BlueAnt Burleigh speaker review

Melbourne-based tech company BlueAnt has launched a new flagship Bluetooth speaker, the Burleigh. The portable speaker is splashproof and includes a carry strap so that you can take it to the beach all summer.

The Burleigh offers high-quality sound for an affordable price, but it isn't fully waterproof.

Design

Design

• Sleek, durable design
• Includes carry strap
• Not fully waterproof

• Read more about the BlueAnt Burleigh's design

  The Burleigh has a cylindrical shape with a thin base that sits flat on the ground. It comes in matte black with the BlueAnt logo featured on the front.

  

  The top of the speaker holds the controls for volume as well as a play button.

  One end of the speaker has the power button, a control for the equaliser setting and a mode changing button to switch between Bluetooth and auxiliary input. There are also controls to skip or play the previous track.

  

  The other end of the speaker has a cover that pulls out to expose a charging port, auxiliary cord input and a MicroSD card slot.

  

  The box includes a carry strap that hooks into metal loops on either end of the speaker, which makes it easy to carry around. The exact weight of the speaker isn't listed on the BlueAnt website, but according to my kitchen scale, it's about 2.2kg. It's light enough to take out for a day at the beach, but not ultra-portable like the UE Wonderboom.

  

  The Burleigh comes with a cable input so you can use it as a soundbar or connect it to an audio source that isn't Bluetooth capable.

  The box also includes a rapid charge AC adaptor with plugs for several different countries including AU, US, EU and UK.

  While the Burleigh looks and feels durable, it's only IP54 splashproof rated, so it's only protected against some dust and splashes of water.

Performance

Performance

• Easy to pair with smart devices
• No app
• Decent bass
• Bluetooth, aux cord and MicroSD card compatible

• Read more about the BlueAnt Burleigh's performance

  The Burleigh uses Bluetooth 4.2 to connect to audio sources. BlueAnt doesn't have an app, but the speaker is easy enough to set up and use without one.

  

  To connect to the speaker, all you have to do is turn it on and make sure it's in Bluetooth mode. A male voice lets you know that the speaker is pairing and you can click on the Burleigh as soon as it pops up on your mobile phone or smart device.

  The Burleigh connected quickly to my iPhone and after the initial pairing, it automatically connected every time I turned it on.

  It had enough range that I could take my phone anywhere in my apartment and stay connected.

  

  Audio

  The Burleigh has two 76mm mid/bass drivers with two 35mm tweeters and two passive radiators. It's rated at 40-watts and can produce up to 100 decibels.

  BlueAnt signature psycho-acoustic bass produces a deep, rich sound and three different EQ modes allow you to adjust the bass levels. The audio sounds clear at low and high volumes, although the highest volume setting is too loud unless you're in a noisy outdoor environment.

  As mentioned, you can listen using several different sources including Bluetooth, aux cord and a MicroSD card.

  

Battery Life

Battery Life

• Long battery life
• No automatic shutdown

• Read more about the BlueAnt Burleigh's battery life

  The Burleigh has a 20-hour battery life, which is good for a Bluetooth speaker but not exceptional. It comes with a rapid charge AC adaptor and plugs for several different countries including AU, US, EU and UK.

  One downside is that the speaker doesn't automatically shut off after a period of inactivity like many other speakers do. I left it on overnight by accident and realised the battery had drained the next time I tried to use it.

  

Verdict

Verdict

• Quality audio
• Affordable
• No bells and whistles

Should you buy it?

The BlueAnt Burleigh isn't the lightest, most durable or cheapest speaker available, but it's a solid Bluetooth speaker at an affordable price.

It's extremely easy to use and offers much better sound quality and longer battery life than a lot of other speakers in this price range.

The Burleigh retails for $240. Telstra customers can choose to buy the speaker outright or take advantage of a 24-month payment plan at $10 per month.

Pricing and availability

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Specifications

Finder score: 3.5

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Images: Sarah Brandon