Gravastar has an excellent track record when it comes to portable speakers. Previous models such as Venus and Mars are punchy, powerful, and deliver excellent sound quality while looking awesome.

Continuing the extraterrestrial theme is the new Mars Pro wireless speaker, a beefier version of the original Mars with bigger speakers and a new sound system design.

So, how does the eye-catching Mars Pro portable speaker sound? Find out in our review of the $230 alien robot speaker from outer space, the Gravastar Mars Pro.

The Gravastar Mars Pro Looks Incredible

Look no further than the Gravastar Mars Pro if you want a striking wireless speaker for your home, office, or garden.

The three-legged robotic design brings a unique style to the portable speaker market, looking like something you'd find crawling around Black Mesa or from the depths of Aperture Labs.

The speaker housing sits atop three legs, which you can move in and out to change the speaker's height. The housing itself is sturdy, made from a zinc-alloy shell that not only protects the Mars Pro from damage but helps to project and shape your music from within.

It's a weighty beast, too, coming in at 5.5lbs (2.5kg), nearly 2lbs more than the standard Mars model. Now, that extra weight is accounted for with the tuned-up and specced-out sound system, but it does mean the Mars Pro is on the heavier side of things when it comes to portable wireless speakers.

Elsewhere on the Mars Pro, you'll find a USB Type-C port on the belly of the beast. The Mars Pro doesn't feature a 3.5mm jack input like the standard version, but before you grab the pitchforks, Gravastar includes a handy 3.5mm jack to USB Type-C cable in the box.

The USB-C port is also used for charging, and there's a second right-angle USB-C cable you can use for this purpose. The right-angle charging cable is actually quite handy. The Mars Pro stands sufficiently high that you can get a regular USB-C cable in there, but the right-angled cable is much easier to use.

On top of the Mars Pro, you'll find the touch volume control. I really like how simple the volume control is to use and the visual display that shows where you are on the volume scale (as if you couldn't hear it, this thing is loud!), but you can also crank the volume up to maximum accidentally by picking the Mars Pro up at the wrong angle. My kids did this a few times, and each time it was mind-blowingly terrifying for all involved.

Also lurking at the top of the speaker are the control buttons, of which there is one for power, one to play/pause, one for Bluetooth connectivity, and one to change between the Mars Pro's six RGB lighting options.

The buttons are easy to use and respond instantly to any press, and although they're plastic, they appear well made and sturdy enough.

Gravastar Mars Pro Audio Quality: Let the Good Times Roll

One of the biggest differences between the Mars and new Mars Pro is the speaker configuration. Gravastar has upgraded the Mars Pro speakers with "audiophile-level algorithmic acoustics" and a stonking 2.5" full-range speaker, topped off with an improved 1" high-frequency tweeter.

Remember the additional weight? This is where it comes from.

It's a significant upgrade on the sound quality of the previous version, though it isn't without issue. The Mars Pro soundstage is somewhat bass-heavy, which you don't notice as much when listening to tracks designed for that style of music, like drum and bass or techno.

However, switching over to tracks that demand a more balanced EQ, and you can tell that the mid-range and top have been left a little short by Gravastar's tuning.

Taking the Mars Pro down to the beach, and multiple people remarked that the Mars Pro could use a little more treble just to iron out some of the bassier tones coming through the speaker, and it's hard not to agree.

One thing is for sure: the Mars Pro has excellent volume. Cranking it up to almost maximum volume, and there is barely a crackle from the speaker as it pumps out music so loud you can barely hear yourself think. And it's no bad thing. The Mars Pro delivers a stable sound more than anything, unwavering in the face of extreme volume.

As mentioned, the Mars Pro is better suited to certain musical genres. It could do with a companion app to help tune the output and customize your EQ, but then again, you can find third-party equalizer apps for all major operating systems, desktop or mobile.

Putting on my Spotify Release Radar (which has a relatively eclectic mix of genres), and everything sounded tidy. Particular treats came from tracks from grime and hip-hop, ambient techno, electronic ambiance, and similar sound profiles.

One thing I didn't have a chance to try is the Mars Pro dual speaker mode. The Mars Pro two-way speaker builds on the standard model, but if you have two Mars Pro speakers, you can pair them for a true stereo experience. Unfortunately, you cannot pair the original Mars and the upgraded Mars Pro, which is a shame, but understandable as they use different tech.

In terms of connectivity, you're looking at Bluetooth 5.0, which is plenty good enough for music streaming. You might notice some audio sync issues if you use the Mars Pro Bluetooth 5.0 for watching a film, but that's not a Gravastar issue, rather an issue facing all Bluetooth audio hardware.

The Mars Pro connects to audio devices quickly enough. However, once or twice, I found that the speaker was attempting to connect a previous device after switching it on, meaning it wouldn't pair with a new device. Pressing the Bluetooth button on the Mars Pro to switch the connection on and off fixes this, and there were no other issues with connectivity.

Gravastar Mars Pro Battery Life

Another consequence of the bulked-out audio hardware in the Mars Pro is a drop in battery life, from 20 hours in the standard version down to 15 hours in with the Pro.

While that sounds like an inconvenience, you'd be surprised at how little difference those five hours make. Given how you're likely to use the Mars Pro—at home, in the garden, on day trips to the park or beach—you're unlikely to ever be too far from a charger.

Furthermore, if your Mars Pro is unlikely to move from its home, you could opt for the Mars Pro Charging Base.

We didn't receive a charging base for review, but it also features six RGB lights, additional lighting modes, and theoretically removes some of the cable clutter from your desk. You should note that the Mars Pro Charging Base is only for use with the Mars Pro. Charging bases are not interchangeable.

The weight of the Mars Pro means that this isn't a portable Bluetooth speaker you're chucking in your bag for a three-day hike. It's not built for that. But it is built to deliver great audio for up to 15 hours, and I found that rating largely accurate, even with the RGB lights on.

Is the Gravastar Mars Pro Worth the Money?

So, should you reach into your pocket and part with $230 to grab the Mars Pro?

The Mars Pro speaker has a lot going for it. The visual style is eye-catching, and it'll look awesome on your shelves or as a talking point in your kitchen. The RGB lighting adds a nice touch of color, and the three-legged creepy-crawling scuttling leg design really is unique amongst the Bluetooth speakers I've seen.

In terms of audio, you won't be disappointed either. Although the Mars Pro does have a slightly bass-heavy profile, it doesn't massively affect the overall listening experience. It's not like a gaming headset where every part of the EQ is ramped up, overblown, and distracting.

No, Gravastar has ensured that in combination with the upgraded speakers, the soundstage delivers competently in almost all areas. The volume is a big plus, too. You won't be found turning the gain up in an EQ app with the Mars Pro.

One downside to the Mars Pro over the previous version is undoubtedly the weight gains from the beefed-up audio hardware. The Mars Pro is portable in the sense you can carry it around your house, into the garden, and down to the beach. I mean, you absolutely could take it for a long walk in a backpack as 5.5lbs isn't that heavy, but when lighter options exist, you'd probably value the weight reduction for longer excursions.

Bluetooth speakers are easy enough to come by. Bluetooth speakers that look like this are not, which is why Gravastar's Mars Pro speaker is just so damn good.