A Compact Bluetooth Speaker For Every Age
Looking for a small, portable speaker that can fit into your pocket, handbag, or onto the handle of your bicycle? There’s no shortage of these speakers on the market, but in this review, we’ll be taking a look at Treblab’s HD-Go, seeing how it performs in its own right and then comparing it near the end with similar speakers. I’ll be covering how it sounds, its build quality, connectivity, and more.
Key Takeaways
- Compact and durable design makes it great for outdoor, on-the-go listening.
- Basic controls and no app support limit functionality compared to competitors.
- Sound quality is decent but lacks bass and volume for larger spaces.
- Strong Bluetooth connection and up to 16 hours of battery life per charge.
HD-Go
What I Like:
- Lightweight and easy to carry around.
- Functional carry loop.
- Quick charging process.
- Competitive battery performance.
- Reliable Bluetooth connectivity.
What I Don’t Like:
- Not a lot of bass.
- No companion app, so no easy EQ option.
- Doesn’t get very loud.
- No track skipping options on the speaker.
Design: A Small, Lightweight Speaker For Everyday Use
Not quite a mini-Bluetooth speaker, the Treblab HD-Go is very compact. Its design allows it to be played with the speaker facing towards the listener, or placed on its back and have the sound played upward. While there are no stabilizers on the back, I found the speaker didn’t tend to move around from the vibration.
Durability: Built to last, indoors and outdoors
- IPX7 waterproofing makes it outdoor-safe.
- Fabric wrap that covers the front and back.
Since small speakers like this are typically used outdoors more than indoors, durability is something everyone needs to consider. I couldn’t find any particular weak points in its design, and overall, the durability feels on par with competing speakers.
The fabric that covers the front and back of the speaker isn’t quite as premium-feeling as that found on JBLs, but it still effectively prevents scratches and other cosmetic damage. This is helpful if the speaker is brushed up against sticks while hiking through brush, or when dropped onto a rough gravel surface, for instance.
Portability: Relatively compact, but not exactly a light speaker
- At under 10 oz, the HD-Go is super lightweight.
- Small enough to be placed in a pocket.
- Carry loop proves useful, especially when paired with a carabiner.
Not quite a mini-Bluetooth speaker, the Treblab HD-Go is very compact, especially when compared to the similar Soundcore Select 4 Go, which is about 20% larger. The HD-Go’s small size is super convenient, especially because of the carry loop, which can easily have a carabiner attached to it.
Since it’s such a lightweight speaker, with a carabiner, it can be attached to more types of objects. Backpacks, handbags, and even belt loops. Many similarly sized speakers are just a bit too heavy to feel comfortable when attached to one’s belt loops, so this sets it apart from its slightly heavier competitors.
Controls: Simple, But Also Limited
Controls are really basic; there are only three buttons:
- Volume down
- Play/pause
- Volume up
The play/pause button also doubles as a power button when held down, but there’s no way to change the track (forward or backward) using the speaker itself, meaning you’ll need to use your phone for playback control. I’m not the biggest fan of this, as sometimes waterproof speakers are taken into the pool without one’s cellphone, and then skipping tracks becomes impossible.
I’d have liked to have the volume or play button have a secondary function for track skipping.
Multispeaker Pairing: Supports True Wireless Stereo
- Use two HD-Go together for wireless stereo sound.
The HD-Go supports true wireless stereo pairing, meaning it can be paired together wirelessly with another HD-Go and have the sound split between both speakers, one playing right channel sound and the other playing left channel sound.
This feature isn’t as appealing on smaller speakers as it is on larger ones, but it’s still something I am always happy to see offered. My only concern with it on the HD-Go is that it’s not a very loud speaker, so many of the benefits around soundstage can’t be fully appreciated.
Bluetooth: Efficient connections that stay connected
- Holds a reliable connection, even through walls.
- Not much latency when watching videos.
With Bluetooth 5.3, the Treblab HD-Go performs better than expected when it comes to wireless performance. Granted, it’s not super low latency, but I found no problems using it with YouTube, which makes it a viable cellphone replacement speaker.
I also found that the Bluetooth connection was stable, even through brick walls, holding a connection for up to 10 meters with a wall between.
Unfortunately, No App Support
Companion apps aren’t essential for small speakers, but with both JBL and Soundcore having apps with EQ options for the JBL Go 4 and Soundcore Select 4 Go, respectively, one can’t help but wonder how long until Treblab implements their own.
Sound Quality: Not Bad, But Falls Short of Popular Competitors
- Lack of bass will be a deadbreaker for bass-heads.
- Doesn’t get very loud, unable to fill a room.
- Decent midrange, would benefit from a companion app with custom EQ.
Here’s the deal… The HD-Go sounds decent, but in the last 18 months, the small speaker space has changed a lot, and the HD-Go now has to prove itself against some incredible budget speakers. I found that both the JBL Go 4 and Select 4 Go were excellent values, with sound quality that exceeded my expectations.
I’m going to keep it short, only giving you the information you need to know about how this speaker sounds.
Overall, it’s not a bad-sounding speaker, but the lows aren’t very deep, which means it lacks depth during most tracks, and can create dull bass-heavy tracks. Vocals sound good for the most part, but a bit hollow at times, and some inconsistencies can be heard.
When played loudly, the speaker has noticeable compression, which reduces the detail, indicating a limited dynamic range.
Still, it is not a bad choice for a cellphone speaker replacement, where it can easily boost the volume compared to most mobile devices.
I think a mobile app with custom EQ could help to compensate for some of its inherent challenges, such as bringing the lows up or balancing out some of the frequency dips in the midrange.
How To Read a Frequency Response Chart
Volume: Only Suitable For Small Groups Of Friends
Volume output is probably the most noteworthy shortfall of this speaker. In an era where people want more volume, the HD-Go falls short of its potential, measuring 4 decibels shy of the Soundcore Select 4 Go. It can’t quite fill a room with sound, and is best for solo listening or with a couple of friends. It’s especially noticeable out in the wind.
Battery: Respectable Playtime of Up To 16 Hours
- Middle of the road battery performance, with fast charging.
Rated to last 16 hours, this speaker gives more than just a couple of listening sessions before the battery depletes. I found that at my comfortable listening volume (around 75% on this speaker), I was able to get just shy of 10 hours of playtime. To charge, there’s a USB-C port along the side of the speaker, and charging is completed in between 3 and 4 hours.
Since there aren’t any bass boost features or lights, the only thing that really impacts the playtime is the volume it’s played.
Value & Alternatives
As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, there’s no shortage of choice for compact Bluetooth speakers these days, and the HD-Go’s biggest challenge is the competition it has to go up against. The JBL Go 4 is a safe pick, an awesome speaker with a budget-focused price tag and mobile app support. However, when I compare the HD-GO and JBL Go 4 to the Select 4 Go from Soundcore, I find the Select 4 Go manages to find the best balance in sound quality and volume output.
Conclusion
Overall, the Treblab HD-Go is a capable speaker; its sound quality is good, and 2 years ago, I’d have considered it a very solid release. However, while I sit here with the JBL GO 4, Soundcore Select 4 Go, and HD-Go together and toggle between, the HD-Go objectively falls short.
It just feels like it’s missing something that can separate it from the high-performance competition. Mobile app support would have gone a long way in closing the gap.
