REVIEW – There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers out there. Most people I know have several, so for one to stand out in the market, it has to be unique. The House of Marley Get Together 2 stands out in a few ways. It uses unique and recycled materials. It looks pretty cool. And it just sounds fantastic for its size!
What is it?
The House of Marley Get Together 2 mini is a Bluetooth speaker that packs 20W of power, a chunky battery, and is made with sustainable and recycled materials.
What’s in the box?
- House of Marley Get Together 2 mini Bluetooth speaker
- USB-C to USB-C charging cable
- Wrist lanyard
- Marley sticker
- Quick-start guide
- Warranty guide
Hardware specs
- Playtime: 15-hours (volume-dependent)
- Speaker Driver Size (mm): 2 x 2 Full Range Driver
- Speaker output wattage: 20W
- Multi-pair mode (pair two together for “surround sound”)
- 30-meter Bluetooth® range
- Dust and waterproof (IP67 Certified)
- Bass Boost, Acoustic, and Marley Signature Sound EQs
- Dimensions: 19.4cm x 8.4cm x 7.5cm
- Made with sustainable materials
- 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging
Design and features
The design of the House of Marley Get Together 2 mini speaker is its greatest asset and perhaps its greatest drawback. Most Bluetooth speakers are black plastic boxes with a metal or plastic mesh over the drivers and some buttons and LED lights on the top. The Get Together 2 Mini breaks that mold. The front of the speaker is made of bamboo, one of the most sustainable materials we have. The back is made of rubber or silicone material, which is recycled, and the top and rounded sides are made of recycled fabric. So it looks different than other speakers. One noticeable difference is that nothing is covering the speaker drivers. This makes me a bit nervous about throwing this speaker in a pack or treating it ruggedly like the marketing implies it’s capable of. It is water and dustproof (IP67 rated). Two substantial rubber feet on the bottom will keep the speaker from dancing off the table, which it would otherwise be capable of since this thing can get loud with a lot of bass.
Speaker-wise, it’s driven by two 2-inch main drivers on the front. The cabinet features two slotted ports on the back, together with a passive radiator. Charging and Aux ports are under a silicone flap on the rear, as is the main power button.
Also on the rear is a button to change the equalization modes, which include “Marley Signature (flat or neutral), Bass Boost, and Acoustic.” The top has three buttons. The “+” and “-” buttons control volume, and the middle “O” button is play/pause, and controls phone functions during speakerphone mode.
Performance
For a relatively small speaker, it sounds really good. Place it on a table in the center of a room, and it can fill that room with sound. But if you want it to shine, place it against a wall or, even better, in a corner. The rear ports and rear passive radiator will send the bass out backward, and the corner will send it right back into the room. The sound is honestly surprising for such small drivers. Battery life is impressive, and the recharge is pretty quick, but it depends greatly on what charger you use (no charger is included). If you use a high-wattage charger like for a USB-C laptop, it will recharge in about an hour.
I kept trying to use the center button on the top as the power button. The power button is hidden on the back and would be much more conveniently placed on the top. I also have concerns about the exposed drivers on the front. I don’t know how robust they are, but if they get punctured, the speaker is toast. Therefore, I find myself being very careful with it when packing and carrying the speaker.
My only other gripe is the USB-C to USB-C charging cable. I appreciate that the world is moving away from USB-A (It’s always upside down!), but almost all of my chargers are USB-A. A USB-C to USB-A adapter would have been nice to include during this transition time. For that reason, I don’t regularly use the included cable, despite it being a nice braided cable.
What I like
- Great sound
- Unique and interesting design
- Sustainable materials and packaging.
What I’d change
- The exposed drivers worry me.
- Include a USB-C to USB-A adapter
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for a Bluetooth speaker that breaks the “black plastic box” mold and still sounds fantastic, consider the House of Marley Get Together 2 Mini. It looks great, sounds great, is made with unique and sustainable materials, and may be rugged enough to accompany you on all your adventures.
Price: $169.99
Where to buy: House of Marley or Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by House of Marley
