the box pro MBA1

This'll do! I have been checking out quite rigorously the usual suspects for a battery speaker of this type. I had a good listen to a Bose S1 and a JBL Eon One Compact. Both those speakers I thought were near hopeless. Don't get me wrong the JBL is nicely balanced in sound and has useful functions and the Bose is small and well made and sounds fairly good. Both though are not up to the task due to very little headroom. They just are not LOUD speakers! I even bought the JBL partybox 100 and 110 as alternatives but they too just didn't have enough oompf (plus the compression on the mic signal was a pain in the rear for me......I just don't need that thanks) amongst other things. So shortcomings and size (some are just a bit too big) made me keep looking elsewhere. Finally I took the plunge and bought one of these MBA1’s and I think I will be happy with this little pugilist. It's smallish, it's loud, it sounds good, it looks good and by golly it is good! With regard to the sound all frequencies in the spectrum are well represented including the all important bass. I ran some test tones through it starting from high bass (100hz) to low. I was not surprised that it started tailing off at 60hz and 50z but I was more surprised that it seemed to get a second wind and produce some signal all the way down to 40hz. I did not expect that! Of course it was curtailed at those frequencies but it was at least there and intelligible. Good job T Box or Thomann or those (relatively) good folk in China! There is plenty of gain on the mic channels and what is even better is the few mics I tried all sounded good. I tried a cheap Fostex dynamic, a cheap Fifine wireless and a cheap condenser and finally a not so cheap Rode M3 (with a wireless Fun Generation adapter). Everything sounded good to me and I'm a fairly picky vocalist with a bass baritone voice. A lot of preamps sound wanting to me at times but I felt immediately at home with the speakers vocal reproduction. What a result! Placed on the floor the unit sounds a bit too bassy but that is just the boundary reinforcement after all. On a stand everything is fine. I tried this unit out at home in a 15x10 non reflective room with a concrete floor. On a stand it's nicely balanced and it sounds together and controlled.
The so called reverb sucks of course but it's marginally better than nothing. As someone else mentioned the rubber bits on the bottom seem woeful and one in particular is starting to come away. It was like this out of the box. Again up against the Bose S1 and the JBL Compact this MBA1 does sound less refined but that refinement means nothing if the audience can't hear you properly. This MBA1 sounds like a good quality PA speaker which is what it is. It's slightly peaky and hard in the midrange like most highly responsive PA speakers are but that quality helps it to cut through and carry. I really like this speaker and I'm already very glad that I chose it. Considering that it is half the price of most of the competitors it is a steal. Factor in that you can easily buy a replacement battery (or if push comes to shove make up your own) this means your investment can potentially continue to keep earning you many shekels for many years.
I can't wait to use this in anger. You can't say fairer than that!
Please note that I do own the Maui 5 Go (x2) and the JBL Eon One Pro as well as a Citronic Neolith so I know what battery speakers can be capable of. I also own a LOT of other speakers so I have plenty to compare this MBA1 to. If I didn’t say it before it does get uncomfortably loud in my 15x10 room. The Bose and The JBL are in contrast just a pleasant listen that certainly doesn’t challenge your ears in terms of level. I’ve just saved myself 250 quid. I’m off to the bookies!

I have had this amp for about a week now and I've tested it out at home a bit in preparation for some gigs and maybe busking.

Pro's:
- Cost
- Loud
- Lightweight
- Decent overall sound
- Battery seems good so far

Cons:
- At certain frequencies the amp barks unpleasantly, especially "s" sounds
- The "reverb" isn't actually reverb its a short delay!!!
- The bass levels are a bit uncontrollable sometimes

Overall I'm fairly happy with this amp for the price, but I really wish the reverb was a reverb, even a generic digital hall sound is better than the cheap sounding delay that it has. I was disapppointed by that cos I really wanted reverb on the vocals not delay.

For the money this could be the best one for small gigs or busking (even though in the manual they say not to use it outside... But surely that's the whole point of a portable speaker?!?!)

EDIT: It's been about 2 weeks now and all of the rubber stand offs on the bottom have come off! They used the weakest glue I've ever seen. I can literally peel it off with my fingers. BAD

I am using this now for a year or so and am beginning to realise just how good it actually is.
I do many outside, afternoon busking style meetings with friends. A new thing since the troubles, but using my MBA 1 along side bigger and much more expensive battery powered sound equipment, I'm realising how good this compares.
I have around 4 hours of music in my head and find the MBA 1 battery has never failed me yet,, the very quick re'charge is astounding, being always ready for the evenings music.
The built in mixer capability leaves many other similar & much more expensive portables well behind.
I used the jbl 1 for a week, but it was always on full volume, never just loud enough, the bose too only a 6" speaker, very quiet when pushed hard. Some of the guys take speaker stands, which helps overcome their short fall on decibels, but my MBA 1 is just tilted back on its support and certainly delivers the goods.
I certainly am glad I got this little machine and after the live comparisons , I'm even happier.
Plus usual thomann reliability & 3 year guarantee, the MBA 1 is a "budget beast".