The Brane X speaker is a portable Bluetooth speaker that promises a huge sound that belies its diminutive size. This speaker utilizes Brane's proprietary Repel-Attract-Driver (RAD) for its subwoofer, which the manufacturer claims breaks Hofmann's Iron Law by having low-end extension, high efficiency, and small enclosure size simultaneously, without sacrificing or trading off any one of these attributes. The sub is assisted by two mid-range drivers and two tweeters. As a result, it has the makings of a lunchbox-size speaker that's capable of producing quite the racket. Elsewhere, premium features, like Wi-Fi integration and Amazon Alexa compatibility, keep it abreast of other competitors in the smart speaker market.
Our Verdict
The Brane X speaker is decent for music. With the bass set to 'high,' it certainly packs more of a low-end punch than its similarly-sized competitors, like the Sonos Move 2 and Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. It can get quite a bit louder than both of these speakers, too. However, it falls short when it comes to treble reproduction, resulting in a veiled sound that's dominated by the bass frequencies. The sound gets more compressed as you turn the volume up, and its front-facing design doesn't have the best directivity. On the upside, you have access to a 5-band EQ via the companion app and three levels of bass via the control interface, so there's plenty of scope for tweaking the sound.
- Loud sound in a small package.
- Bass adjustment control and 5-band EQ in app.
- Limited control scheme.
- Mediocre directivity.
The Brane X is okay for videos and movies. It can get loud enough to fill your living room with movie audio, although its output will become compressed at max volume. With its bass set to 'high,' low-end sounds like explosions and rumbling sound effects will sound lively but come at the expense of dialogue and speech clarity. Its mediocre directivity also means that you'll need to be careful about how you position yourself relative to the speaker to get a consistent sound. While it has low AV synchronization error with Android devices, you'll need to be wary of lip-sync issues when using an iOS device as AV synchronization error is somewhat higher.
- Loud sound in a small package.
- Bass adjustment control and 5-band EQ in app.
- Limited control scheme.
- Mediocre directivity.
The Brane X speaker is good for podcasts. It's portable enough to carry from room to room, so you can take your favorite podcasts on the move. It also gets very loud for a small speaker, so you won't have much of an issue hearing vocals and speech. You'll want to switch it to one of the lower bass settings to ensure clarity in the mid and treble ranges. It's hampered somewhat by its mediocre directivity, so it's best to position yourself directly in front of the speaker to ensure a consistent sound.
- Loud sound in a small package.
- Bass adjustment control and 5-band EQ in app.
- Mediocre directivity.
The Brane X speaker has excellent voice assistant performance. You can use its built-in Amazon Alexa capabilities when connected via WiFi (though you'll need to use the companion app to initialize this process). Once set up, this speaker excels at picking up voice commands, even if you're far away or in a noisy environment.
- Loud sound in a small package.
- Bass adjustment control and 5-band EQ in app.
- Built-in Amazon Alexa functionality.
- Mediocre directivity.
The Brane X smart speaker is okay for outdoor use. It's well-built and certified IP57 for submergibility in water and protection against dust, which is great for pool parties and dusty trails alike. It also packs some serious volume into a small, portable package, though there will be some compression as you approach max volume. However, its five hours of battery life, which is a fair bit less than the advertised twelve, lets it down. Its mediocre directivity also means that audio doesn't sound consistent from every angle around it.
- Loud sound in a small package.
- IP57 rating against water and dust damage.
- Poor battery life performance.
- Mediocre directivity.
Changelog
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Updated Mar 28, 2025:
After a retest, we've updated the Wired section with the analog latency measurements, and the Wi-Fi section has been updated to reflect connection issues.
- Updated Jun 10, 2024: We've retested this speaker's performance after installing firmware update 1.3.1715212187 and have updated our test results for Frequency Response Accuracy, Soundstage, and Dynamics.
- Updated May 03, 2024: Review published.
- Updated Apr 29, 2024: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Brane X speaker is available in one color variant: 'Black.' If you encounter a different variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review. You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Brane X is a portable smart speaker that uses its proprietary Repel-Attract-Driver (RAD) to create a powerful, bass-heavy sound. It's rated IP57 for protection against water and dust damage and has smart features like Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa compatibility. It's similar in size and portability to other mobile speakers like the Sonos Move 2 and the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM, but it can get quite a bit louder than both of them. It also has the most bass-heavy sound signature of the three, though this comes at the expense of treble reproduction. It's not quite as well-built as the Ultimate Ears, though, and lacks the EPICBOOM's great directivity, although its Wi-Fi and voice assistant capabilities give it the edge as a smart speaker. Its five hours of battery life fall short of competitors like the Sonos, which has double the continuous battery life and a more intuitive control interface.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speaker for bass, the best smart speakers, and the best home speakers.
The Sonos Move 2 and the Brane X are both portable smart speakers with premium price tags. They're very lightweight and easily carried from room to room, plus they share a similarly sturdy build quality. They're also both WiFi-enabled and come with Alexa integration. They do have some differences when it comes to sound, though. The Brane features a more elevated bass response, although this comes at the expense of the Sonos' high-end detail and clarity. The Brane can also get quite a bit louder, but you'll encounter more compression at max volume. The Sonos is a better choice for outdoor use, though, due to its superior directivity and longer continuous battery life.
While they're both portable speakers, the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a little bulkier and more unwieldy than the Brane X. However, this additional heft translates to a loud, powerful sound. While the Brane can get just as loud, there's more compression at max volume, and its directivity isn't as good due to its front-facing design. The Ultimate Ears also has a continuous battery life that's four times the length and features Bluetooth multi-device compatibility. If you're looking for smart features, the Brane's WiFi compatibility and Alexa integration make it a smarter choice.
The Tribit StormBox Blast isn't as well-built or portable as the Brane X, and it also lacks the Brane's smart features, like built-in Alexa and Wi-Fi capabilities. It's also not quite as loud, although there's slightly less compression present at max volume. When it comes to sound, both speakers are capable of bringing the bass, but the Tribit has a somewhat more balanced sound overall. The Tribit also has over six times that continuous battery life, which can be a huge asset if you plan to bring it on longer excursions where you can't charge it.
The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM and the Brane X are portable speakers that pack a lot of volume into a small design. While the Brane can get quite a bit louder, there's a good amount of compression present at max volume. It also has a more bass-heavy sound that's great for lovers of EDM and hip-hop, but this comes at the expense of a veiled treble response. This makes the Ultimate Ears a better choice for podcasts and other vocal-centric content. The Ultimate Ears is better built and has better directivity, thanks to its cylindrical design. It also has a longer continuous battery life, which is great for outdoor excursions.
Test Results
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