Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsOne of the best truly portable outdoor wireless speakers. It's even more incredible as a pair.
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2017
Fugoo isn't as well known as other big box brand speaker manufacturers like UE (Ultimate Ears), Beats, JBL and Harmon Kardon. That's actually too bad because Fugoo speakers are fantastic, especially if you like durability, attention to detail and sound quality. I've owned every speaker from Fugoo, from the original Tough, Tough XL and now the Fugoo Go.
The Go is Fugoo's smallest and most affordable wireless speaker in its small lineup. It's not ultra portable where you can throw it into your pocket, but it's still ultra portable as it is about the size of a standard 500mL water bottle.
The Go has two 12 watt drivers that are supported on the low-end sound range by dual woofers. The sound is balanced, rich and gets LOUD. It's probably the loudest speaker I own in this size/price range. However at max volume, it can distort based on the genre of music. Songs with heavy and deep bass will rattle the Go a bit, but I doubt there are many scenarios where you'd want the Go at max volume anyways. The Go really shines in the 30-80% volume range and sounds even better when it is paired up to a second Go.
Instructions for pairing
It can play in stereo mode (my preference) or it can play in dual mode where it replicates the sound of the first speaker. Pairing a second Go isn't intuitive as there isn't a dedicated button for pairing, however if you read the instructions, you simply hold down the Bluetooth and + button at the same time on the first speaker, followed by the second and they will connect. You can switch between Double/Stereo mode by holding down the Bluetooth and - buttons at the same time. Two Gos playing in stereo mode sounds better than any speaker under $400, which includes the Bose Revolve and UE Megaboom which are both great speaker in their own right. You can get two Gos for $160, where the Bose Revolve and Megaboom cost $200 and up.
Beyond the sound quality, price and pairing feature, I really love the Go because I can bring it anywhere. The speaker is water and shock resistant and has a build quality that is second to none when it comes to practicality. It has a really thick and durable plastic frame that feels like I could ride over it with a bike several times and it would withstand the weight. It also has a removable grill, which very few portable speakers offer. Why does that matter? If you're really going to use a speaker outdoors, it's going to get dirt, dust and moisture in it. If you have a non removable grill, especially a cloth one found on the UE Boom lineup, it will get stuck and you won't be able to wash it. The moisture will also have a hard time drying out on a speaker with a non-removable grill which will reduce the lifespan of your speaker. The Go won't suffer from these issues because you can remove the grill, wash it and let it dry out.
For $79, you'd be hard pressed to find a more well rounded outdoor speaker.
The only downside I have for the Go though, is its average battery life. I get about six to seven hours per charge which is fine for everyday use, but it can be an issue when taking it camping or on weekend trips. The battery life is advertised at 10 hours at 50% which is more than attainable ( I ran it at 50% several times and averaged about 10 hours and 45 minutes of battery life), but because it sounds so good, I find myself playing it above 50% especially when I'm outdoors which reduces my playback time.
Although in my case, if I need a speaker with longer battery life, like on two or three day camping trips, I just bring along my Tough XL instead which easily gets over 30 hours of playback.
If you're considering getting a comparable UE Boom 2 or Sony 20, save yourself some money and get the Go. It sounds better and is certainly better suited for the outdoors.
