Rechargeable BlueFlame Slingshot Bluetooth Speaker Review – It Goes Anywhere!

Gear Diary is independently owned and operated. We receive compensation through advertising and from the companies whose products we review, usually in the form of the reviewed product. We test the products supplied to us, and the opinions expressed are our own.

Gear Diary is also reader-supported. When you buy through links posted on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

You can learn more by clicking here.

1slingshot99b1

BlueFlame has quite the repertoire of stylish accessories for you mobile needs. One such clever device is their Slingshot wireless, water-resistant speaker. At about $119, this speaker system packs a lot of sound in a small package and can fit into other BlueFlame Slings. Simply pop the speaker unit proper out of one Sling and slip into another.

slingshot3

The BlueFlame Slingshot is a compact, portable Bluetooth speaker that permits users to stream audio from a mobile device of choice while also permitting the reception of cell phone calls with its built-in microphone. Boasting increased bass response and improved sound quality with its Sonic Radiator technology, the Slingshot’s intended audience is people on the go, from the home office, to the shower, the poolside, or the great outdoors.

slingshot4a

The unit I received shipped with a “Shower Sling”,  a blue, rubbery sling that allows the speak to hang from hooks or the like. As it is form-fitting and a bit clingy, it adds both additional water protection and some amount of shock absorbance in case of drop. The last thing you want is to be yodeling in the shower only to have a piece of electronics fall and shatter at your feet! Here’s a view of the backside:

slingshot7

The micro-USB port is uncovered to show where the USB charge cable would be inserted. Note the sling’s texture. This made gripping the Slingshot easy, even when wet.

There is a To Go Slingshot sling that will be soon available with a more compact, table-side appearance, slated to be priced at $19.99. Colors may vary, but here is a what it will look like with a broader base, side grips and a hook for hanging:

Champagne Picnic.

For those interested, a non-rechargeable battery variant (requires 4 AA batteries) that ships with the To Go Sling, “The Slingshot Combo Pack” can be found in the blueflamegear website.

Here’s the Slingshot out of its sling, showing the soft, rubberized control buttons more clearly.

slingshot6

From left to right are the Backward and Forward audio track controls, -/+ Volume controls, Answer Call button, Pause/Play and Power button.

Pairing with my mobile devices was straightforward and simple affair, with an beeping tone announcing a successful connection, and once connected, I could use either the Slingshot’s controls or a mobile device’s music app of choice to stream audio and control playback. It takes about five or so seconds of pressing the Power button to turn the device on or off, with an ascending four tones indicating the device is powering up, followed by a flashing LED indicator just above the Power button, and a descending four tone beep indicating imminent shutdown. A double beep indicates the Slingshot it paired. The speaker will tell you when you’ve reached maximum volume with a long beep.

The audio track controls were compatible with my iPhone’s stock Music app and Amazon’s MP3 Cloud player, with Bluetooth V2.1+EDR, A2DP, AVRCP, and HFP devices are all supported.

Range was very good, though indoors I occasionally would experience skips when paired to my iPhone with a few dense walls between the speaker and streaming source. Given the density of these plaster walls, this was not necessarily unexpected as I’ve experienced similar behavior with other Bluetooth speakers.

slingshot8

Access to the rechargeable battery is available by unscrewing the backside of the speaker proper. The back cover has an inner gasket to keep moisture and dirt out, an additional feature to keep the speaker electronics clean and dry. The battery specs are listed as 3.7V/1000mAh. I’ve run the speaker for over 10 hours and have not yet had to recharge it.

slingshot9

Note the Reset button. In the unlikely event that the Slingshot loses its pairing or shows some unusual Bluetooth/phone behavior, users can press the reset button and restore the speaker to its out-of-box state. Note the “MICRO USB” and “RESET” buttons are accessible via a waterproof flap with the Sling on, so it’s probably unlikely you’d need to remove the back at all.

The Slingshot is rated IPX4 for water-resistance, which means the unit should be able to withstand five minutes of 12-15 Psi water pressure, which in theory means it can withstand occasional splashing and being rained on. Drop an IPX4-rated device into the water and you may be out of luck.

Is it splash-proof? Yes indeed. I hung the Slingshot from a hook in our shower and tried it out, streaming one of the location radio stations. The Slingshot bravely endured spattering and splashing of water without hiccup for me. Pretty darn good if I do say so myself.

slingshot2a2

If you don’t mind speakerphones, the Slingshot does a decent job of taking incoming calls, but I often found I had to speak a bit more clearly and a little louder for the recipient to hear me clearly with the speaker a couple of feet away, though the less ambient background noise, the better.

buttons11

Above is a closeup of the controls. To answer a call, press the Phone button. You can also place a call by holding down the Phone button until you hear a single beep.

What about music and sound quality?

In my experience, the Slingshot did very well with vocals in general and assorted Rock music, and as I’m a Classical music junkie the Slingshot did justice to the bulk of the pieces I listened to. As for bass, depending on the type of music played it could seem a hair tame, but I wasn’t expecting chest-thumping lows given the speaker’s compact size. In all fairness, the Slingshot performed very well. I did find that if the volume were really cranked up, certain high notes began to get a bit fuzzy or distorted, but lowering the volume level a bit seemed to fix the issue. Broadly speaking, I believe this speaker would be suitable for a lot of people, while aficionados of certain heavy bass-dependent music types might be disappointed.

MSRP: $119.00

What I Like: Portable, water-resistant; Great sound quality from a small form factor; interchangeable with other Slings for different uses; Long battery life; Reasonably priced

What Needs Improvement: For those wanting a speaker for loud, thumping bass, look elsewhere

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!


About the Author

Gear Diary Staff
Gear Diary was founded on September 30, 2006, with the goal to create a website that would not easily be labeled. Everyone who is part of Gear Diary is a professional who uses technology in their work and daily lives. On this site, we share our enthusiasm while exploring the gear we use — the equipment that makes our lives easier, more entertaining, more productive, and more manageable. Our hope is that Gear Diary visitors find this site to be a welcoming, friendly, and accessible place to learn about and discuss interesting topics — and not only those that are tech-related! Gear Diary is a place to discover and explore all kinds of new gear, including smartphones, computers, kitchen gadgets, Toys, EDC, camping gear, or even your next new car! You can follow us on Twitter @GearDiarySite.