Review: BIGGIE portable Bluetooth speaker from Morel Hifi

Morel Hifi is one of those high-end audio brands that I was vaguely aware of, but hadn’t had the opportunity to try. The company has made a name for itself in the field of hand-assembled automotive audio systems and home speakers. A few years ago, it also launched a minimalist portable Bluetooth speaker called Högtalare, which was very well received. This year, Morel has strengthened its portable Bluetooth speaker offering in a big (or rather smaller) way with the new BIGGIE. It’s clearly related to the Högtalare – minimalist, sleek and loaded with premium components – but the BIGGIE is smaller, more affordable (at $249), available in a wide range of colors and equipped with a faux leather handle for easy transport.

Yes, using the BIGGIE name for a smaller speaker is a bit confusing, but as you’ll see, Morel Hifi does a lot of things differently.

I’ve spent the last few weeks testing a pair of Morel Hifi BIGGIE speakers. The BIGGIE isn’t for everyone – I wouldn’t take a campsite, for example – but they performed impressively and were fantastic.

First impression: it seems like it should be more expensive

The BIGGIE is a minimalist box with a low-gloss painted finish, a faux leather handle (stamped with Högtalare, confirming its relationship with the larger Morel Hifi speaker) and two machined, metallic-looking circular pads on either side which hold the strap in place. place. Aside from the handle, these are all sharp corners. On the back of the speaker is a welcome 3.5mm AUX input and a USB-C port used for charging the speaker or using its battery to charge a smartphone. There are no visible switches or buttons to break up the surface, just the handle.

The front is completely covered with a fabric grille that matches the color of the case and attaches magnetically. Remove it and the BIGGIE suddenly reveals itself to be quite the bargain. The black speaker is dominated by a 4-inch woofer, with a tweeter and bass reflex port displayed, as well as a vertical row of backlit buttons.

When it comes to portable speakers, I’d say they’re on the smaller end of the mid-size spectrum. It measures 7 inches square, 4.5 inches deep, and weighs 5.7 pounds.

So many colors

Most portable speakers come in a single color, usually black. Some offer a few colors. Morel produces the BIGGIE in nine different colors, including the Denim Blue and Aqua Frost of my review units. There is a color available to complement any decor or preference.

Morel Hifi also goes against trends by assembling its products by hand.

First listen: it seems like it should be more expensive

Looks are one thing, but how does the BIGGIE sound? The good news is that Morel didn’t spend its entire budget creating a speaker that looks great. The BIGGIE boasts true audio credentials including a large 4-inch woofer, 1-inch tweeter, 60W of Class-D amplification with custom DSP and a front-ported bass reflex speaker design.

The speaker makes good use of these components. The BIGGIE plays music with satisfying bass, solid mids, and crisp highs. The overall tone is warm, but not muddled. Songs like Television’s “Marquee Moon” and Killing Joke’s “Love Like Blood” — both featuring a prominent bass line and strong electric guitar presence — sounded great, making the most of the setup at dual speaker. Dandy Warhol’s “Every Day Should Be a Holiday” was full of energy.

There is no bass or treble adjustment on the speaker and, at least at the time of writing, no app, so the speaker setting is how it is going to sound, to unless you use your phone’s equalizer. The goal is to achieve a balanced sound and the BIGGIE achieves this quite well.

With 60W of available power (45W for the woofer and 15W for the tweeter), the BIGGIE has the power to fill a good-sized space with punchy music. It’s also loud enough to be heard over neighborhood noise at a backyard party. Morel says the BIGGIE uses a dynamic equalizer that continually adjusts the sound based on volume to prevent distortion.

I should mention that the BIGGIE’s battery (USB-C charger included) lasts about 20 hours of use. As with any portable speaker, this varies depending on how loud you set the volume, but I regularly went a week between charges without receiving a low battery warning. The BIGGIE also supports fast charging, so you can go from zero to 100% in just two hours.

Also note the use of Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity. The speaker has a range of up to 165 feet, and I got a good lesson in how it works by listening to another Bluetooth speaker while swimming in my pool. I had accidentally left the BIGGIE on in my office and in the middle of a song, the music stopped. I thought my iPhone had overheated, but it had actually reconnected to the BIGGIE in my office and was playing music inside – about 75 feet away, a brick wall, two drywall walls with vents and wiring and 2 glass doors.

TWS: Stereo pairing takes portable wireless sound to a new level

If you have the budget to buy two BIGGIEs, the sound becomes even more impressive. Easy TWS pairing on the speaker sets one BIGGIE as the left channel and the other as the right channel for true 2-channel stereo. Place the speakers six feet apart and enjoy a seriously elevated listening experience. Music has way more depth and separation than you can get with even the best mono speaker. Listening to the enhanced soundstage on tracks like Genesis’ “Turn It On Again” and Boston’s “Foreplay/Long Time” converted me: If I bought one of these speakers, I’d definitely get a pair .

BIGGIE Key Specifications

• Portable 2-way bass reflex speaker with 4-inch custom woofers and 1-inch soft dome tweeter
• 60W Class D amplifiers (45W woofer and 15W tweeter), with custom DSP
• Frequency response 40Hz-20KHz
• Bluetooth 5.3 BLE (165-foot range, Auracast ready)
• Backlit buttons for power, volume, Bluetooth and TWS
• 3.5mm AUX input
• Removable fabric grill
• Faux leather handle
• Rechargeable Li-ion battery rated for 20 hours of use at 50% volume
• USB-C charging (and power bank mode for phones), supports fast charging
• Includes charger and USB-C cable
• 7 x 7 x 4.5 inches, weighs 5.7 pounds
• Available in nine colors, MSRP $249

Not quite perfect

The only design choice I question is the decision to hide the functional buttons behind the speaker grille instead of placing them on top. Yes, the buttons are backlit so they can be seen through the fabric grille and yes, it makes for an even more minimalist look, but you have to turn on the speaker before the buttons light up and the button d The power supply is also hidden. You have to guess where it is. Pressing the buttons under the thin fabric could also cause wear and/or discoloration of the material.

Of course, you can solve this problem by removing the grill during use.

The BIGGIE also does not claim to be robust or waterproof. You’ll want to avoid situations where it might get wet, dirty, or banged around. It also lacks the sound intensity button that some laptops offer to increase sound output in outdoor environments. The BIGGIE can certainly be used outdoors, but you need to play it safe when it comes to placement.

Recommendation Morel Hifi BIGGIE

The Morel Hifi BIGGIE is a real sweet spot for anyone looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker, but values ​​style and performance over features like ruggedness and water resistance. It’s a portable that sounds as good as it looks – no small feat considering this speaker’s smart appearance – and it’s easy to pick up and go with. YOU. But it deserves a place on your patio table rather than sitting right by the pool, on the beach, or on a log by the campfire.

It’s just a bonus that the BIGGIE is priced at a very reasonable $249. At that price, it would be terribly tempting to buy two. You can choose two different colors and have a portable speaker to suit any mood or decor. Whatever colors you choose, the BIGGIEs together will make a very modern and high performance 2 channel stereo setup.

Disclosure: Morel Hifi provided BIGGIE speakers for review purposes, but did not contribute to this review.