Aiwa - Exos-9 Bluetooth Speaker

Product Information

The Bluetooth has good range and is reliable, I was able to still have good signal, no dropouts, and reliable connection even from across two rooms, larger in size. This means that you probably won't have issues even if you're actually using the speaker at a party and dancing around. The battery has a life of about 9 hours, for a moderate volume level, but that will be cut a bit shorter if you'll be using the speaker at its maximum volume, but in that case you'll surely either be at a rave, or have the cops called on you for noise disturbance, and I'm not half joking, this is a loud speaker at maximum volume. There are 5 drivers inside the speaker, one large woofer, two mid drivers, and two tweeters. This is a large configuration for a single speaker, and the fact there are two midrange drivers, and two tweeters makes the sound kinda spacey, rather than a fully mono speaker that sounds entirely mono, like the Yamaha WX021 Music Cast 20 was. There is also an EQ built in the speaker, and I managed to get a tuning that I consider sounded best with it, regardless of the location you're listening to it from.

I have used AIWA EXOS 9 for a while now and got used to its sound. This being said, I didn't have two speakers on hand to test the full stereo setup and how it works, so I'll be describing the sound of the speaker while it is just one, and used as it is, priced at 300 USD. I have used more than one source, including my smartphone, Xiaomi Mi Max 3, and even audiophile DAPs like iBasso DX220 to test the EXOS 9. We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each! The JBL Partybox works more like a portable PA speaker system with the ability to plug in microphones and music instruments. It has a power rating of 120 watts which is pretty massive, although nowhere close to the Aiwa Exos 9. Do note that JBL has released a newer JBL Partybox version (JBL Partybox 1000) which has 1000 watts of output power, and you can read more about it in our loudest Bluetooth speakers review article.One of the things that make this speaker special is the number of drivers. People from Aiwa managed to install five drivers (2 midrange woofers, 2 tweeters, and 1 subwoofer) and some high-quality crossovers inside this speaker. You won’t see that many drivers in a Bluetooth speaker that often. Most of the today’s Bluetooth speakers have woofers in charge of reproducing low and midrange frequencies but Aiwa decided to take a different approach and use both subwoofer (for lows) and 2 midrange woofers (for mids). The combination of these drivers and crossovers is the main reason for such a clear, balanced, and loud sound. This is also the main reason why you can find Aiwa Exos-9 in our list of 10 Loudest Bluetooth speakers and in the list of 20 Best Sounding Bluetooth Speakers . This being said, there's a lot more to talk about before we get to the sound, and one of the most important questions is about the input(s) of EXOS 9, and well, you have your selection of AUX and Bluetooth. In terms of sonic quality and performance, you won't feel a big difference between AUX and Bluetooth, and you will be able to enjoy the speaker regardless of whether you're using the bluetooth or the Aux input.

The new Aiwa company adopted the old-school boombox design. Maybe they wanted to pay their respects to famous Aiwa boomboxes or to match this well-known name with a well-known design and make the product recognizable. They also managed to modernize this retro design and make it more visually appealing to new generations. Right at the top, there’s an LCD screen where you can see the EQ settings and presets, battery status, and selected source (AUX or Bluetooth). Right next to the LCD screen, there’s a large volume knob. While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy. Overall, this is a case where the entire product description, design and aesthetics make it look and feel like it was made to be portable, pretty much like the AIWA EXOS 8, but instead, it is very much a speaker you’ll mostly leave and use at home. Just like the Vifa Copenhagen 2.0, it is not intended to leave your room, although if you really want and try to, you will be able to take it on a little trip with you, if you’ll be able to bear the weight.AIWA offers one year of official warranty for EXOS 9, but if you’ll be taking care of it, I would imagine it will survive way longer, the only part that you’ll need to eventually change being the battery, which can be found online for a few dollars. Given the 300 USD price point of the speaker, this is a good deal, and if you plan to hold a large party, having spare one or two spare batteries should get you through the night even if listening at full volume.

