Klipsch - Miami Music City Bluetooth Party Speaker - Black

My first experience with a Klipsch product was hearing a vintage pair of Klipschorns. Unlike anything out there, those speakers could cast a spell over you. Drawing you in at the same time as filling a room with sound with so little wattage expended, was part of their charm as well as a necessity. That motivation of striving for efficiency is carried on in this reviewed product. Mr. Klipsch’s contemporaries may have at one time considered designs such as this, “heresy”. He would probably in the context of modernity, admit that the progeny of his designs has now given birth to yet another consequential generation. This model is the middle size in a series of three products named for three cities, Vegas, Miami and New York. The Miami features dual 5 ¼” woofers that are partially horn-loaded (and also ported) for efficiency, along with a horn-loaded tweeter that is all built into a case that is designed for efficiency, portability, durability, flexibility and fun! The case has rear trolley wheels, an extendable handle like a carry-on suitcase, a beefy handle for lifting and a pole-mount tucked underneath for an optional speaker stand to elevate the speaker for unobstructed propagation. The pole mount works well, if not a little oversized as used with a Stellar brand pole mount. There are also four short feet and pads on each of the two long sides of the case to allow for side placement. The heft and general shape of the case are reminiscent of a professional stage monitor. There is an optional RGB light show on the front and sides for when the occasion calls for it and you need to burn up that battery power faster! Actually, the battery time for no lights, is about 18 hours and with lights, about 10 hours. No idea how loud you can play it for that time period or what light settings might burn up more power, but it is probably reasonably loud and sufficiently colorful for those time periods. It also doesn’t hurt that it has an IPX4 splash rating for those unexpected champagne-smashing ship launches, the start of a little spring shower or pool splashes from a Luna or Ollie jumping in a pool. Fun facts on the capabilities of this unit include a typical snoopy, intrusive app that can control this unit or multiple linked units from a distance, adding convenience and control. Options within the 5.2 version Bluetooth connection for linking more speakers, include a stereo mode and a broadcast mode in mono that can include numerous devices. The app is also needed to make equalization preset changes or create a customized setting. There is an included, hand-held, corded microphone that plugs in and can be volume-controlled relative to music played and has echo effects available to sing along karaoke-style or for use while DJing. An additional instrument input is also included so you can busk away on sidewalks or parks while singing out your heartfelt songs. There are on-board tone controls for the microphone and an Ultra Bass button that adds just a bit more lower bass to any input. Sampled sounds of an air horn, record scratch effects and audience applause are available at the touch of a button, from both the app and the front panel, just in case you need to prime the pump a little in your DJ pursuits. Additional front panel controls include a big ol’ volume control, a light mode knob, Bluetooth controls, battery power indicators and an input selection switch. On the back of the unit are ¼” input connectors and gain controls for an instrument and a microphone as well as an auxiliary input and auxiliary output via 1/8” stereo connectors. Unfortunately, the microphone doesn’t utilize an XLR connector that would be more reliable and versatile. I can’t imagine that the microphone will still be around past a few dramatic mic-drops or tugs on the cable, as the strain relief looks very weak, but who knows. Some brands of this type of product offer wireless microphone capability, but you can always add that after-purchase if needed. Lastly, there is a USB A connector capable of 5V/2.1 amp charging capacity and is also useful for updating the firmware as well as playing MP3 and WAV audio files all relying on use of a FAT-32 formatted drive. Both rear-facing connector panels are protected by rubberized-covers when not in use, that pivot away for access to controls and connections and will protect the connections from splashes, etc. when properly in place. The lettering is a bit hard to read inside that connector panel compartment, so it would certainly be an improvement if there was contrasting lettering to make it more readable. The power cord is about five feet in length, which seems a bit short, but we have to keep in mind that the battery power is the star here, so short shrift to shorty, I guess. First person impressions of the unit are that it is very substantially built, weighing in at over 40 pounds, but has a few surprising shortcomings. Most noticeable is that the handle, when extended, seems unsubstantial in contrast. With care, it probably will last, but I would fear that one mistake might break it, although it seems at least as substantial as what is included with most luggage that have these types of handles. Also, in regard to the design of the top of the unit, it surprises me that the volume and light controls are designed sunken into the panel as opposed to standing proud of the panel, so that it would discourage moisture from collecting around the controls and potentially lead to soaking into the electronics. Also, a moisture relief path molded into the top panel to allow moisture to vacate efficiently, rather than hang around uninvited, would be useful as well. The sound quality of the unit straight out of the box was very impressive. It goes louder than I would have expected for a pair of 5 1/4” drivers while keeping the frequency spectrum pretty consistent. The app’s controls allow fine tuning with Bass, Mid and Treble controls to customize the sound, or use four other predetermined presets. The presumably high impedance, unbalanced, wired microphone works well, but would benefit from having a longer cord. The high impedance connection might allow for a low-cost user substitution of a wireless system in the future. The echo and front panel equalization controls worked well. However, the level of the microphone and instrument inputs will need to be balanced with the somewhat fixed level of the three sampled sound effects available. I like this product. It is versatile and sounds great for its format type and has a quality feature set to appeal to a broad range of users. The engineering of gain settings, tonal apportions, utilization of acoustic horn properties of both the tweeter and bass driver’s mounting as a distant homage to the founder’s original corner horn styles and patents, strikes a thoughtful balance of utilizing traditional and tested engineering methods with modern technology.

