Let me start by saying how much I enjoy reviewing all of these Blackberry gadgets and accessories available in the BBGeeks store. Once a month I get to pick an item that I think would be a great purchase for BlackBerry owners everywhere and get my thoughts out about it. I try and pick devices that will enhance your productivity, provide additional functionality to your device, or give you a little added protection from wear and tear. This time out I decided to go with something extravagant for the review process and decided on the BlueAnt M1 Bluetooth Stereo Speakers.
Introducing the BlueAnt M1 Stereo Bluetooth Speaker System
I love the sound quality of my BlackBerry Bold but sometimes you just want to have a bit more power in your tunes. This is exactly what I was thinking when I chose the M1 speakers. I was looking for a wireless solution that I could transport anywhere I went with my BlackBerry – and it had to thump! The M1 Bluetooth speakers delivered in spades and I would highly suggest them to anyone looking for a similar solution. 
The BlueAnt M1 Bluetooth speaker system is comprised of one single speaker tube with volume controls, track skip options and a Bluetooth pairing button/power switch located on the front. Also featured on the front panel of the M1 is a bass booster that allows you to pump up the bass in a tinny MP3 if necessary. I like to keep the bass switched on as the type of music I listen to is quite bass heavy for the most part. Another cool thing about the BlueAnt M1 speakers is that they come with a slick looking neoprene case that wraps snugly around the entire unit, offering protection from the elements if being used outside. The case has small vent holes to protect the speakers when in use and also features an elastic strap on one end to facilitate hanging if necessary. You will also find a nice velcro tab on the back of the case that provides access to the power supply in the event that you need to plug the speakers in at any point in time while maintaining protection from dust, dirt and rain etc.
So what are the specs?
The BlueAnt M1 bluetooth Speaker system is comprised of two 28 Watt RMS speakers and an internal Subwoofer(which they claim makes it one of the most powerful portable Bluetooth speaker systems in the world). Running on a Bluetooth 2.0 specification, the M1 speakers are compatible with a large number of PDAs, smart phones, laptops etc. As long as the device supports the Bluetooth A2DP protocol it can be used to control the M1. The M1 speakers will also operate on the SBC Stereo streaming and AVRCP Audio/VideoRemote Control Profiles. In addition to the Bluetooth connectivity, the M1 also allows for a traditional 3.5mm jack connection. This opens up the possible list of connections to devices that do not support Bluetooth but still feature media players. Essentially, in one way or another you can hook up almost any type of media player to these speakers and enjoy some great M1 sound. The operating range of the M1 speakers is listed at 10 meters and does not require line of sight in order to pair with your Bluetooth device. I was controlling the M1 from every room in my house and from what I can tell, at some points I was further than 10 meters from the M1. This was very impressive. Rest assured, these speakers will work flawlessly no matter where you are in the house. The M1 Bluetooth speakers operate on the 2.4 GHZ frequency and boast a playing time of between 3 and 10 hours depending on the volume at which they are played. During my tests I got somewhere around 7 hours of play time off a full charge which is right in line with their projections. In addition to the wireless functionality of this Bluetooth speaker set, you also have the option of plugging it in while in use to extend your play time. The speakers will charge while plugged in and take an estimated 3 hours to reach full capacity.
My Impressions of the BlueAnt M1 Bluetooth Stereo speakers
These are a must have accessory for anyone who owns a BlackBerry and enjoys a little bit of camping. The speakers are also a great fit for anyone who lives in a small apartment or house that does not need a booming stereo system but could use some quality sound in and around the home. I found the speakers themselves to be well designed in a single unit which feels sturdy yet light weight at the same time. The M1 speakers can be easily transported and the neoprene case is a great bonus as far as protection goes. Pairing my BlackBerry to the M1 was a snap. All it required was the pressing of the pairing button on the front of the M1 and choosing the device from the discovered devices list in my BlackBerry Bluetooth settings. One item of note is that you will be prompted by default on your BlackBerry to enter a code before pairing with the M1s. There is no mention of a required code in the M1 instruction manual so this may throw you for a loop. I simply entered 0000 as my pairing code and the two devices were connected immediately. The pairing code is used on some devices to ensure that the right two are connected but they were not required this time. When connected I had control of the tracks playing and volume levels on the BlackBerry. The M1 was set to a maximum preferred volume by turning the knob and the BlackBerry controlled the volume within that range. It may be important to note that not all devices will have the ability to adjust the volume remotely when paired with the M1 speakers. Tests with a roommates iPhone had no volume control at all. The sound quality of the M1 speakers is top notch for a 28 watt system and I had no issues with distortion until I got far into the higher volume levels. This is not something I would consider to be a drawback since it is rare that you will be blasting them at full volume anyways. The bass boost did a nice job pumping out my hip hop and punk rock favorites but left the music feeling a bit weak when turned off for comparison. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the BlueAnt M1 Bluetooth Speakers and I would reccommend them to anyone looking for a portable / wireless solution for their music needs.
Where Can I Get Them?
