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 simultaneously achieving low-end extension, high efficiency, and a small enclosure size, without sacrificing any 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 competitors in the smart speaker market.
Our Verdict
The Brane X speaker is very good for music. With the bass set to 'high,' its dedicated subwoofer reaches remarkably deep for a speaker this size, giving kicks and basslines plenty of thump and rumble. Its mid-range is well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound full and detailed, while the slightly quieter treble gives it a smooth tonality. Our measurements show a substantial change in the bass response at max volume, though we didn't hear the pumping artifacts this would normally suggest during subjective listening. Its front-facing design also has only acceptable directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides or behind it. On the upside, you have access to a 5-band EQ via the companion app and three bass levels 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.
Impressive low-bass reproduction for a small speaker.
- Limited control scheme.
- Mediocre directivity.
The Brane X is decent for videos and movies. It gets amazingly loud for its size, with enough output to fill a medium-to-large living room with movie audio. With its bass set to 'high,' low-end sounds like explosions and rumbling sound effects have plenty of thump and rumble, while its balanced mid-range keeps dialogue clear. While our measurements show a change in the bass response at max volume, this isn't accompanied by the obvious pumping artifacts we'd normally expect from compression. Its acceptable directivity also means 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 the 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 great 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 amazingly loud for a small speaker, so you won't have much trouble hearing vocals and speech, while its well-balanced mid-range keeps voices clear and detailed. It's somewhat hampered by its acceptable directivity, so it's best to position yourself directly in front of the speaker to ensure 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 decent 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. However, its five hours of battery life, which is a fair bit less than the advertised twelve, lets it down. Its acceptable directivity also means that audio doesn't sound consistent from every angle.
- Loud sound in a small package.
- IP57 rating against water and dust damage.
- Poor battery life performance.
- Mediocre directivity.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 22, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0.1. This includes the Test Bench 1.0 updates to all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness, as well as the revised Low-Frequency Extension calculation and related DRC updates introduced in Test Bench 1.0.1. There have also been text changes throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, where applicable, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our Test Bench 1.0 changelog and Test Bench 1.0.1 changelog.
- Updated Aug 28, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0, which includes new results for all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our changelog.
-
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.
Check Price
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 comments, 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 and has smart features such as 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 louder than both. It also has the most bass-heavy sound signature of the three. That said, it lacks the Ultimate Ears speaker'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, and they share a similarly sturdy build. They're also both WiFi-enabled and come with Alexa integration. They do have some key differences, though. The Brane puts out more low-bass thump and can get quite a bit louder than the Sonos. But the Sonos is a better choice for outdoor use, though, due to its superior directivity and longer continuous battery life.
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 its bass response doesn't change much at max volume. When it comes to sound, both speakers are capable of bringing the bass, but the Brane has a somewhat more balanced sound overall. That said, 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. The Brane has a more balanced sound, puts out more low-end, and can get quite a bit louder. On the other hand, the Ultimate Ears has much better directivity thanks to its cylindrical design, so your audio sounds the same regardless of your listening angle. It also has a longer continuous battery life, which is great for outdoor excursions.
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, clean sound. While the Brane can get a touch louder and even produces a little more low-bass than the Ultimate Ears, its bass response is reduced 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 longer 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.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
