A portable Bluetooth speaker; the Kove Commuter 2 is known for its great features as well as 360 degree surrounding audio effects. This speaker can be used in 2 ways, which means the users can use it connecting both the speaker’s ends horizontally, else if they want they can use the speakers like a stereo pair separately.
It is travel friendly, plus comes with a water resistance rating of IPX7, which is great.
Moreover, the sound quality is detailed and clear. However, this device struggles in producing the punch and thump in the bass range. Besides, you can know more about this device in the further Commuter 2 review.
Highlights of the Kove Commuter 2 Speaker in brief:
It is easy to use
The Kove commuter 2 is a user-friendly speaker. The touch screen and controls of this device are super easy to operate. The setup is also simple; any user can get it on the first go. One can also split the left and right speakers in order to get separate stereo sounds.
It is quite reasonable
The Kove commuter 2 speaker comes at an affordable price, and all its features and performance are okay for this value.
Check Amazon to get the best available deals on this product.
It has some nice features
Who would not like a waterproof & splash-proof Bluetooth speaker with clear and accurate sound? The Kove commuter 2 speaker has got all of these. Plus, it has got anIPX7 waterproof certification. Besides, its battery life is nice for long listening sessions.
The Kove commuter 2 has nice built and durability
Luckily, the device is water/ rain proofed, which is why the speakers’ components are protected from any sort of internal damage. Not only that. the Kove commuter 2 is built with quality materials. That is why the speaker can last for a long time to serve you.
What is inside the Box of Kove Commuter 2?
It is important to know what comes in the box rather than the product itself so that you can know if there is something missing in the box. Also, check whether the box is properly sealed or not.
Anyways, you will get a user guide, 2 charging cables from Micro-USB to USB-A along with the Kove Commuter 2 Bluetooth speaker.
Kove Commuter 2 speaker review:
Style and portability
| RGB lights | Present |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Volume | 1,311 cubic cm. |
| Power Source | USB and Battery |
As mentioned earlier, the Kove Commuter 2 is a portable device that the users can take anywhere they want. The weight is light enough to carry the device with one hand! Besides, the speakers look decent. When the user connects the device, one speaker points towards the forward direction & the other one points towards the backward direction. Moreover, the speaker on the left side features a built-in hook made of rubber, so that the user can carry it attaching with any bag; other than that, both the speakers seem very identical.
Further, at the end of both the speakers, you will see a light ring pulsing at the beat of the music and it also lights up when paired to any device through Bluetooth. Even if you want, you can turn off its light, however, you cannot customize them.
In addition, the Kove Commuter 2 is battery-powered, which is a big plus point as it lets you bring it on the go with no extra hassle of having to plug the speakers into an outlet.
Built quality
The built quality of Kove Commuter 2 is nice. Basically, it has two separate speakers which can be warped together for creating one unit. Once the speakers are twisted properly, you will get a strong connection that will hardly fall apart.
Moreover, around the speakers, you will get a tight wrapping of nylon and this will save the device from getting damaged. Interestingly, the device is claimed water-proof and it comes with the water resistance rating of IPX7. Besides, the end of the device is made of rubber and plastic. Plus, the hook that is on the left side speaker is totally made of rubber.
Controls
| Functions | Can be performed using the controls or not? |
|---|---|
| Music pause or play | Yes |
| Changing Volume | Yes |
| Turning the microphone on and off | No |
| Track previous and next | Yes |
The controls are also decent. On both the speaker, it has the same amount of controls. And these controls make the Kove commuter 2 a very user-friendly device.
Remember, once you adjust the controls on any one of the speakers, automatically the other one gets adjusted. This is because they are a stereo pair.
For instance, if you turn down the volume on the right speaker, the left one’s volume is also turned down automatically.
Below, there is a little guide for you about the controls to help you operate the speakers easily.
- If you want to play or pause the song, press the middle button once.
- Then you can also answer as well as end a call by pressing the left speaker’s middle button.
- Again press twice the middle button in order to pair up your device via Bluetooth. Similarly, press the middle button thrice for disconnecting the Wireless Stereo pairing.
- You can see some right & left arrows, these will help you to control the volume. ** Moreover, the left arrow offers you more functions, like if you hold it, you can skip the next track. In the same manner, holding the right arrow gets you back to the previous track.
- Furthermore, while the music playback you can turn off or on the white LED if both the volume buttons are pressed at the same time.
