Braven BRV-X Weatherproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Review

The Braven BRV-X is by far the loudest Bluetooth speaker I have ever used. It projects sound well indoors and outdoors, and the sound is of good quality.

Available colors are limited; you can get black with blue accents or light gray with red accents. I prefer the red and gray, although the light color does show dirt quite a lot, especially if you use it a lot in dirty environments without protecting it.

After three months of use, My Braven BRV-X was dirty, but none the worse for wear. I used it in my shop while I completely rebuilt a Power King tractor, where it got greasy and dirty and even got some overspray paint on it. I toted it around and plunked it on the ground here and there when I raked my large yard–twice. It rode around in my Ranger as I picked up and hauled all the stuff I’d raked. It sat nearby when I washed my vehicles, and I didn’t have to care whether it got hit with water spray. At no time did I baby the BRV-X; I always just grabbed it and went. And it always delivered.

I like the way the strap is arranged in the photo above. It’s a little loose, so I can grab it and use the strap as a handle, carrying it like an ammo box. The included directions for strapping the BRV-X to something are quite anal and include removing a buckle and un-threading the strap from one side of the speaker body, then putting it all back together. But then again, if you plunk down a couple hundred bucks for something, you should strap it down well so it doesn’t get gone.

The bottom of the BRV-X produces bass–and reportedly does it moreso when set to “Indoor.” For this reason, audiophiles probably won’t want to use Outdoor mode unless they’re actually outside. Outdoor mode seems to provide more mid-range for the sake of projecting the sound.

I took a small brush and some dish soap to the BRV-X and washed it under running water in the kitchen sink. Most of the grunge came off, and most of what stayed behind is paint overspray from painting a tractor. I don’t mind it; this thing is for listening to, not looking at.

But overall, I like its looks. I have long loved rounded corners, and when something needs to be tough it only makes sense to get rid of sharp edges. Braven’s designers have certainly done that with the BRV-X. It looks tough and it is tough, even to a longtime outdoorsman.

If you value good portable sound, I think you’ll like the Braven BRV-X. Whether your chosen outdoor activity is fishing, boating, camping, trail riding, or all of the above, this speaker should serve you well.