This tiny Bluetooth speaker offers booming sound, and it's 50% off

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Tronsmart Mirtune H1 Bluetooth speaker is available now on Amazon for $25.
• This tiny speaker produces serious volume and the app allows you to select an EQ curve or create a custom one.
• The sound can be a bit tinny and the Custom EQ curve is limited to five bands.

Let me set the stage for you.

After realizing the Tronsmart Mirtune H1 Bluetooth speaker wouldn't connect to my new Pixel 9 Pro, I pulled out my older Pixel 7 Pro and connected without a problem. What I didn't realize was that my Pixel 7 Pro had the volume turned all the way up, so when I opened Spotify and pressed play on Rush's "Analog Kid," I was taken aback by how loud this little speaker was.

Once my heart settled down, I installed the Tronsmart app to adjust the EQ (more on this in a bit) and started going through my usual test playlist. Although this baby speaker isn't going to wow you with resonant bass and crystal-clear highs, it will produce a wall of sound that belies its size.

Let's talk specs.

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The specs

• Output - 8W
• Frequency range - 70Hz to 20kHz
  
• Bluetooth version - 5.3 with a range of up to 59 ft.
  
• Input power - USB Type-C
  
• Waterproof - IPX7
  
• Battery - up to 20 hours with a 2.6-hour charge time
  
• Dimensions - 81 x 138 x 46mm / 3.19 x 5.43 x 1.81 inches
  
• Weight - 291g/0.6415lbs
  
• Price - $25 on Amazon
  

My experience

As I said, the overwhelming volume of this small speaker was the first thing that hit me… square in the face and deep in the ears. While the default EQ curve was a bit tinny sounding, I immediately checked the Google Play Store for a Tronsmart app. Lo and behold, there was one, so I installed it to see how much I could alter the sound.

There is a Custom EQ option in the app, but it's limited to five bands. Fortunately, that's enough to improve the default sound curve and, once I had it adjusted to my liking, the sound was improved dramatically. The preset EQ options are pretty good. In fact, this is the first time I've found a Classical option that is really well suited for Classical music (of which I am a huge fan).

Also: This wireless portable speaker delivers gloriously smooth sound without much distortion

As far as the Deep Bass and Rock options, you're better off creating a custom EQ curve, as you'll get a far better sound that way. You'll also find a SoundPulse option, which sounds as though it flattens the curve toward the middle. According to the Tronsmart site, SoundPluse counteracts harmonic distortion, eliminates noise, and enhances the overall bass effect.

For me, that's more industry speak that really doesn't explain what this EQ curve does. As I mentioned, it sounds as though it punches the low end, flattens the mids and mid-highs, and increases the highs. It's similar to the EQ curve I tend to enjoy, except for adding a bit more mids. Those flattened mids do make the sound a bit more tinny than my Custom EQ curve, so I pretty much stuck with the Custom option.

Also: How to improve noise canceling on Google's Pixel Buds Pro

Here's a sample of how various songs sounded on the H1:

• Rush's "Analog Kid" -- this track is actually pretty impressive on the H1. Although the 70Hz limit on the low-end makes the bass and kick drum sound a bit hollow, it's still passable (using my custom curve).
• The Tubes' "Talk To Ya Later" -- it's hard for a speaker to sound bad with this tune because it was so well mastered. There were plenty of crisp highs, just enough bottom end, and Fee Waybill's voice was crystal clear.
  
• DEVO's "That's Good" -- This song really surprised me because it sounded as though it was being played through a much more expensive speaker. 80s electronic music is the real sweet spot for the H1.
  
• Cocteau Twins' "Pearly-dewdrop's Drops" -- it almost doesn't matter what speaker this sound is played through because its other worldliness comes shining through. I could listen to Elizabeth Frazer sing the phone book, and it would put me in my happy place.
  
• The Cure's "Alone" -- this new track from one of my favorite bands hits me square in the heart. I will say, however, it did sound a bit muddy through the H1, but The Cure's music can tend to do that because it's so thick. Thankfully, switching to the Rock EQ helped quite a bit.
  
• Spiritbox's "Rule of Nines" -- I was surprised at how well the H1 could withstand the punishing sound of Spiritbox. Although this isn't the band's hardest tune, it has its moments. The shift between Cortney Laplante's angelic clean vocals and her demonic screams played well on the H1. This was one track that really only sounded good using my Custom EQ curve. All other options either sounded hollow or muddy.
  
• Yuja Wang's "Orfeo ed Euridice" -- How can you not get excited about Yuja Wang on the piano? This was one piece of classical music that didn't fare well with the Classical EQ. My custom curve brought the piece to life.
  

The moral of this story is the Tronsmart Mirtune H1 Bluetooth speaker is an impressive little gem (especially given the price) but you need to pay careful attention to the EQ to get the most out of it. Without the Tronsmart app, this speaker comes off overly tinny, which equates to "cheap." With the app, you can elevate the sound to a more mid-range level and that's perfectly okay, given the cost and size.

ZDNET's buying advice

If you're on a budget, or looking to purchase a Bluetooth speaker as a gift for someone who doesn't place a priority on high-quality sound, the Tronsmart Mirtune H1 is a steal. With the holidays coming faster than you think, you might consider this speaker for one of your kids or someone who needs a speaker with a built-in carabiner to make carrying the device a no-brainer.

The H1 won't blow your mind with its sound quality, but it can certainly push some impressive decibels for a speaker that fits in the palm of your hand.