009: The Best Speaker under $200 -- The Marley Get Together
This is not an ad, this is one of my most coveted purchases ever. The Marley Get Together speaker is the incredible at everything it does. The size, weight, design, functionality, and sound quality (highs, lows, & output) work together perfectly for an exciting experience every time I turn it on. I've had this speaker for over two years now and I am happy to use it every time I turn it on. Thank you, House of Marley, for creating such an amazing speaker.
The Marley Get Together speaker is a bamboo-styled, chargeable, portable, durable, loud, and stylish Bluetooth speaker. I bought this the summer before moving to college and use it almost every day. It can be an extremely personal music system, or loud and crisp enough to fill two rooms at a party. I couldn't begin to tell you the amount of compliments I've gotten on the surprising look, feel, sound, and output this thing has. I'm writing about this to share the good news and vibes it brings. My favorite features on this speaker are its ease of access, design, durability, sound, and brand culture.
Accessibility and Design
Ease of access means how simply the speaker is put together, how easily you can connect to it or change DJ's, and the portability it has. First of all, the Marley Get Together looks subtly classy wherever you want to put it; I also will put it in the middle of the room and have it stand out at the center of the music (without it demanding attention). It is incredibly easy to use and connect with. It has only 4 buttons and a light on the top of it (volume up/down, bluetooth, power, on-light). You can find these buttons in the dark or yell at someone across the room to turn it up without them struggling to figure out how. Switching DJ's? Hold the bluetooth button for 4 seconds and connect on another phone. The design and style this has is awesome as well. It's the perfect weight and shape to easily move around and fit in well anywhere. The front and back are covered in a thick bamboo wood and the top is this nice stitched fabric. It feels right to hold in your hand if you know what I mean. The speaker moves around well, but is designed to feel durable and strong. Perfect.
Durability and Sound
4 words: two years of undergrad. By no means have I gone easy using this and it continues to perform with almost no glitches. It's been through beer showers, pool days, beach trips, parties, and so much more. The thing just looks and feels durable, it's meant to last. The battery power is durable as well, it holds a charge probably just as well as when I purchased it (usually about 6-7 hours of music). Furthermore, the most important feature of the Get Together is of course the sound quality. The sound quality is higher than a similarly-priced Bose speaker in my opinion (~$200). The quality of the lower levels of sound is exactly the same as the highest. It's bass is not stand-out which is perfect for what I listen to and want in a music speaker. The trebles have no problem coming in clear and consistently. All the different dynamics, levels, sounds, and instruments on a track will come out on this speaker. If I have any song I want to hear fully I will plug it right through this thing (Ooh La La by Faces / As We Proceed by GRiZ / Monody by TheFatRat).
Brand Culture
I'm still learning more about the company, but the culture they employ seems to be positive, sustainable, and uplifting. They are based in Michigan (shoutout) and are "built on the principles of superior quality, earth-friendliness and a commitment to global charitable causes". The speakers are made of bamboo, cotton, and hemp which are all extremely sustainable and useful. A part of their proceeds goes toward making lives around the Earth better. Any company that puts that in their mission statement is doing something right IMO.
Point of Improvement
A dual-function Bluetooth button that also pauses and resumes the song.
Audio feedback when the sound is turned all the way up.
A way to check the battery charge (there is a button on the back alerting low charge but I don't look at the back too often).
Engaging with more customers on social media instead of product promotion.
The subtlety's of this speaker don't sound important but they are so spot on that it makes the experience blissful. Keep it up House of Marley.
