Libratone ZIPP Portable WiFi + Bluetooth Wireless Speaker - Compatible with Alexa (Victory Red)

Initially I was struck by the design and attention to detail in the packaging, which extended to the speaker once exhumed from its beautiful container. The Libratone ZIPP Mini is two-tone in color and resembles a giant R/X pill; it was just the remedy for my audio needs. Living in a one bedroom apartment, in a noisy New York city building, I was looking for dynamic sound that could adapt nicely to one or more rooms. I needed a speaker that could be accessed from mac mini and various iOS devices, via wifi or bluetooth. I required a portable speaker for ease of use. Well, all of my needs were met and I couldn't be happier.There are a multitude of interface options for use with the ZIPP Mini: A basic wifi connection as set-up through AirPlay on my Mini Mac (which allowed me access to my vast music collection), bluetooth connection via iPad (allowing use with Netflix streaming, iTunes or other music services like Spotify), or the Libratone application downloaded to my iPhone (setting preferences for range of sound, radio station "favorites" and health of connection and battery). Some options require more steps than others, but as long as devices/computers are on same network it is a breeze. The ZIPP Mini also has some fairly intuitive and fun hands-on functionality, as well as the standard plugs for auxiliary source and usb (allowing charge of supported devices, too). Also, a Spotify Premium account allows you to take advantage of the Spotify Connect option, providing even more ease of use remotely.The only negative I could see for now is that the downloadable application is only available for certain iOS devices and OS's. Also, the plug is a bit bulky, so be sure there is room for the charge. Neither of these issues really matter when I consider the warm and clean sound the ZIPP Mini delivers to my ears. It fills the room perfectly and makes me very happy. Best room mate ever.

This speaker sounds incredible! I love it. I've been looking for a portable wireless speaker system for awhile and I'm really glad I got the Libratone. I was concerned about the sound quality without hearing it first, but now I'm delighted. It's compact, sleek and easy to transport and most importantly sounds fantastic. Very rich and dynamic and gets as loud as I want it to crank it when “Marquee Moon” by Television comes on. I'd compare the sound quality to Bose level (which is excellent, IMO).I was immediately impressed by the packaging design when it arrived (yes, I notice these kinds of things). It was minimal yet substantial enough to arrive in pristine condition. It reminded me of opening a new Apple product, and why I love their packaging and presentation. It feels like you're getting something very elegant and high-quality, like they care about the entire experience of you enjoying your product, from the moment you open the box. And the manufacturer doesn't overdo it with cardboard or plastic, so there's less impact on our environment (also very important to me). It all looks and feels very high-end.I downloaded the Libratone app to my iPhone and did have a little trouble setting it up, but eventually figured it out. I thought that Pandora would be listed under radio stations that I could add to my 5 favorites, but it's not. Turns out you just use it normally within Pandora app and select Libratone speaker, once the speaker has been connected. I think I was making it more complicated than it actually is. You need the Libratone app to connect the speaker to your device, but then you can use other music apps (iTunes, Pandora, Spotify) like normal.When I did try to find radio stations to add to my favorites, they did not show up in Search results (ex: "WXPN"). However, when I browsed through locations, then city, I found the stations that I was seeking listed there. It looks like there are plenty of interesting new internet stations to check out on in the Libratone app too -- most I've never heard of before. So I think it will be fun to explore those and discover new music and stations. For now, however, I'm enjoying listening to my own music and stations too much to try new options yet.My only criticism, if any, is that turning on music isn't instantaneous. I have to open the Libratone app first to connect the speaker (via wireless or bluetooth -- both work fine), and this takes anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or more while it searches for a signal. I'm not used to that and it's a minor complaint. But for me the sound quality and sleek design more than make up for that slight inconvenience. Overall I'm really pleased with the Libratone and highly recommend it!