VIZIO’s SmartCast Crave Go is a compact wireless speaker that not only offers Bluetooth, but Wi-Fi connectivity in your home as well. It offers a six-hour battery life, and is made from premium materials, including aluminum and rubberized plastic for durability. At just 8.6 inches wide, 1.5 inches thick and weighing in at 3.5-pounds, it can be setup anywhere in the home, thanks to a kickstand at the rear. Product page. Continue reading for our full review, in which a unit was provided for free by VIZIO.
Design
The first thing you’ll notice when holding the Crave Go is its sturdy construction, complete with the company’s signature large metal grille covering the front and top of the speaker. Rubberized plastic surfaces were added around the speaker are not only stylish, but also keep it safe during falls. A fold-out kickstand in the back perfectly complements the speaker’s rounded corners, enabling users to safely set it on just about any flat surface.
Right in the center of the kickstand, you’ll find a USB port, charge port, and an auxiliary port. Last, but not least, the device’s Bluetooth, volume, and play / pause buttons are conveniently located on the right side.
Features
Thanks to its multi-room capability, you’re able to connect multiple VIZIO speakers / sound bars together to play the same or different media in the bedroom, living room, etc. One of our favorite features is Wi-Fi streaming, which enabled calls and texts to come through crystal clear, without interfering with the music or whatever was being played.
After downloading VIZIO’s SmartCast Mobile app, connecting to the speaker and then using a smartphone to control it, was a breeze. To use Chromecast, simply open a compatible app, select the content you want to play, and press the cast button. Once the content is “cast”, a URL is sent to the speaker, which then connects to the website via WiFi, and pulls the content directly, enabling you to complete tasks on, without interruption on your handset.
Sound Quality
We noticed that the Crave Go was considerably louder, compared to other Bluetooth speakers, when playing music. The bass with punchy, but in a clean way, without distortion, while the mids and highs were crisp. Users can fine tune the EQ using the SmartCast Mobile app, which means you can increase / decrease the bass, treble, etc. However, we found the sound to be rich using the default settings, though you may want to increase bass for certain types of music.
Bottom Line
The Crave Go is a perfect complement to any home theater, and even more so if you already have other VIZIO speakers. Out of all the models we’ve tested, this wireless speaker offers the best choice for multi-room support, Wi-Fi streaming and Chromecast integration, in one package. More information.
