Films “On-The-Go” Review: AcoustiPhase MC-1 Mini Cannon

Films “On-The-Go” is a series of tech reviews looking at ways to enhance our personal cinema experience while away from home or travelling. Here we take a look at the AcoustiPhase MC-1 Mini Cannon Bluetooth speaker.

While the AcoustiPhase Mini Cannon has many attributes that make it a worthwhile addition to your personal cinema set-up, its most striking is its sleek appearance. Here is a wireless Bluetooth speaker that not only gives you exactly what you want from a portable sound system but looks good in the process of doing it. Available in a range of colours, the Mini Cannon can also be purchased according to taste, making it an even more attractive product.

AcoustiPhase is a new kid on the block but its first product – the MC-1 Mini Cannon – appears more like a seasoned pro than a fledgling up-and-comer. It certainly benefits from a suitably solid build making it a frequent traveller’s ideal companion, especially for those wary of their tech being damaged in transit. The Mini Cannon will likely take a few hits before it shows any sign of wear and tear. Yet, despite its solid build, it is still a relatively light Bluetooth speaker, weighing 380 grams.

The developer – AcoustiPhase – is the brain child of Charles Greenlees, who has over 30 years experience within the high-end audio business. He envisioned offering the mobile generation a range of audio products that could provide excellent levels of performance yet suit a portable lifestyle. All products are conceived and developed in the UK and manufactured in the Far East to offer users the perfect mix of excellent acoustics, materials and finish.

Featuring a pair of 4.5cm full-range speaker drivers and excellent bass response from two passive bass radiators the Mini Cannon is suitable for music listening and movie watching. With the convenience and quality of Bluetooth connectivity, the device can easily be connected to an ipod, ipad, laptop or other bluetooth-enabled tablet for film-watching on-the-go.

It’s pleasing to see the quality of the Mini Cannon’s sound reproduction match its sleek design. Indeed, its metallic outer case, which comes in a range of four colours (silver, blue, pink and black) is a welcome departure from the multitude of plastic Bluetooth speakers available on the market.

Connection is easy – with the Mini Cannon always ready to be paired with the devices we tried including ipod, ipad, Android, and Windows 7 and 8 desktops. You’ll get a plentiful range of around 10 metres and, depending on usage, around 10-hours out of the battery (which takes about three hours to fully charge).

This makes watching films very easy. You’ll be able to comfortably get 3 films watched on one battery charge and possibly up to 6. Perfect for adding meaty sound to portable film-viewing, the Mini Cannon can be easily positioned to suit your needs where it will produce a tidy balance between dialogue and musical score. Its bass, although not quite as strong as some other Bluetooth speakers on the market, still has enough strength to add to the overall film-viewing experience. Turned up too high and the Mini Cannon starts to show its miniature limitations but for single-person use, most volume requirements won’t pose a problem.

The added benefit is if your device doesn’t have Bluetooth, you can wire it up to the speaker via a 3.5mm stereo auxiliary input on the rear. There is also an on-board microphone so the Mini Cannon can be a used as a hands-free speakerphone.

A high quality and robust build, sleek design and powerful sound reproduction make the AcoustiPhase MC-1 Mini Cannon an attractive purchase. Perfect for taking on short travel excursions, the Mini Cannon will bring gravitas to your film-viewing experience when away from home. Its easy connectivity, long battery life and lightweight makes this little guy a big player in the portable Bluetooth speaker market.

Written by Daniel Stephens