Orange Amps are one of the most well-known amp makers in the UK and beyond. They have taken the step into Bluetooth speakers like rival brands in the amp market such as Marshall & Fender. Who have all seen the same gap in the market for a Bluetooth speaker with the same iconic style as their amps. In this review, we take a look at the Orange Box.
First Impressions
The Orange Box comes in two size options the Orange Box (£275) or Orange Box L (£315) either size comes with a striking look that is paired with outstanding sound and both come with 50 Watts. but the Orange Box L offers a larger bass Driver.
We are reviewing the Orange Box which weighs in at just under 6 pounds. So easy to move around the house or even if you want to take this speaker out in the garden or down the park.
We have been listening to the Orange Box speaker over the Christmas period and even my 40th Birthday gathering around the house and the below review will answer the question do you want to jam to this Bluetooth Speaker?
Design
The Orange Box mirrors the looks of its famous guitar amps. This speaker very much stands out from the crowd, and I don’t just mean the design/style. The Orange Box comes with both a Class A/B amplifier as well as a Class D amplifier built into this speaker, hardly surprising when you think of who makes this speaker. The inclusion of a Class D amplifier built-in allows you to provide higher quality than its rivals such as Marshall.
The Orange Box comes in two colours Orange (Of course it is) and a Black version that looks just as good.
We got the Orange version to review, and it comes with an Orange vegan leather cover around the speakers with black piping that makes it pop just like their amp range. This speaker will grab the attention of everyone in the room and not just for the sound. The material used for this speaker gives you the feeling it’s a fairly durable speaker. On the front of the speaker is the wheat-coloured grill finished off with the Orange Amps logo on the front.
The Orange Box also comes with a removable vegan-leather carry handle in the box so it’s useful to help carry around and will be a big tick to my vegan friends. Not a fan of the leather strap well that’s fine as you can buy a gig bag for £49.99 which is made using a grey denier fabric.
The bag fits snugly around the speaker and the cream-coloured cloth covers the grill of the speaker without impacting the output. You will notice the top of the bag comes with a pair of magnets and it peels back quickly to allow access to the control knobs. The bag also comes with some side pockets useful for anything you want to bring with you.
The speaker itself is not small size measuring 35 x 19.5 x20cm and is not light either at 4.3kg. So, it’s hardly going to pop into your backpack. It’s not designed for that but you can carry it around using the vegan leather strap.
In terms of the control panel if you have used an Orange Amp before it will provide a similar feel. If this is your first time with this brand the control panel or you’re a non-musician, it will take some time to familiarize yourself with the bass & treble clef logos.
The panel also features an on/off toggle switch, an Orange Jewel LED power light, individual bass and treble controls, dedicated volume control and an overload light if you take the volume too high. There is a 3.5mm aux-in and Orange also provide you with a coiled cable that lets you connect directly if you want to save battery life. There is also a Bluetooth button that allows for quick pairing.
Features
In terms of features, you are provided with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity which is fairly up to date. The Bluetooth button also doubles up as a play/pause button. When connecting the Orange Box to my iPhone 14 was a very easy process and when you power up the speaker for the 1st time it would automatically start pairing. Once paired there is a little guitar tune to indicate it was paired. I then had to play some rock classics such as Aerosmith -I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing or Bon Jovi – Bed of Roses. This speaker does not disappoint.
The Orange Speaker also comes with 2-inch high-frequency drivers and a single 4-inch bass driver behind the acoustically transparent grill designed to offer an excellent balance to the sound with depth in the lows a strong midrange and a smooth high end.
Battery Life
The Orange Box boasts 15 hours of battery life which is a little below average compared to other Bluetooth Speakers on the Market. The reason I expect this to be is the Class A amp meaning in terms of lifespan it just can’t compete with rival Bluetooth Speakers on the Market. In terms of battery life, it will give you around 2 evenings in a row then you will need to reach for the charger.
The provided charger looks very much like a laptop charger which I guess could be slightly inconvenient if you wanted to pack it in your backpack when travelling. Apart from that the charger stayed in my living room so I was not concerned by its size.
Audio Quality
We all know the most important aspect of any speaker is the sound. When I first got asked to review this speaker, I had not heard of Orange Amps but after doing a little research into the speaker I had high expectations. Now when I connected my phone to this speaker opened Apple Music and played Prince – Purple Rain.
What I heard was simply stunning I am saying this now The Orange Box is the Best Bluetooth Speaker we have ever tested and even better than my favourite Bluetooth speaker the Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4.
The Sonic quality is articulate, balanced, and powerful and delivers a tone that anyone with a pair of ears can tell this Bluetooth speaker is head and shoulders above anything in the market the only exception I can think of might be something from Bang & Olufsen, but they are in a very different price range to this speaker.
Image Credit: Claudia Hoyser
The detail of the drums and the electric guitar in this sound paired with the vocal powerhouse that was Prince just left me breathless the cutting guitar tone takes you to heaven.
When it comes to the bass it does not disappoint either with a weighty bass presented with class. The clarity of the electric guitar was handled with the care and attention this classic deserves. Take the volume up to just over 60% and it will fill the whole room without feeling overbearing. If you did want to make some changes to the sound you can with the bass & treble controls, but I hardly had to make much of an adjustment.
Verdict
I love the Orange Box why because it retro retro-looking and boosts a decent battery not the largest you will find on the market but 15 hours on a single charge should tick most listeners’ requirements. What makes this speaker stand head and shoulders above any Bluetooth speaker I have tested is the sound quality and my god it’s amazing!
If you enjoy them rock ballads like Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton, Who Wants To Live Forever by Queen or November Rain by Guns N Roses. This speaker is designed for guitarists or like me you are a Jedi in the art of air guitar will just love the sound you get from this speaker. At £275 it’s expensive for a speaker but the second you press play close your eyes and you will think you are front row listening to your favourite rock classic it’s worth every penny!
This is why we can proudly present the Orange Box our 3rd Editor’s Choice award as this speaker is simply outstanding!
Product Rating
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Features: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Audio Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Value For Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall ranking: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars – 5 stars
The Orange Box is available via Orangeamps.com for £275
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