Important rare design with a truly separate volume control
This is an important speaker because it has a rare design that matches exactly what I need. Let me explain. Unlike other small speakers that I plug or bluetooth into my mac, this one truly has a separate volume control and amplifier. All other small speakers I've tried, whether wired or bluetooth, if you use the volume control on the device, that simply changes the volume setting on my computer. So they have a fixed volume and use the computer to change what I hear. But with this one, if I turn its volume up or down using the volume nob on the unit, the volume on the computer does not change but the unit does. This is really important because I often have the volume on my computer set all the way to full volume. And then I get a person on a Youtube video (or Zoom participant) who is talking too low in volume, even for my computer. On most speakers I am stuck. There is no way to go higher. But with this speaker, I can still crank the volume up a LOT. This is really, really, important. I do a lot of Zoom calls with the participants who are hard to hear so I am glad I can turn this up beyond computer max. And in general, I like being able to control the speaker separate from the computer vol control. The sound quality is excellent btw. Surprisingly great sound for the price. Just the right amount of restrained bass, not too boomy, like most external speakers. Note, this next point is critical. You need to be aware of what you are buying and how you plug it in. I bought the less expensive one, the one that comes with a hard-wired headphone jack wire to provide the sound input (plugs into your computer headphone jack) and also comes with a separate hardwired USB wire to provide power (plugs into any powered USB-A source). So with this model, you must use that headphone wire to get sound, which is exactly what I wanted (I have a desktop mac). So no bluetooth and no USB A sound input. Rather, the accompanying USB A cord on this unit is for power and power only, not for sound. So you'll need to plug it in too. Again, you will have to plug both the headphone jack and the USB cord in. Keep that in mind. That worked perfect for my needs but your needs may vary. Read more




















