Slick’s Nit-Picks: iLuv Rollick

No matter what type of music you like to listen to, people everywhere can agree that they like for their music to sound good. While you may have a great stereo system at home or in your car, choosing a good office and/or outdoor solution is not always easy. Some of us remember having boomboxes, but no one liked having to buy “20 D Energizers” every two weeks. Headphones are great, but not everyone has a couple of hundred to spend on good “beats” and hey, maybe you want to share your tunes with a few friends. The answer lies in iLuv, who have been bringing you portable solutions pleasing to the ears, the eyes and the pocket for years now. With the new school semester having started, students in college will especially be interested in the new Rollick portable stereo. At just under one pound, this lightweight speaker system puts out some heavy sound.

To give you an idea of the Rollick’s size, put two candy bars together or look at your average sunglasses case. It easily fits in a backpack or purse. While testing it, I even had a friend put it in a fanny pack he keeps on his bike, giving him a “car stereo” of sorts. The Rollick gives you a lot of versatility in how you use it and where you keep it. With Bluetooth connectivity it can pair with iPhones/Pads/Pods and most Android devices and it pairs with these devices more easily than any other Bluetooth item I have ever used. Just hold down the green button until the blue light flashes while your device of choice is scanning and that’s it. The screen on your device reads “iLuv Rollick” and you are ready to rock. In the rare instance where you are asked for a code, just enter four zeros. Having tested a fourth gen iPod, a Galaxy Note 3 and an Asus Transformer Pad tablet, all three connected within seconds. My friend on the bike connected an iPhone 5. I successfully connected a PlayStation 3 and 4, but was not able to get any sound out of either; honestly, I cannot think of any reason why anyone would use this with a game console and I was just testing every Bluetooth device I had. Range will vary with the device connected but the only real concerns are that neither the Rollick nor the connected device be near anything that would normally kill a BT signal (refrigerator, active microwave, bathroom, etc.). If for some strange reason your Bluetooth device will not connect with the Rollick, you can still use a 3.5 mm AUX cord for a direct connection.

Now ease of use is a great thing but the most important detail for a portable speaker is sound. Both indoors and out, the Rollick faithfully reproduces the highs and lows of your favorite music. If you are outdoors, the range of the speaker will be affected by surrounding noise, but that is to be expected. Indoors, the speaker does not need to be right next to you as the sound can fill a small room. Your best results would be had in a cubicle (being courteous of those around you) or in a private room or office. The only mild complaints about the Rollick would be that the bass response could be better and that there is a slight distortion heard at the highest volume. It is unlikely these will be issues for owners since there will probably never be a need to turn the Rollick up to full volume.

The Rollick is a great portable speaker overall. I do wish that it had a better bass response, but that is a minor gripe considering that this is a portable speaker, not a surround sound system. The device itself is a great way to cut the cord and share your favorite music with your friends and I would highly recommend it for students. With school being back in session, this is a great alternative for dorm residents who may not have enough space for a stereo or even a radio. The Rollick can be taken just about anywhere and a full charge is going to give you hours of enjoyment. I am not a fan of the price (MSRP $49.99) because the less expensive WaveCast from iLuv actually provides a better range of sound. However, when you consider that a good set of headphones or earbuds usually will cost at least eighty dollars and does not let you share your music, the Rollick is still a great choice.