What I liked about the Curve is that it's got some heft to it -- it doesn't feel like a cheap speaker -- and seems well built (it weighs in at 9 ounces). I'm not sure how much I dig the design; it's a bit shiny and for some reason made me think of Darth Vader's helmet. But if nothing else, it's eye-catching and the speaker comes in a couple of different metallic color options with additional colors coming soon.
If you read the reviews on Amazon, people seem to love this little guy, and it does sound as good -- and play as loud -- as competitors that cost twice as much. However, it's not without some shortcomings.
With some tracks I played it sounded good, relatively speaking anyway. But with other tracks the Curve got bent out of shape and distorted badly at medium to high volumes. It just doesn't handle certain bass frequencies well (it had a hard time with the bass line of Wayne Wonder's "No Letting Go," for example). It can also give more complicated music a harsh edge that will make critical listeners cringe.
The Curve comes in a few different shiny metallic finishes. Sarah Tew/CNETThese speakers can output some bass, but unsurprisingly, they sound thin compared with larger speakers. They're strongest in the midrange, so vocals and acoustical material come across best. It's also worth mentioning that it has a built-in speakerphone, which works well, and a set of transport controls on the unit itself. Most people will use a smartphone or tablet to control music playback, but some like having a Pause/Play button on the speaker itself. That's here.
The speaker does have built-in transport controls. Sarah Tew/CNET
http://reviews.cnet.com/Oontz_Curve_by_Cambridge_SoundWorks_Titanium_Black/4505-11313_7-35834139.html?subj=fdba&part=rss&tag=MR_Portable+Audio+Devices
