At maximum volume the speaker can start jump up and down – literally - which can be a bit distracting and doesn't do much for the sound quality. Still, it does allow you to set the optimum volume easily enough – just turn it up until it starts to move, then back down a notch.

Satsuma-sized when closed, the X-mini II still functions but suffers sonically

The improvements in the Mini II don't seem to have come at the expense of value for money, the new model arriving with an RRP of £20 which we seem to recall is the same as the old version.

Verdict

As an affordable and pocketable speaker the Mini II is almost impossible to find serious fault with. The sound may not be comparable to proper desktop speakers but it beats the daylights out of any of the built-in speakers you will find in a laptop or PMP. Plugged into a good media player it makes the perfect device for anyone who finds themselves stuck a hotel room or tent on a regular basis and who prefers not to use earphones. ®

Thanks to AdvancedMP3Players for the loan of the review unit.

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