Summer parties and outdoors barbecues are on the way and AlphaTheta’s Wave Eight has left me ditching my palm-sized speaker thanks to its versatile use
Summertime is best for outdoor parties with friends and family, and a premium speaker makes it a party favourite. With the mercury on the rise towards the weekend, it’s about time to fire up a barbecue and get the grooves on.
Last month, I spent both my bank holidays hosting garden parties with the AlphaTheta Wave Eight DJ Speaker, as it offers more boost than my usual Bluetooth models. At £859, it is a professional DJ speaker but it’s also great to have in the garden.
This is more powerful than the usual palm-size portable speakers, I have a Marshall Emberton and a Bose Soundlink Mini, and it can be used at home, the studio, and medium-sized venues if you’re looking for something professional.
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To set up the Wave Eight speaker is pretty easy, turn on the speaker and pair with Bluetooth and I can play music from my laptop or mobile phone. I also use it as a sound bar to enjoy the thrilling beats while binge-watching the Mission: Impossible series.
AlphaTheta Wave Eight Speaker
£859
Argos
Buy Now on Argos
This new ultra-low latency technology transmits audio wirelessly much faster than a Bluetooth connection
With the extendable handle and wheels, it’s easy to move the Wave Eight in and out of the house but I have to admit it is a workout to lift it up to my first-floor balcony.
Having said that, the Marshall Emberton III speaker, £149.99, is great to use at weekend picnics with friends at a park. Claiming to have a stronger bass than its predecessor, the speaker is also upgraded to a batter battery with up to 32 hours of play time. Comparing the Marshall to Bose Soundlink Mini (now discontinued), the Emberton III is much lighter to carry and it has smoother edges to give a robust look and protection.
For the Wave Eight, the main feature, SonicLink, can wirelessly transmit audio from my Pioneer DJ controller to the speaker without any delay and yet bring the vibes to the party while my guests enjoyed a summer club-like experience in the garden. The gloomy weather did bring us occasional showers, but I’m pleased to find out the speaker is also waterproof and splashproof.
I didn’t have to turn the volume to maximum and yet it delivered a punch to the sound that my neighbour came around and said: “The sound is good and loud and I thought the pub’s DJ has returned.”
On a professional use level, my brother has also invited friends over and hosted a concert on the balcony and livestreamed onto social media like a Tiny Desk gig, which consumer-use speakers won’t be able to support.
However the Wave Eight speaker has a short battery life of eight hours whereas other brands such as the Bose S1 Pro+, the battery can last up to 11 hours and it’s comparatively cheaper, at £596.
The steep price tag is also another negative that might steer shoppers away and for a cheaper alternative, Yahama STAGEPAS400BT, £658.52 in a bundle, comes with a removable mixer and works as an active or passive speaker.
The speaker is also missing a playback equalizer panel, which could have allowed the user to boost or reduce the sound frequency as they wish, but AlphaTheta Wave Eight provides five Sound Mode Presets, which beginners find it easy to navigate.