AUKEY SoundTank SK-M12 Bluetooth Speaker Review

The state of Bluetooth speakers seems to be unchanged in the last few years since we haven’t seen any significant improvement. However, there are actually a lot of improvements from the inside, especially in audio quality. Now we can easily get a decent product for less than $50.

The AUKEY SoundTank Bluetooth speaker is one of them.

Unboxing

Design & Features

Inside the box, we have the SoundTank speaker, a micro-USB cable, a 3.5mm audio cable, and user manual.

The AUKEY speaker doesn’t look like a high-end premium speaker, instead, it is built as a rugged speaker with a splashproof body. You can see that the whole speaker is covered in a silicone casing for shock protection while the front and rear grilles are made of plastic. It doesn’t look great but it feels very sturdy. There is a hook on the right side while connections like the microUSB port or auxiliary port are hidden on the left side. On the bottom, we have a built-in 1/4″-20 standard screw mount so that you could attach the speaker to your bike or a tripod.

All buttons are placed on top of the speaker. We can find the volume up/down, phone call, power, and mode buttons.

The speaker is quite big but it weighs just about 1.5 lbs. It is powered by a 2600mAh rechargeable battery that could last up to 30 hours of music playback. The battery life is quite amazing as I haven’t had to charge the speaker for a month.

Audio Quality

I hate Bluetooth speakers from Chinese manufacturers since they often sound terrible. However, the AUKEY SoundTank is one of the exceptions. You can check out my sound test in the video below.

I’m very surprised with the audio quality of the speaker. Most water-resistant speakers I’ve tested have a muddy sound and I feel like they are covered with a blanket. That’s not the case here since the SoundTank manages to deliver a very clear sound with good highs and upper mids. On the other side, the bass is admirable as well. I can hear a deep bass but it is not overstated at all.

In my experience, the speaker sounds best in a small room. It can get very loud while no distortion can be detected. When I bring the speaker outdoor and crank up the volume, the mids become harsh and don’t sound as good.

Conclusion

Pros

Rugged design
Very good sound
Cheap

Cons

Sound is not impressive outdoors

Overall, the AUKEY SoundTank is a decent choice when you’re looking for a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker for less than $50. We totally recommend the product.