With spring coming in a few weeks, LG has seen fit to add two new models to the XBOOM speaker line, the XL5 and XL7, just in time for your next big party.
Starting with the more robust device, the XL7 sports two 2.5-inch tweeters and an eight-inch woofer that the company says sounds great in outdoor or indoor settings. Enhancing the output is the Dynamic Bass Optimizer feature that boosts the bass coming out of the woofer without annoying distortion that ruins the output. The XL7 is unique in its various lighting effects scattered around.
On the front end, you have an LED panel with an Animation mode for displaying cute pixelated characters dancing, rainbow patterns, customized text, or a Visual EQ effect that bumps the screen. Surrounding the woofer is Multi Color Ring Lighting that produces “lightshows with various rotating, flashing effects” that sync with the music. Also, you can choose your own patterns or animations in the XBOOM app thanks to the Customizable Lighting feature.
Lowered speaker
As for the XBOOM XL5, it is a smaller version of its bigger brother. For starters, it has the same two tweeters but with a 6.5-inch woofer. The speaker is also lighter at 12kg (about 26 pounds) compared to the XL7’s 14.7kg (about 32 pounds). The battery lasts 12 hours on a single charge while the XL7 can last 20 hours. Additionally, the XL5 lacks a front-facing LED panel so it, unfortunately, lacks the pixelated cactus. It, however, still has Multi Color Ring Lighting around the woofer so that the model can still serve as the centerpiece of your next party.
Other than that, they have exactly the same features. Both support Bluetooth 5.1 and can connect up to 10 other speakers via Wireless Party Link. The models have a water resistance rating of IPX4 allowing them to survive water splashes (just don’t drop them in a pool). They even come with a microphone and Karaoke Star preinstalled for karaoke nights.
LG says it is now launching the new XBOOM speaker; however at the time of this writing, listings for the XL5 or XL7 are not available on the company’s website. The price tags are also a mystery. For comparison, the XBOOM 360 Wireless Speaker, the last one in the series reviewed by TechRadar, sells for under $400. We contacted LG for more information. This story will be updated when we hear back.