We engage in a lot of sports and stay active frequently. We also love streaming music, films, and series, all leisure activities where we enjoy listening to good music with great sound. A speaker should have good sound quality, especially outdoors, so that we can enjoy the music. Therefore, we were very happy to test the small Tronsmart T7 Lite Bluetooth speaker, which was provided to us for testing free of charge and without any conditions.
Unboxing
The box includes a speaker, a charging cable (without a power supply), a pendant (a piece of string), and paper instructions.
Design
Tronsmart designs and produces the T7 Lite as a cylinder speaker. Compared to its extremely heavy big brother, this one weighs almost half as much, around 470 grams. The dimensions have also shrunk significantly to 195 x 72 millimeters, making it much more portable than the T7 monster. It sets up without any problems, as the lower part of the ring-shaped base has a rubber coating that also promises a little slip resistance.
The controls are again on the side and feel much better than on the larger model. They are much easier to grip and click because they are individually designed and not under a uniform rubber facade, making them easier to feel as individual buttons. Another plus point is the splash-proof design certified to the IPX7 standard, which means that the Tronsmart T7 Lite can even survive a small rain shower.
As with many Tronsmart products, the workmanship is of very high quality. There is nothing to complain about here. The supplied carrying strap also appears to be of high quality and is attached directly to the Tronsmart T7 Lite. The plastic rings mounted on the sides of the passive radiator outlets, which partly serve as protection, appear solid and stable. Additionally, the fabric covering the speaker is stable and feels high quality.
Tronsmart T7 Lite advertises itself as ‘tailored for outings,’ referencing one of its crucial features: water resistance. The speaker housing is prepared for immersion in water up to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes, as indicated by the IPX7 standard. This enables users to confidently use the accessory in heavy rain without worry. The durability of the structure, with its metal frame, is unquestionable.
Sound Quality
The Tronsmart T7 Lite features three passive and two active membranes, located on opposite walls of the housing. So, there are no surprises here regarding the design and hardware potential – the structure closely resembles that of most speakers of this shape and size.
When it comes to sound quality, I must admit it is quite good. The T7 Lite doesn’t necessarily blow you away, but it delivers clean and pleasant sound in every key, as much as possible from a set of this size. The low tones are accentuated, and there is no noticeable lack of them, but it may not satisfy lovers of deep, rumbling bass.
The midrange tones dominate in the T7 Lite, and this is where the speaker excels. The sounds in this range are clear and free of distortion or any artificial coloration. The color is neutral, leaning towards warmth. The upper parts are also pleasing, without any unpleasant, piercing accents, but with appropriate power and clarity.
On the plus side, the maximum volume surprised me, as it is higher than that of several direct competitors with which I managed to compare the tested Tronsmart (Creative MUVO Go and Xiaomi Mi Speaker). The peak power of the T7 Lite is 24 W, compared to 20 and 16 for the above-mentioned competitors. Additionally, at this setting, we do not hear much distortion that is typical of cheaper audio equipment.
Battery
Tronsmart significantly overstates the battery rating. The company claims it lasts up to 24 hours, depending on sound and LED settings. While this is true, it should be included in the rating. However, even with the lighting off and volume at 33 percent, we only managed 14 hours—a full ten hours less than advertised. Why?
These 14 hours can still provide two to three days of sound, depending on usage. However, intensive use of LED lighting can reduce the running time to ten or fewer hours. At least in our test, we recharged the Tronsmart T7 Lite via USB-C in about an hour.
Connectivity
As you observe, the Tronsmart T7 Lite equips light strips positioned around the membranes. In the default mode, they pulsate to the rhythm of the music, changing colors rhythmically. However, through the application, we can alter their behavior, and most importantly for me, deactivate them entirely.
An important feature to note is the ability to pair two T7 Lite units into a stereo set. I didn’t have the opportunity to test this feature due to the absence of a second speaker, but the mere availability of such an option is a significant advantage. The inclusion of a micro SIM card slot is noteworthy as well, allowing for offline playback independent of a phone or other external device.
Additionally, the speaker features the SoundPulse mode, designed to enhance the quality of the emitted sound. In practice, the difference between regular mode and SoundPulse is very subtle, and practically imperceptible at volume levels below 40-50 percent.
The Tronsmart application serves to control all speaker functions from a phone. Fortunately, its use is not mandatory, and basic operations can be easily conducted without it. This is advantageous because the program’s interface lacks intuitiveness, and the speaker has occasionally disconnected after its closure. However, for those interested in adjusting LED strip settings or the equalizer, installing the app becomes necessary.
Verdict
The Tronsmart T7 lite Bluetooth speaker impresses across the board. Despite its small size, it packs a lot of punch. The bass is well-balanced, and the mid and high tones sound extremely good for such a compact device. Additionally, it is excellently made, boasting high quality and robustness.
We particularly appreciate its quick and easy pairing with smartphones or tablets, as well as its ability to accept two smartphones as parallel sources. This eliminates the need to unpair it every time someone else wants to use the speaker. Moreover, the option to pair two speakers together for stereo sound is very practical.
Visually, it is also pleasing. The anti-slip stoppers on the main housing and the rubber on one side of the head make it convenient to set up both horizontally and vertically. While the light effects with different modes are nice, we usually prefer to turn them off. Nonetheless, the ability to switch off the lighting is another plus point with the Tronsmart T7 lite.
Despite its powerful performance, it remains lightweight without being too light, ensuring it stays stable on surfaces even with intense bass. Lastly, priced at just under EUR 40.00, it offers excellent value for money.
During our holiday in Spain, we brought it along to enjoy music on our terrace and enhance our streaming experience with better sound than the apartment’s TVs could provide. Its compact size and light weight made it easy to pack in our luggage. In summary, it’s a practical companion for holidays too.
The Tronsmart T7 lite Bluetooth speaker impresses with its high-quality and robust construction, ease of use, and superb sound. Combined with its excellent price-performance ratio, we highly recommend the T7 lite.
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