Brane X review

The Brane X, the singular flagship product available from sound technology company Brane Audio, has caught the attention of bass lovers abroad. As the first portable Bluetooth speaker to feature a built-in subwoofer and boast “industry-disrupting tech,” is Brane Audio changing the game? We couldn’t resist putting this fancy speaker through its paces in this Brane X review.

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Brane X?

There’s no way around it; the Brane X is a beast of a Bluetooth speaker. Weighing 3.5kg or 7.7 lbs, it’s not a toss-it-in-your-backpack speaker, although it’s still pretty portable thanks to the rubberized handle attachment. Inside, you’ll find Brane’s “Repel-Attract-Driver” (RAD) subwoofer, which measures 6.5″ x 9″ and is accompanied by two mid-range drivers and two dome tweeters. The Brane X gets decently loud considering its toaster-shaped size and provides enough bass to help you meet your nearest neighbors if you haven’t already.

There are touch controls are on the top of the unit, which are extremely sensitive. The lightest tap or even an accidental swipe will register a command, one more reason I prefer tactile buttons. I was also disappointed to discover that your playback controls are limited to only volume adjustments. There are no physical controls to play, pause, or skip forward or backward.

The subwoofer is downward-firing and protected by a flexible piece of plastic on the underside of the enclosure. The front and sides are wrapped in durable fabric, similar to what you find on a JBL Charge 5 speaker. Around the back, you’ll find your AC power port, 3.5mm aux-in, and power button. In terms of protection from the elements, the Brane X is IP57-rated, meaning it’s protected from dust and submersible in water up to a meter for 30 minutes; although you better snag it quickly, it will for sure sink to the bottom of whatever body of water it falls into.

Should you use the app for the Brane X?

I recommend downloading and installing the Brane app to use with the speaker. You’ll need it to set up your Wi-Fi connection and “Hey Alexa” if you choose, but it also gives you access to a 5-band customizable EQ so you can personalize the sound of the Brane X speaker a little further. Here, you’ll also be able to access any firmware updates and modify some of the speaker’s default settings, like adjusting LED brightness or turning off the unit’s start-up phrases.

How does the Brane X connect?

The Brane X is three for three when it comes to connection options. You can connect your device to the Brane X via Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio cable, our Bluetooth 5.1 with support for the SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX HD codecs.

How long does the Brane X’s battery last?

Brane states that you can achieve 12 hours of playback at “moderate volumes” off a single charge, and the unit takes 3 hours to full charge. Keep in mind that if you’re cranking your tunes and running your bass levels at “High,” you might not quite make it to 12 hours, and you’ll need to find an AC outlet to charge the speaker back up. The Brane X does not charge via USB.

How does the Brane X sound?

The Brane X sounds full and clear at reasonable volumes, with a low-end response you can feel.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Brane X was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

When it comes to MDAQS, the Brane X receives an overall score of 3.3 with the high bass setting engaged. This is just slightly above average for portable Bluetooth speakers, but nothing to worry too much about. For reference, the Sony ULT Field 1, a less powerful and more packable speaker, obtained an overall score of 3.1.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Can you use the Brane X for phone calls?

While the Brane X offers voice assistant, it does not contain a speakerphone function for taking phone calls.

Should you buy the Brane X?

If you’re bass-hungry, okay with the weight, and can afford the hefty price tag of this speaker, the Brane X will deliver a consistent low-end rumble for your next gathering, indoors and outdoors. Just keep in mind that, at the end of the day, as overdesigned and overbuilt as this speaker is, it’s still a portable Bluetooth speaker.

While it can pump up the jams with a quality bass response for a living room or basement party without issue, for any gathering larger than that, you’d most likely want a second Brane X speaker for proper stereo performance.

What should you get instead of the Brane X?

If you want some boom but are on a budget, check out the less expensive Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. ($249.99 at Amazon) This party speaker is much more affordable, not to mention it has built-in LED lights on its passive radiators that pulse and change color in sync with your music. While it doesn’t quite match the bass response of the Brane X, it’ll get you close for a fraction of the price.

The JBL Xtreme 4 (on the product's website) is also worth a look. This rugged speaker features an IP67 protection rating, companion app support, and decent bass for your next gathering, indoors or out. Thanks to the JBL Portable app and its 5-band EQ, you can personalize the sound of the Xtreme 4. Lastly, the Xtreme 4 offers 24 hours of battery life and features swappable battery packs. You can purchase a second battery pack from JBL to ensure you never run out of juice.

Frequently asked questions