Tronsmart Element T6 Plus speaker review: loud, loud, easy to use

take a look

Expert Rating

advantages

• Strong with a lot of bass
• Easy-to-use multifunction button/volume dial
• IPX6 air conditioning
• Support true wireless stereo
• Playback from microSD card and USB stick

Cons

• Average overall package sound

our verdict

Beaucoup volume and bass with a smart and easy-to-use volume/multifunction dial on top. It also plays from microSD cards and USB media.

Price when reviewed

$69.99

The best prices today

$59.99

Free

$59.99

Generally speaking, we’ve been impressed with the sound of Tronsmart’s audio products – the $70 Element T6 Plus reviewed here does nothing to change that. It even ups the company game when it comes to volume and hits.

Regarding industrial design, on the other hand; well, let’s just say Apple hasn’t lost any sleep.

That made taking the Element T6 Plus out of the box a real joy – its looks are generally on par with the world’s most expensive JBL and Bose. The company still needs an eye-catching logo, but otherwise the aesthetic is perfect.

Design and specifications

The Element T6 Plus employs the cylindrical body, this one measuring 3.23 inches in diameter by 8 inches tall, which is common in the genre of mid-sized weatherproof portable speakers. It’s rated IPX6 for water resistance, which means it can withstand a strong stream of water from a reasonable distance, but the manufacturer doesn’t make any claims about resistance to dust. (You can read all about IP codes and their meanings by clicking the link above.)

There’s the usual strip of controls in the center, but there’s also a large multifunction dial at the top on the right hand side. In addition to volume level, you can also use this dial for play/pause control; to answer, end, or reject calls from a connected phone; and to summon your phone’s voice assistant. It’s a joy: you can make a marketing call in no time.

Unfortunately, that makes going back to the padded shoulder buttons for previous/next track, True Wireless Stereo mode (with a second speaker), EQ, input selection, and power a bit of a disappointment.

Another standout feature of the Element T6 Plus is the ability to play music from a microSD card and USB stick (in addition to the usual 3.5mm analog and Bluetooth connections). Those ports are hidden under a captive rubber plug in the center of the control strip. As someone who likes to leave the phone at home or in the car, that’s a pretty cool feature: you can’t be the life of the party if you’re constantly choosing songs.

Available in red and black, the Element T6 Plus features two drivers (it’s stereo) and a large passive radiator (bass is heard without direction) on the bottom/left side of the case.

Tronsmart T6 Plus Specifications

Sound and battery life

Sonically, the standouts of the Element T6 Plus are the sheer volume and bass that can pump, sure to be danceable. Overall sound is lackluster in the grand scheme of things, but pretty good for a portable, weatherproof Bluetooth speaker.

For the price you shouldn’t have any complaints, and if you’re dancing on the beach with a bottle in your hand… who cares?

The runtime of the twin 3300mAh batteries will, of course, vary with volume. Tronsmart claims 15 hours at medium volume and 20 hours at about 70 percent volume. Perhaps they actually meant 30 percent, or a maximum instead of a half. I can only tell you that I spent about 6 hours with 65 percent battery listening at a very modest volume.

The Element T6 Plus supports True Wireless Stereo (TWS); that is, the ability to use two of them as left and right speakers. I only received an Element T6 Plus, so I couldn’t assess its performance in that regard. Generally speaking, though, TWS sounds much better than stereo in a single unit. Separation works wonders. Please note that TWS is a Bluetooth feature, so it only works when the audio source is Bluetooth.

Good sound at a good price

Overall, I found the Tronsmart Element T6 Plus to be roughly equal to the more expensive competition in terms of overall sound, and it’s superior in volume and bass reproduction.

And unlike many of Tronsmart’s products, you won’t lose too many style points with your friends. Anything you lose, you’ll get back when the Element T6 Plus starts ringing.