"For the past 40 years, MUZEN has been working to create high-quality retro-style radios and to bring the classic radios of the Golden Age back into the public eye. Back by popular demand, the OTR Wood Portable Bluetooth Speaker is thoughtfully crafted with a special consideration given to convenience and aesthetics. For fans of a vintage wooden style, the OTR Wood Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a perfect choice with its natural wood finish and vintage look which was handcrafted through 27 processes by expert craftsmen." That is the official description for the OTR Wood Portable Bluetooth Speaker, now available from MUZEN, which has provided NewTech Review with a unit for review.
Inside The Package
The MUZEN OTR Wood is a 3-in-1 portable speaker that provides audio playback via Bluetooth, auxiliary input and FM Radio. The package includes a variety of items. When you first open it you’ll see a nice cardboard tote that can be used if you’re giving the radio to someone as a gift. You'll also see a large cloth bag with a drawstring. Inside the bag is a leather case that contains the radio itself surrounded by foam and wrapped in a matching microfiber cleaning cloth. The package also contains the following accessories: a micro USB charging cable, a 1/8-inch audio aux cable, an antenna and a user manual.
The OTR Wood Design
The OTR Wood is housed in a beautifully designed 3.72in x 2.84in x 2.21in vintage wooden enclosure that weighs approximately 1 lb, but don’t let its modest size fool you, this unit provides great sound and performance. On the front you’ll find the speaker grill, a function indication LED light and three knobs. These knobs control the power / functionality, volume and FM radio tuning.
On the back of the radio is a cooling vent, a list of specifications, as well as a connection port that is shared by the USB charging cable, the aux input and the FM antenna. The bottom of the unit has four rubber feet that help keep the radio from moving or vibrating when placed on a surface.
Using the OTR Wood at Home or On The Road
The OTR Wood provides three different audio playback functions: Aux input, Bluetooth, and FM Radio. The Aux input allows you to connect any audio device that has a 1/8-inch stereo output. You simply plug one end of the included audio cable into your device, the other end to the USB input of the OTR Wood, and then turn the Power knob to the Aux position. The LED light on the front will turn red. Using the Aux input allows the battery to last up to 20 hours.
The wireless capabilities of the OTR Wood allow you to connect any Bluetooth audio device that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or lower. While you can only pair one device with the OTR Wood, the pairing is very quick (usually only a couple of seconds), so switching devices is easy. Simply turn the Power knob to Bluetooth. The LED light will turn blue and you’re ready to listen. Using the OTR Wood in Bluetooth mode allows the battery to last up to 10 hours.
The FM radio mode lets you listen to any nearby FM radio stations in the frequency range of 87 to 108 MHz. You may find that the built-in antenna may be all you need to receive a signal, but if not, you can attach the included external antenna to the back of the OTR Wood. Then simply turn the Power knob to the FM setting and adjust the tuning knob to find a station. Using the OTR Wood in FM radio mode allows the battery to last up to 20 hours.
In any of these situations, the rechargeable lithium-polymer battery (3.7V / 1000 mAh) takes approximately three hours to fully charge.
Music, Podcasts and More
Because of its small size and the fact that it contains only one speaker, you may think the sound of the OTR Wood may not be enough, but you would be wrong. The 40mm / 1.57-inch neodymium iron boron full frequency speaker provides great sounding audio. We tested the OTR Wood with music, podcasts, audio books… and we found the sound to be both clear and full.
MUZEN has done an excellent job in creating a portable wireless speaker that can produce great sound in both the home as well as on the road. The included case will keep the OTR Wood safe when traveling and you’ll be able to enjoy audio from almost any device, as well as FM radio from your favorite stations.
For more information, visit:
* Website: https://muzenaudio.com/products/otr-wood-vintage-wooden-radio-bluetooth-speaker
* Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yso45b