The Klipsch Miami Speaker is a noise complaint in a box; this speaker gets loud. While the volume levels are impressive, it is the overall sound quality that blew me away. Just calling this a party speaker feels a bit dismissive. The Miami could double as a karaoke machine with hookups and adjustment dials for a microphone and a guitar. Multiple speakers can be linked to provide stereo sound. This is an excellent party speaker, and I cannot recommend it enough. Unboxing: Klipsch includes the speaker, the charging cable, and a microphone. Experience: Out of the box you realize the build quality on this speaker is next level. This speaker has a rugged build to it. Textured rubber that does not show smudges or fingerprints. The metal grill and accent lighting look fantastic. The sides have rubber pads. You can place the speaker on its sides if you choose. You can pole mount the speaker as well. This gets loud. Very loud. I could not crank it up all the way in the house because the volume simply became too much. But amazingly, even at higher volume levels, the speaker still sounds great. Many speakers get distorted at higher volume levels, but Miami impressively does not. If you decide that you need to change the audio EQ or adjust the lighting, Klipsch has a Klipsch Connect application for your Android or iOS device. Connecting to the speaker for purposes of the app is different than connecting to the speaker to broadcast music. It is possible to have one device controlling the EQ and lighting while another phone is playing to the speaker through Bluetooth. You can even pair multiple speakers together for stereo or broadcast to other Klipsch speakers either in the app or through the controls on top. The top of the speaker houses various knobs and controls. It is straight forward. In addition, Klipsch has included a slot for your phone or tablet should you want to set up Karaoke with the included microphone. This speaker is not light. Thankfully, Klipsch has included wheels and a luggage style pull handle. I only have two real critiques of the speaker. First critique is that I wish the Miami were waterproof. At best, it is splash resistant. But you should be careful with the speaker on rainy days or by the pool. Second major critique is that battery life could be better. The higher the volume, the quicker the battery drain. Klipsch advertises 10 hours with lights on and 18 with lights off, but those numbers decrease a bit when using the speaker at louder volume levels. Conclusion: Klipsch has created a solid party speaker. In terms of sound quality, it sounds amazing with just the right amount of punch. Lighting effects and build quality are top notch. My only real complaints are battery life and waterproofing. Still, if you are in the market for a speaker, this is one you should check out. 4.5/5

The Klipsch Miami Music City Bluetooth Party Speaker (Black) is solidly built. It's built to take the party wherever you are. With a retractable handle and wheels, you can take it on the go. It weighs 40 lbs, so it is not too heavy. But the wheels solve that problem. The sound from this speaker is crisp, and the bass is deep. The loud horns and 5.25 woofer do the job. You can use it on the battery, or you can plug it up so the party is limitless. I love that you can control it from your phone or from the speaker. The Klipsch app is great and lets you control the speaker's lights. The party link lets you add another speaker to the party. The lights are nice, but you get better battery life with them turned off. Lasts about 18 hours without lights. But with five light modes. And with multiple color options, you will want them turned on. And if you want to pump up the jams, the ultra bass is spectacular. That app also has EQ controls. And you also get hype buttons such as a horn of scratch and cheers from the crowd. If you're looking for some good times this summer, this is the one you want. Because it also comes with a microphone for a sing-along jam session. So get a boost with your summer fun and grab one.

such a good speaker! i just recently took this to a vacation and everyone enjoyed it. would recommend

I picked up the Klipsch Miami Music City Party Speaker because I wanted something that could handle backyard hangouts and pool days with my family without sounding like a cheap portable speaker. First impressions were good. It is a hefty, well built unit that looks like it means business right out of the box, and it does not take long to figure out this thing was made for actual use, not just sitting pretty on a shelf. Day to day, we mostly use it in the backyard and around the pool for weekend get togethers. My kids are absolutely obsessed with it. The RGB light show turns a random Tuesday evening into a mini dance party, and my youngest has discovered the built in DJ sound effects, so now I get random air horns and record scratches in the middle of dinner. It is annoying in the best possible way. The trolley wheels and retractable handle make more sense once you actually live with the speaker for a while. Dragging it from the garage to the patio without throwing out your back is a real quality of life upgrade, especially if you are setting up and tearing down often like we do. Battery life is one of the standout features for us. I have run this thing for full afternoons into evenings, lights and music going the whole time, without ever thinking about where the charger is. That kind of reliability matters a lot when you have kids running around and the last thing you want to deal with is a dead speaker mid party. As for sound, loud is an understatement. This speaker fills a backyard with room to spare and still sounds clean even when you push the volume up. The horn loaded tweeter and dual woofers do real work here, the bass hits hard without falling apart or turning muddy at higher volumes. It is genuinely impressive for something that is portable enough to wheel around your yard. Durability has been another strong point. Between pool splashes, kids bumping into it, and general backyard chaos, it has held up without a scratch that actually matters. The IPX4 splash resistance gives me some peace of mind too, since we are usually within a few feet of the pool when it is playing. If I had to name one downside, it is the weight. This is not something you want to carry very far by hand. Once you are off pavement or dealing with stairs, the wheels stop helping and you feel every pound of it. It is not a dealbreaker for how we use it, but it is worth knowing going in, especially if your setup is not wheel friendly or involves a lot of lifting. Overall, if you have a family that likes music outside, or you host anything from backyard barbecues to pool days, this speaker earns its spot. It is loud, tough, and lasts basically all day on a single charge, and my kids treat it like their own personal DJ booth. Just plan on rolling it around rather than carrying it, because you will notice the heft if you try. For anyone who wants serious sound in a speaker built to actually take a beating, I would recommend this one without much hesitation. It has become a regular part of how we spend time outside as a family, and that says a lot more than any spec sheet.