The main comparison speakers or setups for EXOS 9 are Edifier S1000DB, Edifier E25 Luna, and Yamaha WX021 Music Cast 20. Each one of those is different from EXOS 9 in some ways, but if you're looking at this review for more insight, you're probably curious which one is the best to spend your hard earned cash on, and if any will satisfy your needs. On the rear panel, you will find a carrying handle (at the top), large bass reflex port (for improved bass response), battery compartment, and input ports. Now this is not a good comparison here. Someone literally expected the Exos 9 to sound as good as their studio speakers. Let’s take a look at some facts on why this shouldn’t have been surprising. You can have some of the best sounding drivers in a single cabinet. But when you have two separate cabinets with one 6.5′ woofer in each, the results are going to be obvious. Not only do you have an extra 6.5′ woofer, you have them further apart. Not only are you going to get louder, you’re going to have better imaging as well. But the Aiwa Exos 9 was designed to be taken with you. Try caring two cabinets (trust me, I’ve done this) as it doesn’t work that well. Now the Aiwa Exos 9 does support linking however. You can literally pair one to another and have two separate left and right channels. I’m sure this reviewer would be surprised if he would’ve tried this. What’s more interesting, I saw someone link two Aiwas together and spreading them out 100 feet away from each other. Now that would make for some interesting imaging outside. His neighbors also complained due to how loud they got. I’m going to buy another when it’s warm outside and try two linked together. It’s just not as loud as everyone says…

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The midrange is clearly not a central point to the sound, as it doesn’t have the texture, or detail that you’ll probably want from a speaker, but it pairs beautifully with the bass, and provides a loud, clear, and hard-hitting overall experience. Having two midrange drivers also provides something of a wide, space-y sound, but it won’t be fully stereo, unless you will be standing very far from the speaker, and somehow right in front of it, leaving enough space for a bit of a soundstage to shape up. The detail is fair, much better than Edifier E25 Luna, which I reviewed before, but still below Edifier S1000 DB, which is about 450 USD at the moment of writing the review. Exos-9 is also louder but you can only pair two Exos-9 speakers together while you can pair up to 100 JBL Boomboxes. Exos-9 features EQ settings and JBL Boombox doesn’t. The PartyBox 300 speaker provides JBL signature sound with an immersive audio experience at home that brings to live audio experiences with extremely loud sound. If you are looking for one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers that can produce a tonne of volume for party events, the JBL PartyBox 300 is a great choice. Sound Performance You should keep in mind that the speaker has a beautiful bass, but also has very good punch and dynamics, and although you won't be able to ever take it for a trip in the park, you will be able to turn virtually any room into a true dance hall, the volume is really good, and this comes from someone who likes to listen pretty loud. JBL Boombox is much more rugged than the Exos-9 and it’s actually waterproof ( IPX7). If you need something that you can take with you wherever you go, JBL Boombox is a much better option.

Nevertheless, the speaker “Exos-9” is to be understood as an homage to the best Aiwa times. For us, this is reason enough to take a close look at the device, which was released in 2015 and is currently on the upswing again. Design and Workmanship The front of the Exos-9 has two slots at the bottom that look like more bass ports but are decorative only. Near the top is a monochrome LED panel that shows EQ settings that are controlled from the top panel mentioned earlier. Considering the price, we have expected some nice additional equipment but you will have to buy all the accessories and equipment separately. Aiwa offers a carrying bag for Exos-9 and a r e mote . You can also buy the extended battery (it doubles the playtime) if you want. Specs Aiwa Exos-9 Specifications

Since the Exos-9 is the product that pulled Aiwa from the ashes, maybe they should have named it “The Phoenix” instead. Either way, the Exos-9 is a dynamite speaker that sounds great, especially outdoors. If Aiwa can add some built-in water protection and some additional smart connection options like Alexa, AirPlay or Google Play, the Exos-9 could come close to that perfect all-in-one speaker. The control panel and LCD screen are also nice features but their placement could’ve been better. The manufacturer decided to place the control panel on the top while the LCD display is located on the front panel. Placing them both on the top panel would make the speaker more user-friendly. So, there is quite a bit to talk about EXOS 9, it is a unique product with a lot going on for it. First, and foremost, you have to imagine that this is a huge speaker. This ain’t one of those small-ish portable Bluetooth speakers, this is something that will keep your party going if you install it in a large hall. It will also provide a beautiful bass, and I have fallen in love with the bass more than anything from its sound. Bose SoundTouch 30 and Exos-9 have similar design and size (but SoundTouch 30 is much heavier). They both support Bluetooth wireless streaming and that’s about it when it comes to similarities. Exos 9 comes in a large illustrated box. Inside the box, you will find your speaker, large lithium-ion battery (it’s replaceable and rechargeable), power/charging cable, auxiliary audio cable, user manual, and 2-year warranty.