Beyerdynamic's new portable Bluetooth Space speaker is a premium choice that strikes an interesting balance between high-quality audio conferencing and entertainment. While there are a number of other Bluetooth speakers that can double as both, few have the sleek and inconspicuous looks to easily fit in either setting.

With work-from-home still being a must for many, the Space speaker can be a great option if you want a single speaker that can easily satisfy your work and personal needs without compromise. To accomplish this, Space is compact, has a long-lasting battery, and will "automatically switch between Voice Mode for clear voice reproduction and Music Mode for lively music playback". At $179.99, this is a pricey choice, however, if you prioritize having an all-in-one portable speaker that has advanced mics for high-quality hands-free communication, then this is one of the best looking & sounding options.

For my review, I tested two Space speakers in a variety of different setups indoors, outdoors, and on the go, for a mix of audio calls, listening to music, watching movies, and even some gaming.

Overview

Specifications

What's Included

USB-C offers direct data connectivity while also supporting charging the speaker at the same time. The soft carrying bag helps protect the speaker when taking it on the go especially with portability being such a key feature. If you're planning on throwing this among other gear, you may want to invest in a hard-shell case for additional protection.

The USB-C to USB-A adaptor, if needed, can be stored in a dedicated slot on the underside of the Space. That's a nice touch helping you to never forget to bring the adaptor along.

Speaker and Microphone Quality

To make one thing clear, the Space sounds good, but at nearly $200 there are far better sounding and more powerful portable speakers at this price point and even a fraction of its cost which will blow this out of the water. But again, that should only be half the reason you choose this dual-purpose speaker. Its 1.5-inch drivers provide better bass compared to other speakerphones, including some larger options. Music and other media sounds good, and especially if using this on the go with a phone or laptop, you'll be getting a much better experience over your built-in speakers. But set your expectations appropriately.

Another shortcoming compared to dedicated media speakers are the supported Bluetooth codecs. SBC is supported, but it lacks AAC and AptX for higher quality and lower latency playback.

The speaker will automatically switch between two different frequency response modes depending on if you're on a call or listening to media. While there is no way to manually switch between the two, I see little reason why you would want to.

It's also important to note that these speakers are only mono and so will naturally sound less detailed and have a smaller sound stage compared to stereo options. That said, you can easily pair a second Space speaker and get that stereo experience, which is pretty unique to other similar options in this category. While it's not the most economical choice to go for if you're looking for the best media playback experience, if you already plan on getting two, it's a great feature to have and take advantage of.

For smaller rooms and most indoor use, these speakers should be loud enough. Outdoors in quieter environments like my roof and deck, they also did a good job. However, if it gets windy or you have a group chat and some laughter going on (you know... a party), you'll probably want a speaker that can get louder.

The Space's four-mic setup helps pick up a speaker's audio from all directions allowing you to move around freely without worrying. You can sit or stand about 3-4 feet back and still notice a big improvement compared to using your phone as a speakerphone. I tried a few test calls and walked around while asking how well I sounded on the other end. I was able to move about 6-7 feet back from the Space while still getting decent results, though at that point I sounded much further away. This will allow you to be more mobile if you're like me and find yourself pacing anytime you're on a call. Likewise, if you're on a larger conference call and want others to be picked up, this range will help too.

Additionally, on the software end, the Space offers some noise and echo reduction which will automatically kick in after a few moments of analyzing the audio source and the unwanted parts. It does reasonably well and can help capture better audio in noisier rooms, or again, outdoors if that's your thing.

Design and Features

To me, the Space looks and feels like a slightly larger (mostly in width) Google Home Mini speaker, featuring a similar cloth grille on top. When the Mini first came out in 2017, its minimalist design was pretty unique and still looks great today and easily fits in with most rooms and decor.

The Space comes in three colors; charcoal, aquamarine, and gray. I've been testing the charcoal and gray models which I think look best. There are 4 rubber feet at the bottom that give the speaker a little height, reducing vibration and also keeping it from sliding around on flat surfaces.

With its fast and reliable connectivity over Bluetooth 5.0 via USB-C, it pairs easily with mobile devices and most other devices. Key to its design, it's small and light enough that you can easily move it around to different rooms or pack it in a bag and take it on the go without adding much weight or bulk. This brings up an important point. While there are larger and more powerful speakers that are better suited for punchier music playback or more ideal for larger conferences, the Beyerdynamic Space is the sweet spot for size, portability, and performance.

