output
• Powerful battery backup

Cons

• A bit hefty to hold
• Audio clarity is not good at higher volumes

Mivi Octave 3 Bluetooth Speaker: Practical Design?

The Mivi Octave 3 is launched as a portable Bluetooth speaker which from the first look highlights its outdoor-favored design. The Octave 3 wireless speaker has a cylindrical form factor. But it’s not a bland look that you get. A metallic speaker grill wrapping throughout the length and rubber padding on the top and bottom is what gives the sturdy feel. It might feel a bit bulky to hold, so a table placement would be apt. The passive bass radiators on both ends of the speaker will definitely grab your eye.

Specifically; when any audio is playing and you see the radiators vibrating with each beat or thump. Before we dive into the Mivi Octave 3’s audio performance, let’s quickly discuss the remaining design aspect. A small rubber strip is placed on the speaker body that houses all the control keys and also the slot for AUX and USB Type-C port.

The slot has a rubber seal protection against water. Speaking of which, the Mivi Octave 3 Bluetooth speaker features a dust and splashproof design making it apt for outdoor ventures. The non-removable strap on the top of the keys makes it easy to carry around. A tiny LED is placed at the bottom that notifies when the speaker is paired with any device.

Mivi Octave 3 Speaker Audio Performance: Small Package Yet Powerful

The MiVi Octave 3 is a portable Bluetooth speaker but is packed with big 16W drivers. I had a decent experience with its audio delivery. You definitely get the urge to turn up the volume to the max just to see the passive radiators thumping with every drop in the song. While the bass levels are good, you might be disappointed with the audio distortion at the highest levels.

The clarity isn’t as good as you get with 50- 70 percent volume levels. The loudness level is decent for a small or medium-sized room. When outdoors or in open spaces, you would have to keep the speaker at closer proximities to enjoy your favorite tracks. The MiVi Octave 3 also has 360-degree stereo surround support.

Now, there is no dedicated key or mode that you can switch to for this feature. It’s rather is a built-in feature that starts functioning as soon as you hit the play tab. We couldn’t figure out if it made any marginal changes to the audio delivery. It would have been easier for us to compare the audio output if there were an option to toggle between the standard and 360-degree audio profiles.

Mivi Octave 3: Connectivity, Battery Backup

The Mivi Octave 3 is equipped with both wireless as well wired connectivity support. It uses Bluetooth technology and a standard pairing process for wireless connectivity with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs. It also has an AUX port for wired connections.

You can use standard AUX cables for the same. As for the battery, Mivi hasn’t specified the size. However, the claims are around 8 hours on a single charge. If you are playing this speaker at 50 percent volumes, the backup is close to what the company claims. It drops to 6- 7 hours if the volume levels are highest.

Mivi Octave 3 Final Verdict: Worth A Buy?

The MiVi Octave 3 is an intuitively designed Bluetooth speaker. The bass-emphasis design is one of the biggest highlights. But audio is not entirely the strongest forte of the Octave 3. The audio muffle at higher levels is where it misses out on being the perfect buy under Rs. 2,000. But we believe is room for improvements which we will get to see with the next generation Octave speakers.

Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. You can also follow the GizNext Tech Enthusiast Telegram group and the GizNext Tech Enthusiast WhatsApp group for all the fresh tech updates.

The remote working module picked up its pace within the last two years. The work-from-home culture was adopted due to the deadly COVID 19 pandemic situation. This also led to a sudden rise in demand for technology products that make online conferencing easier for the industries. The tech brands even brought in dedicated online conferencing tools, while others enhanced their existing platforms to enhance the video and audio conference experience. Maxhub is one of those brands which is catering to a wide range of audiences with its technologically advanced products.

One of the most useful products by Maxhub for organizations that are frequent with online conferencing is the BM21 Bluetooth Speakerphone. This compact tabletop speaker is an all-in-one solution for audio/video conferencing. The wireless portable speaker integrates 6-Element Microphone Array and high-dynamic speakers for clear audio in a large meeting room.

The Maxhub BM21 Bluetooth speakerphone is priced at around Rs. 29,999 in India. But how good is this speakerphone for daily conferencing? Will it be replacing traditional speakers used for online conferencing or meetings? Is this product worth an investment? We have used the Maxhub BM21 Bluetooth speaker for a while and in this article, we are giving feedback on whether it’s a necessary product for online conferencing or it can be skipped. Read on to Know:\

Pros And Cons

Pros

• A Dedicated Six-microphone array improves the audio conference experience
• Support for both wireless and wired connecticity
• Decent battery backup

Cons

• Slightly hefty
• Music listening experience not as good as conference

Maxhub BM21 Bluetooth Speakerphone Design: Compact And Practical

The Maxhub BM21 features a circular tabletop design. The speakerphone is compact in size and can be placed on any desktop or conference table. It doesn’t take up much space and isn’t bulky either. This is one welcome design approach that the Maxhub BM21 Bluetooth speakerphone brings to the table. It features a metallic design with minimal plastic use.

However, it is bulky compared to similar-sized counterparts. The speakerphone has a bunch of physical keys that help with audio control and also pair with supported devices. Speaking of the set of keys, the speakerphone has the volume down key on the top left followed by the Bluetooth pairing, mic off/mute, call, and the volume key. All the keys are LED enabled and they glow up as soon as you power up the speakerphone. Overall, the Maxhub BM21 speakerphone has an apt design for small to medium-sized meeting rooms.

Maxhub BM21 Bluetooth Speakerphone: Features And Audio Performance

What makes the Maxhub BM21 useful for conference calls is the six-microphone array that allows 360-degree audio pickup, high-range dynamic speakers, and hardware-level Zoom certification. The speakerphone has dual sound modes, i.e, music, and call. The speakerphone has independent sound pickup technology and a dual audio amplification system that helps with better audio reception.

The speakerphone does a good job with audio amplification during any meeting. You get to hear the caller’s audio clearly. Increasing the volume level helps if it’s a large conference table or a meeting room. The speaker supports high-fidelity sound transmission that allows for refined audio transmission of every member speaking in the meeting room. At no point, did we find the audio getting muffled even at higher levels. We have tested the speakerphone’s experience with Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet and had a good experience overall.

Maxhub BM21 Bluetooth Speakerphone: Connectivity and Battery Backup

The Maxhub BM21 Bluetooth speakerphone supports both wireless and wired connectivity. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack that lets you pair it with any laptop or computer. The battery capacity isn’t specified, but the company has claimed up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge. During our testing we found the speakerphone to last around 5 to 6 hours. But you can always plug in the charger if the speakerphone is running out of fuel.

Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. You can also follow the GizNext Tech Enthusiast Telegram group and the GizNext Tech Enthusiast WhatsApp group to stay updated with the latest happenings around the tech world.