The BlueAnt M1 Bluetooth Stereo Speakers can be purchased for $159.99 (reduced from $199.99) from the BBGeeks Store. NOTE: There is another set of Bluetooth speakers available from our store for a slightly cheaper price and I will be reviewing those next. Once the two sets of speakers have been reviewed I will do a head to head post to determine which one offers the best performance and value for the BlackBerry owner looking for some serious sound! Until then I hope you have enjoyed this review.
16 comments… read them below or add one
I just got a Blueant M1.
Mine only lasted 90 minutes on
a full charge. I was playing at
a fairly high volume. It took me
5 hours to charge it last time.
Blueant tried telling me there can be
issues when playing over half volume.
I don’t feel it’s right that I can’t
even get 3 hours of play from a full
charge. It’s advertised as 3-4 hours
on high volume.
I’ll be testing more and returning it if
they admit this is nonsense!
Any suggestions?
Not much I can say about that — I did notice a decreased battery life when playing at high volumes but 90 minutes is a bit low.
My set is functioning as they claim. Sorry to hear about your issues.
I sent my M1 unit in to Blueant. They gave me a return authorization form. I had to pay postage to ship to them however.
I hope the new one is OK. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one testing it at a higher volume? I had my Env Touch phone at maximum volume and was testing the M1 at over
half volume. Probable between half and 3/4.
One customer care rep from Blueant told me there can be issues when playing the unit over half volume? Issues? I asked him :-)
I said it’s rated at 3 hours at high volume.
What is high volume?
I tested the unit at least 3 times and came up with about 90 minutes each time.
Any feedback?
thanks!
I do hope you have better success with the new set of speakers they send you. I usually have the M1 volume set around 3/4 and use the phone to manage the levels. I do not need it blasting at all times, more so when I am moving from room to room.
Good luck.
Blueant sent me a new M1 unit.
This one took 6 1/2 hours to charge.
The charge lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes
when played at a medium high volume without
bass boost.
Is this normal?
Still seems a little low
I received a new M1 unit. This one held a charge
for 2 hours and 20 minutes at medium high volume without bass boost. It took 6 and 1/2 hours to charge.
What should I do? Ask Blueant to replace it again?
I didn’t mean to take up your whole review page as my own question site Cooper :-)
Perhaps you can delete my posts and I will consolidate it into one or two reviews?
thanks
LOL – no problem Joe – sorry for the late response. I am not sure what to say — I have been seeing in and around 3 hours with higher volume playing (between half and 3/4). So you are only 40 minutes off that. This could be because you are playing at a higher volume than I am – or perhaps the volume is not as standardized as I/we assume. I have only used this one particular unit and have not had a chance to test multiple units.
I have my bass boost on all the time as I find my tunes do not sound as nice without it.
You may want to reach out to them to see if they can provide any further insight but as far as I can tell, you are just a slight bit off from what I am experiencing.
If you write a calm but concerned letter you may even get something more from them for your troubles =)
I made a discovery tonight Cooper.
Blueant advised me to hook up direct and test
it. Well I instead ran another play test with my unit at a more moderate volume. I have so far gotten nearly 3 1/2 hours on this charge.
OK so I decided to test out the SONY HWS-BTA2W STEREO BLUETOOTH TRANSMITTER / RECEIVER I purchased in my car as a receiver.
I did try the direct line and the Bluetooth.
What I discovered is that my Bluetooth output from my LG Env Touch is considerably higher than the direct line. We’re talking like twice the volume! Have you heard of this?
I tried it with the M1 and the same result. Bluetooth has a much higher output on my Env Touch. Could this be to give headsets adequate volume?
I am thinking I was over maxing the unit.
Perhaps you can test a phone or two and post the results.
I do love the M1 and would recommend it!
Am trying to pair a blueant with my blackberry tour. it finds the phone, asks me to input the password and then press ok. there is no “ok” on my blackberry tour phone. i have tried pressing menu, the green phone icon, and the track ball. Nothing works. Any suggestions?
Try the return key below the del key
Can I recieve incoming calls while my BlackBerry phone is connected to the speaker?
I wonder if there’s a difference in battery life of the M1 regarding whether or not you are using your phone’s boost feature, like the Bold’s Audio Boost. I have a Bold, and I’m so proud of it for surviving a rough 45-day trip in the Philippines. It did quite well, considering the humid and sticky climate it was constantly subjected to. I crammed my 16-gb card full of mp3s, and I like how well the music sounded through the stock BB earbuds. I want the M1 now, for camping, beach time, and shower rock. Can you tell me, does Audio Boost make a difference in the battery life of the M1? Also, I used a cheapo set of $17 AAA speakers for a couple weeks until they just blew the other day. I noticed that when my Bold was plugged into them through the jack, my Bold’s battery seemed to drain as fast as it did when I was just blasting music through it’s internal speaker. Weird. I thought using an external speaker would save the Bold’s own battery during music playback, but I still observed a drain of about 15%+ while using my external speakers. Can you please offer your thoughts on this? Thanks in advance. Also, feel free to check out my blog if you ever have the time.
Does the BlueAnt M1 Stereo Bluetooth Speaker System function as a conference speaker phone?
I’m looking for a speaker phone desktop unit for by 9700 bold Black Berry. A unit that I can dock my BB and use as a hands free device for the entire meeting room to hear and speak.
Thank you