Bob Marley is still one of the biggest names in global music. His son Rohan Marley has for the past couple of years been trying to take the legend to the world of high end audio with a new brand called the House of Marley. I first got to hear and see the brand during the IFA tech show in Berlin this year. Though I couldn’t make out much of the music considering over 200 brands were blaring in the hall, there was no doubt that they had among the most stylish headsets and systems on show. Now, the brand has entered India with its products and sent me the Liberate BT speaker for a review. Here goes.
Design
As I said earlier, the Marley brand has a one of the most distinct design languages among audio brands at the moment. There is a lot of wood even in their headphones and earphones. The Liberate BT is not much different but there is more fabric here than wood, which is relegated to the rear panel where the Marley branding shows up in all its glory. The front panel is peppered with circles that let out the music. The controls are a set of buttons on the top that blend into the fabric. There is an LED lit Marley logo in front that tells you if the unit is on and if it is connected to the a smart devices by changing colours. The so-called ‘Rewind’ fabric is stylish but I am not sure they will work well in dusty environs like Delhi and most of North India for that matter.
Setup
Setup is simple. A long press of the Bluetooth button and the set becomes visible for smart devices. You can also use a line in wire, though it defeats the purpose of having a wireless set in the first place.
Performance
Strangely, I started with some 1950s Hindi numbers by Manna Dey on the Liberat and the experience was indeed liberating to say the least. Usually small BT speakers are heavy on bass, especially the ones that cater to the Bollywood crazy music lovers in India. But this one has the perfect balance and the soul stirring voice of Manna Dey shone through perfectly. But then I had to play Bob Marley to get a good grip on what this was all about. From the overplayed Buffalo Soldier to Is This Love, the Liberate kept reminding me it is made for this kind of music… my kind of music. But it can also liven up a rather large party with a perfect rendition of Tubthumbing and even get a heady for those who like the liquor laced music that seems to have found the favour of Hindi film industry at the moment. The battery life is good enough to last up to six hours with full volume.
Verdict
Put this in a corner of a terrace party or in your living room for some soft melodies, the Liberate BT is versatile enough to handle all of this. This is one of the best Bluetooth speakers out there at the moment and has enough to stick out in the crowd. The Rs 7,999 price tag does not seem too much given the versatility of the speaker.
