VAVA Voom 20 Portable Speaker Review

It seems like everyone has a cylindrical portable speaker for sale, so at first glance, the VAVA Voom 20 may seem like a me-too product. But once you check out the features — and see the price — it might just win you over.

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The VAVA Voom 20 gives you three ways to play your music:  Bluetooth, NFC, and if streaming isn’t an option, the speaker includes a 3.5mm auxiliary cable; the package also includes a microUSB charging cable and cloth storage bag. The Voom 20 is IPX5 rated, so it’s splashproof and sprayproof from any direction, but it’s not made to sit IN the pool (which should be obvious).

The Voom measures approximately 7.5″ long by 2.75″ wide by 2.3″ tall, and it weighs one pound 8.8 ounces. In other words, it is small enough and light enough to be portable, but it still has enough heft not to feel cheap. The speaker’s body is composed of plastic areas that have been coated in matte black soft touch material and two matte black metal screens.

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Inside the Voom 20, there are 2 8W drivers and 2 passive subwoofers.

On the top of the Voom 20, there is a Bluetooth indicator LED (the speaker uses Bluetooth 4.0 and works up to 33 feet), an NFC point, the pause/play/mute/phone button (the Voom also functions as a speakerphone), a volume down button and a volume up button. The Voom 20 can pair with up to two mobile devices, which is a nice feature when you and your significant other are sharing the speaker.

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The power button is on the left of the VAVA logo; there are three white LEDs to the left of the power button. Pressing the power button will display the battery life in thirds; three indicating the battery is 67-100% charged, 2 meaning you have 33-66% left, and one indicating 1-32% battery left.

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On the back, there is a rubber door that covers the auxiliary port, the charging port, and a USB charging port for your device. The Voom 20 has a 5,200 mAh battery that is rated for up to 10 hours at 80% volume; obviously, that number will go down a bit if you are playing music at full volume or using the battery to charge your phone at the same time you’re listening. The charging port is 5V/1.5A, so it’s a standard charger, not a QuickCharge.

Bluetooth pairing is accomplished by pressing the power button; a chime will sound, and the Bluetooth LED will start flashing. It will show as VAVA VOOM20 in your device’s Bluetooth options, and another chime will sound once you’ve clicked the profile and paired.

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Sound through the VAVA Voom 20 is pretty good; it isn’t bass heavy (it gets a little heavier if you adjust the EQ on your streaming device), and it is clear, full, and it can get surprisingly loud without bottoming out — even at max volume. Mids and highs sound clear and very good. The thing is that in a speaker this size (and at this price), audiophiles shouldn’t expect anything too amazing, so in that respect, it puts out pretty decent sound!

Where I think the Voom 20 shines is its price; the speaker seems to be very well made, it’s got great battery life, it sounds pretty good — and it’s under $80!

The VAVA Voom 20 Portable Bluetooth Speaker retails for $79.99, and it is available from Amazon [affiliate link].

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Well-built portable speaker that feels nice & hefty in hand; Can pair with two mobile devices; Can be used to charge mobile device streaming through it; IPX5 splashproof; 10 hours playback; Sounds pretty good for size; Great price

What Needs Improvement: Nothing

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She started in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie is best known for her device-agnostic approach, deep-dive reviews, and enjoyment of exploring the latest tech, gadgets, and gear.