STEREO GUIDE verdict
The Tronsmart Mirtune S100 is a very powerful Bluetooth speaker that is on the borderline of the small and medium class in terms of weight and dimensions. In terms of price, it even competes with some minis. The bass, maximum volume and features are astonishing, even if the sound becomes impure at high levels.
Pros
- Rich, comparatively deep bass
- Can play exceptionally loud for its size
- Light show, MicroSD card reader and PowerBank function
- Good operability via app and easily recognizable buttons
Cons
- Removing the MicroSD card proves to be very cumbersome
- Sound becomes harsh and unclean at high levels
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Tonal balance / transparency6.7
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Bass / Dynamics7.5
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Usability / Connectivity9.2
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Price/Performance9.5
The new Tronsmart Mirtune S100 relies on proven Tronsmart virtues. Like the Bang SE or the Mirtune C2, it relies on a host of practical and sound-enhancing features for a tightly calculated price. With its powerful Racetrack subwoofer and two dome tweeters , the mobile outdoor Bluetooth speaker is designed to deliver a detailed sound image. Those who want to feel the powerful bass can also look forward to an impressive 50 W total output, which promises voluminous sound even outdoors. According to the data sheet, this is divided into 30 watts for the subwoofer and 10 watts for each tweeter.
The oval Race.Track driver, described by the manufacturer as a subwoofer – the space-saving design is familiar from the JBL Flip 6, for example – is actually a bass-midrange driver. The two tweeters are too small to also handle the mid-range reproduction. On the other hand, the soft domes are ideal for treble reproduction with fine resolution and good omnidirectional behavior. The full-range speakers often used in this class sound less silky and focus the sound more strongly at high frequencies. This is both due to their larger diameters and the design, where domes are superior to full-range speakers fitted with cone diaphragms.
The two dome tweeters are positioned to the left and right of the central race track speaker (the name refers to the typical oval US racetracks such as Indianapolis or Daytona). This is intended to create a certain stereo effect. For true stereophony with left-right localization, however, they would also have to transmit the mid frequencies and, above all, be positioned much further apart. What such constellations can certainly achieve, however, is a better separation of the sound from the speaker cabinet. Passive bass radiators are located on both sides of the can-shaped enclosure for more thrust in the lower octaves.
Mobile and durable
The extendable rubber handle proves to be practical, making it easy to take the speaker with you wherever you go. With the handle folded away, the device can be stowed away to save space. Long-lasting use is guaranteed: with a battery life of up to 20 hours, the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 is well equipped for parties. The Bluetooth speaker is recharged after 4.5 hours using a USB power supply. And if your smartphone runs out of power while you’re out and about, the integrated power bank port will save the day – simply connect the device via USB and you’re good to go.
Even in rainy weather, the party doesn’t have to stop: Thanks to IPX7 certification, the speaker can be used by the pool, on the beach or even in a spontaneous downpour without any worries. The housing makes a robust impression and the control buttons are conveniently located at the top of the mesh-wrapped baffle. And they stand out well from the speaker housing, which is available in black and dark blue, thanks to a bright imprint. To skip tracks, you have to press and hold one of the two volume buttons. The minus button skips back to the beginning, plus to the next track. The play button can not only be used to control start/stop, but also to answer calls and make calls via the hands-free microphone without having to take the Bluetooth 5.3 wirelessly connected cell phone out of your pocket.
Tronsmart app with useful functions
Those who like to customize their sound can adapt the Mirtune P100 to their personal taste using the Tronsmart app for iOS and Android with six equalizer presets. In addition to Standard, there is also the Sound Pulse setting, which gives the bass and especially the treble more emphasis. This setting can also be called up and deactivated directly on the Bluetooth speaker using the SoundPulse button. With the “Rock” sound preset, Tronsmart remains true to its penchant for quirky translations in the German app. After all, we already know this setting for rock fans from the Tronsmart Bang.
It is also possible to pair two of these speakers in the Tronsmart app to enjoy real stereo sound. The app can also be used to select and play the songs on a MicroSD card when flying blind without a navigation aid using the skip buttons – at least if they are in the right format. Although the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 accepted our 128 gigabyte card without complaint, it ignored the songs stored on it in FLAC, MP4 or ACC format and only played MP3 files. We also had to use tweezers to remove the tiny memory card. MicroSD cards are always a little awkward to handle, but here there is simply not enough spring force to eject the card after releasing the catch by pressing on the back.
However, apart from such small obstacles, it should be emphasized that the affordable Bluetooth speaker has very good connectivity: under the rubber cover for the MicroSD card reader, there is also an analog AUX connection with a 3.5 mm jack and the two USB ports for charging the speaker (USB C) and for recharging smartphones (USB A). This is truly exemplary in this class.
Tronsmart Mirtune S100 sound test
Three characteristics in particular stand out in the sound check: The Mirtune S100 can play exceptionally loud for its compact dimensions. It also produces a very deep, differentiated bass with a lot of punch and garnishes the whole thing with very fresh and well-resolved trebles. The SoundPulse function takes the highs to the next level. The bass is already fully developed anyway. You don’t have to turn the volume up very high to listen to loud music.
Above half of the control range, it not only becomes very loud indoors. Depending on the recording, the somewhat bright but well-balanced voice reproduction tends to be harsh. The speaker then roars and with bass-rich music such as “My Cosmos Is Mine” by Depeche Mode, the bass can become distorted. The question here is not so much how loud you can hear with the Tronsmart Mirtune S100, but how loud you still find it pleasant.
The volume control and equalizer should therefore be handled with care. The bottom line, however, is that the powerful, deep bass and the remarkable level stability are impressive. This is hard to beat in this class. After all, the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 is just 23.1 centimeters wide. For its modest dimensions, it also produces a large cloud of sound in which the sound detaches well from the speaker cabinet.
Tronsmart Mirtune S100: Conclusion and alternatives
In terms of form, function and size, the Tronsmart Mirtune S100 competes with the JBL Charge 5, which we reviewed years ago. With its price, MicroSD card reader and carrying handle, the S100 has the trump card in this comparison. In terms of playing time with rechargeable batteries, there is a stalemate of up to 20 hours if you switch off the LED lights on the Mirtune. From JBL’s point of view, these are luxury concerns, as it has no lighting effects at all.
The Tronsmart Bang is similar in size and almost as affordable, but with its full-range loudspeakers in the treble range, its sound does not come close to the 2-way systems of the Mirtune S100. In addition, its rigid carrying handle cannot be folded away, making it bulkier if you want to stow it in a rucksack or bag.
Technical specifications Tronsmart Mirtune S100
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 80 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D ): 23.1 x 8.8 x 10 cm
- Weight: 1.4 kg
- Battery life up to 20 hours (without light)
- Special features: Bluetooth 5.3, AUX input, IPX7 water protection, stereo pairing, party mode, LED light organ, microphone for phone calls, Apple Siri and Google Assistant, battery indicator
- More at: www.tronsmart.com