Sound quality
| Stereo | Yes |
|---|---|
| Low frequency Extension | 140.5 Hz |
| High frequency Extension | 12.5 Hz |
| Sound pressure level at max volume | 86.4 dB |
| DRC at maximum volume | 1.14 dB |
The Kove Commuter 2’s sound quality is average. It struggles to deliver a proper punchy and thumpy bass. In addition to that, the volume of this device does not get that loud, which is why the listeners of heavy-bass music genres won’t like it.
Besides, the commuter 2 also lacks sound customization options so the users cannot adjust its sound. But on the bright side, the Kove Commuter 2 can reproduce the lead instruments and vocals clearly, which makes it a decent choice for vocal-centric songs or pop songs. Plus, its sound-stage performance is also good.
Other than that, the frequency response accuracy of this device might be disappointing but its mid-range won’t make you sad. That said, the mid-range is balanced, accurate, and clear.
Additionally, the sound-stage is nice enough and it can easily play stereo contents with no need of down-mixing them to mono. Also, the directivity of this device is reasonable, however, its sound-stage might be considered a bit narrow.
Moreover, the Kove 2 is good for the podcast, though it won’t get that loud you will get a vivid experience. Also, as the speaker is portable you can easily carry it with you and enjoy the podcast anywhere you want. Plus, you can take it with you in the bathroom as well and enjoy your favorite songs while showering; and since the device is waterproof, you don’t have anything to worry about.
Furthermore, the dynamic performance of this device is not excellent but not bad either. As I mentioned earlier, the Kove Commuter 2 is unable to get that loud, which is why I won’t suggest it for the larger rooms and not even for the big crowded parties. But don’t worry, the sound reproduction is quite clear even if you play the music at the maximum volume.
Remember, I have used the speakers keeping them 1.2 meters apart and it is placed to mimic audio slightly towards the back of the auditor’s head. And this Kove Bluetooth speaker review is totally based on that configuration.
Features
| Battery Life | 8.2 hours |
|---|---|
| Charge Time | 2.3 hours |
| Power Saving Mode | Yes |
| Charging Port | Micro-USB |
| Voice assistant | It does not support Alexa, Siri and Google assistant. |
| App | It does not have any companion app |
| Wired | It has no wired inputs |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth version | 4.2 |
| Android Latency (Bluetooth) | 294 ms |
| iOS Latency (Bluetooth) | 282 ms |
| Multi- device pairing | Not possible |
| Bluetooth range | 68 m or 223 ft (approx) |
| Wi-Fi | This device is not Wi-Fi compatible |
The features of Kove Commuter 2 are good. It comes with great battery performance. It takes approx 2.3 hours to charge and with this charging you can use the device for more than eight hours, which I think is enough for a long listening session. Moreover, it comes with a power saving feature as well. The power saving mode instructs it to shut off after 10 minutes if the device is not paired with any other Bluetooth device. This feature definitely helps the Kove Commuter 2 to protect its battery life. However, I must mention that good battery life depends on the usage, so the experience may vary from user to user. The more properly you use and charge it, the more its battery will last.
Unfortunately, this device lacks any sort of audio customization features for helping the users switch up Kove’s sound. In addition to that, the speakers also do not support any voice assistants as well as a companion app. Plus, the Kove Commuter 2 comes with zero wired inputs.
Luckily, the Commuter 2 supports Bluetooth connection and it has good Bluetooth connectivity. It covers a good range, which is why the device can receive audio from the user’s paired Bluetooth device even if it is far away from the speakers.
Sadly, the speaker’s latency with Android & iOS gadgets is likely very high for being suitable to watch videos. But, there are some apps that compensate differently for latency, therefore users to users the experience might vary.
Besides, the equalizer modes of this device are great. It features 2 equalizer modes which help to facilitate a good quality clear and crystal sound. It enhances the performance of the Kove Commuter 2 speaker. Unfortunately, the Kove Commuter 2 is not Wi-Fi compatible.
Further, when you will used the device as a whole or a single speaker, it will provide you with a 360 degree surround feel. However, when they are used separately, you will get a total left and right stereo sound that is awesome for small parties or any get-together. Also, if you use this device with a subwoofer, the sound quality will noticeably increase and upgrade the overall experience.
