It may have an unusual shape, but this battery powered Bluetooth speaker from Denmark pumps out 80W … [+]
Plenty of companies pay lip service to environment and sustainability to improve their ESG scores, but how many walk the talk? One part of the world seems consistently close to nature and absorbs a lot of environmental lessons and that place is Scandinavia.
The Scandi approach to design, manufacture and living is one of the reasons for the massive global success of cool brands like Ikea, Bang & Olufsen and Volvo. These companies the examplars of Scandinavian living incorporating cool design, intelligent manufacturing and, above all, simplicity. As someone once said: “Keep it simple, stupid!”
The Enkle Sound ES2 is a Bluetooth speaker designed in Denmark that aims of making listening to music as simple as possible. The environmentally sympathetic ES2 delivers crisp highs and a stunning bass along with a clear mid-range.
It’s unusual and available Black, Gre, White or Green, as shown here. A full charge of the battery … [+]
The secret to the ES2’s clarity lies in its acoustic design. Enkl has used a dedicated bass driver with a reflex port to create some growlingly low frequencies. There’s also a mid-treble driver for everything else. The speaker drivers are powered by two digital amplifiers with 60W going to the bass and 20W reserved for the mid-treble.
With a combined 80W of muscular sound all housed in a rugged cabinet that’s made from recyclable plastic, this is a powerful portable speaker. The housing is molded in two parts and sealed with Torx screws so there’s no rattle or distortion, even at higher volume levels. The speaker is rated IP65 for resisting splashes and rain, but dues to the open bass reflex port, don’t throw it in the swimming pool as it will sink.
Designed by Enkl Sound, in Copenhagen, the ES2 reflects the ethos of its inventors. The Danish word Enkl literally means “simple” and that’s been the guiding principle for its design and manufacture. The ES2 is powered by a chunky rechargeable battery that can deliver around 20 hours of playing time at full volume. At lower volume levels it will play for considerably longer, possibly up to 80 hours. At mid volume you can expect 36 hours. Having such a large battery means less frequent recharging which should extend the battery life.
At the rear of the ES2 are the four simple buttons for controlling the speaker.
A full charge of the ES2’s battery takes arounds two hours using a 5V PD fast charger through the USB-C charging port. You can still play music while the battery is being topped up. To reduce impact on the environment, the ES2 doesn’t ship with a charger but you can use almost any 5V USB PD charger you have at home. The one for your phone will probably work just fine.
The battery is integrated in the ES2 and Enkl Sound says it is possible to change it yourself if you know how to handle a screwdriver. It’s also possible that a battery replacement scheme might be offered in the future. There is a 2-year warranty on the product and that includes the battery.
The controls for the speaker are located at its rear and they are as simple as it gets. There are four button: a power button, two volume buttons and a button to show how much charge remains in the battery. Press the battery button and nine blue LEDs on the rear of the speaker will illuminate to show how much charge is left onboard.
That’s the sum total of the controls. There are no Play, Pause or Skip controls and neither is there a dedicated remote control. To control the music you can download the free iOS or Android smartphone apps and use your phone as a remote. The app is pretty basic but it does offer firmware updates and an EQ function so you can shape the tone of the music should you want more treble or bass.
The Enkl ES2 comes in four colors: Green, White, Black and Grey.
The sound from this solid little triangle of audio goodness is superbly solid. It provides simple audio with a great tone and plenty of bass. There’s support for SBC or AAC Bluetooth codecs, depending on the smartphone or tablet you’re using to stream your music from. There’s po0ssibly not much point in this kind of speaker having hi-res codecs like LDAC or aptX HD as it’s an outdoor and portable speaker and not a high-end audiophile product.
This is a muscular-sounding speaker that can pump up the volume and make a party go with a swing. It also has a 3.5mm stereo AUX input for connecting a radio or maybe a CD Walkman. It’s a nice option to have, especially in situations where you don’t have an Internet connection for streaming music but might have an FM radio handy with a headphone or AUX output.
For those who want an even bigger sound or a wide stereo soundstage, the ES2 can be easily paired with a second unit using TWS. Then you have the stereo connection in perfect sync that’s ideal for parties. And with a total output of 160W from two speakers, the Enkl ES2 has more muscle than many disco or PA devices.
Take your Enkl ES2 with you next time you go out.
The rotationally molded cabinet of the ES2 has an integral handle that makes it easy to tote around the house or carry out into the garden. At just 2.9kg, the ES2 is light enough to carry around the home, but I’d like to see some anchor points for a shoulder strap so it could be more easily carried to a picnic site or camping ground, leaving your hands free to carry something else.
One feature I would love to see on this speaker is a USB data input so you could connect the ES2 to a computer or a smartphone and play higher-res audio directly. I am not sure how difficult that would be to implement, but it would make this speaker even more attractive and would be a superb hi-res computer sound system.
Verdict: There’s plenty to like about the delightfully simple and industrially elegant Enkl Sound ES2 Bluetooth speaker. Some people will complain that it doesn’t offer AirPlay, Chromecast or any Hi-Res codecs, but the whole point of the ES2 is to keep things simple and uncomplicated. The sound quality is excellent for this kind of speaker and it has a solidity that never waivers. If I have one complaint, it’s the automatic power-off feature. It kicks in a little too quickly when you’re not streaming. I’d like to see a setting included in the smartphone app to adjust that time as I think it currently turns off after 10 minutes. Enkl Sound says that this might be included in a future update to the app, so watch this space. That aside, this is a classy, robust and environmentally conscious Bluetooth speaker that’s easy to use and can play its heart out for far longer than most portable speakers. If you love cool Scandinavian design, coupled with solid acoustic engineering and build quality, the ES2 is a great investment for the garden, conservatory, RV or summerhouse.
Pricing & Availability: The Enkl Sound ES2 portable Bluetooth speaker is available now in Grey, White, Black and Green. The price is 2,399.20 Danish Kroner which is around $350 or £279 at current exchange rates. Hopefully the company will sort out local currency distribution soon.
More info: enklsound.com
Tech Specs:
- Maximum loudness (SPL): 103dB @ 1m.
- Drive units: Bass 60W, Mid-Treble 20W.
- Rated impedance: Bass 4 ±15%; Treble 8 Ohm ±15%.
- Cabinet principle: Bass reflex.
- THD: ＜0.1% @1W.
- SNR: ＞108dB.
- Battery: Built-in, rechargeable Li-ion 27.7Wh.
- Charging with USB-C: 5V/PD/QC.
- Fast charging with 2 hours full recharge.
- Full recharge: >24 hours playback.
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 277 x 238 x 134mm / 23 x 20 x 12 in.
- Weight: 2.9 kg / 6.4 lb.
- Audio input: 3.5mm Line In and BT 5.3.
- Supported protocols: A2DP, AVRCP, AVDTP, HFP, HSP.
- Audio codecs: SBC, AAC.