Controls and Buttons

If you've never really considered getting a speakerphone or aren't sure why you would want one over a regular wireless speaker, the two main reasons you'd want one include the built-in mic (of course) as well as intuitive controls that allow you to take calls easily.

Although not a speakerphone, the similar-looking Google Home Mini has very difficult touch controls. It's hard to know what you're pressing as there aren't permanent buttons or icons in place. Instead, you're sliding across the top, somewhere in the middle, hoping it's the right spot. It's a good example of how being too minimalist can actually be a thing. That may not seem as important if you're only using your speaker for streaming music, and you mainly adjust the volume or change tracks from your paired device, however, this won't cut it as a professional tool.

In contrast, Beyerdynamic makes sure it's easy to make adjustments to volume, muting/unmuting the mic, and answering or ending a call without wondering which buttons do what or if your input was registered correctly.

On its side, there is a small power button that when held will turn the speaker on or off. It has this somewhat annoying boot-up and shutdown sound, akin to Asus gaming laptops, although longer and even more out of place. It can be a little jarring, and especially when turning this on at night or when you're trying to stay quiet and plan on using the speaker at lower volumes, it has me questioning why they felt the need to include it. I could foresee this being considered "less professional" for those using this for group meetings if that's something you'd be concerned with. This is one of my only gripes with the speaker. While not nearly as tacky as generic Bluetooth speakers with the funny prompts in half-broken English (if you've heard it, you know), it nonetheless should probably be removed.

To the left of the power button, there is a USB input for charging as well as direct connectivity to other devices. A small charging indicator on its left lights up when plugged in. Lastly to its left, there is a Kensington lock for added security when taking this on the go or leaving it unattended. Jabra's speakerphone is the only other speaker I know of that also features a Kensington lock, so if preventing theft is important to you, this could be another good reason to add the Space to your shortlist. Aside from that, you'll find the four microphones evenly spaced apart.

While the Space doesn't have physical buttons for the rest of its controls, on its top, it features a circular touch control ring that lights up when the speaker turns on, and depending on which buttons you press, the rings will change to reflect your inputs. When changing the volume, the ring will increase or decrease in increments and will remain lit in this position by default.

When you click the battery icon, this main LED ring will light around to show you the battery remaining. After a few moments, the Space will revert to showing you the volume level. I would have liked as well if there was a voice prompt that also told you the exact percentage when clicked. As of now, you are only able to hear a voice prompt when the speaker is turned on.

Additionally, that same LED ring will change its colors next to certain buttons when they are engaged. This includes a mute button that turns red when active, so you always know for sure that you can't be heard on the other side. A solid blue light is shown next to the Bluetooth button to let you know the speaker is connected. When held for a few seconds It will flash blue and red for its pairing mode.

When the speaker is in voice mode, the LED ring will turn green next to the answer call button and red next to the end call. When in its media mode, these colors revert to normal.

You also have volume up, volume down, and a "Y" (same as from their logo) multi-function button. This is one area that highlights how the Space is a speakerphone first and foremost and a media speaker second. This "Y" button is clicked or held, once or several times to control media or trigger your phone's voice assistant. It's not unusual, nor is it too hard to get the hang of, but compared to having dedicated media buttons for play/pause, next, back and one for your voice assistant, it's certainly not as convenient. Considering how much space there is for these additional buttons, it would have been a huge bonus in my books.

Speaking of bonus, the Space includes a ¼ screw-mount at the bottom making it easy to attach to a stand or tripod easily. I don't see the majority of owners needing this, but for those looking for a more permanent setup, this could be handy.

Is This The Speakerphone You've Been Looking For?

Another key area that makes the Space so unique, but realistically only a practical feature for those who truly intend on moving this speakerphone all around and using it outdoors too, is its IP64 rating which protects it from lighter rain, small splashes, and has some dust protection. While it's not fully waterproof, unlike many dedicated portable speakers, it is significantly more resistant to the elements compared to most other speakerphones. Traditional users of speakerphones may not appreciate this, but for the new work-from-home/on-the-go force, this could be extremely handy. I'm not saying you should take your next financial report call on the beach, but if you found yourself in the oh-so-inconvenient situation where you had no other choice, this certainly would be one of the best choices...