Things I liked about the Kove Commuter 2 speaker:
Firstly, the Kove commuter 2 is a waterproof device, on top of that it is a Bluetooth speaker. So a speaker, that is compatible with Bluetooth and waterproof at the same time is a great party speaker, where you do not have to worry about kinds of stuff like, whether it will rain, or your speaker will fall on the pool and also if the Bluetooth paired device is far away from the speaker. Secondly, it is a two-in-one speaker, meaning, you can use it as a single speaker, where it will provide you with a 360 degree surround feel, and also you can use them separately, to get a fuller left and right stereo sound feeling.
Also, the Kove commuter 2 is easy to set up and even easier to operate in both outdoor and indoor activities. The speaker is quite affordable and all its features and performance is okay for this value. Lastly, the speaker features 2 equalizer modes which help to facilitate a good quality clear and crystal sound. It enhances the performance of the Kove Commuter 2 speaker.
Things I did not like about the Kove Commuter 2 speaker:
The Kove commuter 2 is an average speaker when it comes to overall performance. Not to mention, I saw in Kove audio commuter 2 review Reddit that few users had a problem with the battery which does not last that long, to be specific, not more than 2 hours. However, I didn’t face such a problem.
That said, there is a big possibility of the battery draining rapidly because there are no options at all to turn off the LED lights and this takes away a lot of charges.
Sadly, this device lacks any sort of audio customization features for helping the users switch up Kove’s sound, plus the speaker’s latency with Android & iOS gadgets is likely very high for being suitable to watch videos.
Besides, the frequency response accuracy of the speaker is disappointing and its volume fails to get that loud.
Conclusion
Overall, the Kove commuter 2 is a decent and affordable Bluetooth speaker, that can be used both indoor and outdoor easily. Not only that, but you can also use the Commuter 2 on your bicycle as well as the car. It can also be used for the portable projectors. Thus, it can be used almost anywhere, for any purpose; isn’t it great?
You might not get extraordinary performance from this device, but looking at its price range, whatever it gives is nice enough. Moreover, it comes with a one year manufacturer warranty; so you don’t have to worry at all about the speaker for a year. So, if you ain’t looking for something high-end or professional, try out the Kove Commuter 2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This FAQ section is all about solving your problems regarding this matter. let’s check it out!
How do the controls on the Kove Commuter 2 work?
They are very easy to operate. If you want to play or pause the song, press the middle button once and you can also answer as well as end a call by pressing the left speaker’s middle button. Again press twice the middle button in order to pair up your device via Bluetooth. Similarly, press the middle button thrice for disconnecting the Wireless Stereo pairing. You can see some right & left arrows, these will help you to control the volume. Moreover, the left arrow offers you more functions, like if you hold it, you can skip the next track. In the same manner, holding the right arrow gets you back to the previous track. Furthermore, while the music playback you can turn off or on the white LED if both the volume buttons are pressed at the same time.
Does the Kove Commuter 2 come with any warranty?
Yes, it comes with a one year manufacturer warranty.
How is this speaker for outdoor use?
It works fine as it is battery powered. Also, it is waterproof, which means you do not have to worry about kinds of stuff like, whether it will rain, or your speaker will fall on the pool, etc.
You can use it as a single speaker, where it will provide you with a 360 degree surround feel, and also you can use them separately, to get a fuller left and right stereo sound feeling.
What are the drawbacks or cons of the Kove Commuter 2 speaker?
There are some users who had a problem with the battery which does not last that long, to be specific, not more than 2 hours. However, I didn’t face such a problem.
Sadly, this device lacks any sort of audio customization features for helping the users switch up Kove’s sound, plus the speaker’s latency with Android & iOS gadgets is likely very high for being suitable to watch videos.
Besides, the frequency response accuracy of the speaker is disappointing and its volume fails to get that loud.
I want an affordable Bluetooth Speaker with a good battery; how would be the Kove Commuter 2 in this regard?
The Kove Commuter 2 comes with great battery performance. It takes approx 2.3 hours to charge and with this charging you can use the device for more than eight hours, which I think is enough for a long listening session. Moreover, it comes with a power saving feature as well. The power saving mode instructs it to shut off after 10 minutes if the device is not paired with any other Bluetooth device. This feature definitely helps the Kove Commuter 2 to protect its battery life. However, I must mention that a good battery life depends on proper usage, so the experience may vary from user to user. The more properly you use and charge it, the more its battery will last. Not to mention, few users had a problem with the battery which does not last that long, to be specific, not more than 2 hours. However, I didn’t face such a problem.
Student and Tech journalist.