Turning Waste into Music: A Gomi Speaker Review
There are no shortage of portable speakers on the market, however, with sustainability at the forefront of consumer minds, marketing is often engineered to oversell their commitments. Many popular brands are embracing recycled materials, however every part of Gomi's range of technology is meticulously thought about with sustainability and longevity at the forefront.
The Gomi Wireless Speaker was my first purchase from the company, and I am in love with the product. Thorough this review, I will explore my feelings, helping you to decide whether this one of a kind speaker is for you.
Read on to find out.
Who it suits
- Anyone looking for a speaker that minimises e-waste.
- Anyone looking for a unique speaker, no two are the same.
- If you want a speaker which can be repaired
Who It Doesn’t
- Anyone who is not confident buying a speaker, not knowing exactly how it will look
- If you are on a budget
About The Speaker
- Price: £320 ($427)
- Height: 95 mm
- Width: 200 mm
- Depth: 70 mm
- Weight: 1.04 KG
The speaker I bought was a collaboration with Goodhood where they used the mailing bags, preventing them from being wasted. Typically, Gomi will do collaborations with brands such as Vans, however they also have a range of designs available all the time.
On top of the box is a unique-handwritten number showing the edition number. Inside the box was a start-up guide, a letter of authentication and a power cable, USB-C to USB-C. The speaker design I bought features a mixed pattern of black and white with a metal backplate with easy to remove screws for official repairs by Gomi.
Specifications
Gomi claims the handmade speaker has a 32-hour battery life; however, no details are given under what conditions this is achieved. Additionally, it is claimed the speaker is splash resistant and IPX6-rated water resistance. Primarily, the speaker is to be used with Bluetooth, though auxiliary is also an option. Finally, the speaker can be easily set up to work in stereo, helping to boost the sound of the full-range neodymium driver.
Gomi Wireless Speaker Product Video
Teaser trailer showing the speaker off cinematically
Promotional video about the circular design of their speakers and the design behind it.
Aesthetics
As previously discussed, each speaker, even in the same colourway, is unique due to the hand stretching and twisting of the plastics used. However, this does mean the preview image will not be an exact representation of the product. Personally, the speaker I have features swirls and mixed patterns of black and white with a small logo from the mailing bag on the centre of the speaker. Personally, many speakers are not aesthetic and if you look at them, they scream they are a speaker, yet the range from Gomi feels like a functional art piece and a talking point with friends and family.
The rear of the speaker is simple with intuitive buttons with a clean metal backplate reducing the overbearing controls.
Sound
I am no audiophile when it comes to music, however when I started playing music for the very first time I was blown away by the quality, likewise my parents were as well. The speaker emits the sound through the punched out holes on the front, with no holes anywhere else, resulting in the sound only coming from one direction.
Sound clip of the speaker starting up before music is played.
Eco Credentials
Gomi have considered the environment throughout the designing of the product, and it is easy to see. The outside pattern on all of their speakers is made from recycled plastics. In this collaboration, mailing bags were used from Goodhood. However, each design will manipulate the plastics to create a unique pattern, resulting in a one of one product.
Battery claims from e-bikes power the speaker, giving it up to 32 hours of uninterrupted listening on a two-hour charge. According to Gomi, the batteries used have passed the highest form of battery safety certification, which is the UN38.3 certification.
To make charging easier, and require less cables the speaker charges with an included braided USB-C to USB-C cable.
The total impact of the speaker is 9.06 kg, which is 50% less than a market leading equivalent Bluetooth speaker of the same size and weight, according to Gomi's product page.
What Do I like about the Gomi Wireless Speaker?
Personally, speakers are an excellent way to listen to music, especially with friends or while doing other jobs around the house. However, many speakers focus on performance and not style. For me, this means putting the speaker away when you have finished. Gomi has changed this for me, as I want to showcase the design and I feel like people may not actually realise it is a speaker from afar. Furthermore, discussions can be had about the uniqueness of the product and the credentials it boasts.
The pairing of the device is simple to do, resulting in a stress-free listening experience. While the volume buttons are on the rear, I often use my phone to control the volume, so this has not been an issue for me.
As I have written about earlier, the credentials the speaker offers are wonderful, by keeping plastic and batteries from being disregarded. Additionally, the speaker can be repaired, helping even the most avid listener keep jamming to music for years to come.
Pros
- Made in the UK
- Uses recycled plastics and batteries
- Unique one of a kind design every time
- Buy it for Life, since it can be repaired
- Simple to operate
Cons
- Because each time the design is unique, the preview images are not what you will exactly get.
- Can only connect to one Bluetooth device, meaning you will need to disconnect before setting up a new device
Verdict
The speaker by Gomi by is a premium product at the price range, however in return you are getting a unique British assembled speaker which is repairable for a maximum cost of £50.
Additionally, we are incentivising more products, showing there is a demand for repairable technology which is typically a grey area with many brands not opting to make it easy.
The Gomi speaker sounds incredible and has a fun start-up sound that I love, though it might not be for everyone's taste. Lastly, the speaker boasts an IPX6 rating, helping you bring tunes to more places.
I strongly recommend the Gomi Bluetooth speaker for all your music needs, unless if you wish to travel lighter or smaller as there are options out there, however, they will not meet the same eco credentials and uniqueness.
