Author: Anthony Roberts
Editor: Howard Ha
Publish Date: Thursday, January 25th, 2001
Originally Published on Neoseeker (http://www.neoseeker.com)
Article Link: http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/boostaroo/
Copyright Neo Era Media, Inc. - please do not redistribute or use for commercial purposes.
Sometimes some of the most popular inventions are also some of the simplest solutions to common problems. That’s what the Boostaroo really is, a very simple, and cost effective solution to a simple problem: the limitations of audio amplifiers in portable audio. If you have a very active outdoor lifestyle, or if you travel a lot and use your portable audio player in a noisy environment, you’re already familiar with the problem.
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| The Boostaroo in White |
The Boostaroo takes this one step further by providing 3 separate 1/8” output jacks, so that if you want to share the listening experience, up to three headphones can be jacked in. The beauty of this is that each of the three jacks output an equal volume boost. I don’t know about any of you guys, but I have tried sharing audio before using a Y-splitter, and the volume drops quite dramatically. In fact, sometimes the volume drop is so significant it’s not even possible to listen to anything anymore. With the Boostaroo you get a 4db boost to each of the three jacks, so that the volume is VERY listenable even if three of you are vying for precious amplifier power.
So how’s all this help you out? I took a stroll with the Boostaroo, and found that it’s single 4db boost in volume allowed me to keep the volume control at a more moderate level, and yet still get loud enough sound to satisfy me on the busy local transit. The quality of the audio was an immediate concern for me, but in those noisy environments, there was no noticeable quality loss. In a more quiet environment, I could definitely hear some added background noise, but this becomes a minor issue when you have a few friends plug in with you.
So just WHEN would you need the Boostaroo? There are a surprisingly large number of instances when you could make good use of the Boostaroo. For personal listening, the Boostaroo could help extend battery life on your portable player, and also give you that added volume boost in noisy environments. I am also partial to sharing audio during plane trips and while studying, and the Boostaroo makes this a very viable option.
Sound wise the Boostaroo is pretty good. The quality of the audio is retained even after the volume boost, but I did notice that there was some added background noise – a small but noticeable consequence of the boost. When I tried the Boostaroo in a noisy environment, the added noise wasn’t even noticeable, so this isn’t going to be an issue when you use it on the subway. The quality of the sound is most noticeable on a set of good speakers because the clarity and tonal quality of the audio can be quite clearly demonstrated as having survived intact and unaltered through the amplification.
There’s really only one real problem with the Boostaroo that I could find, and that was an audible click whenever it is turned on. The first time I used the Boostaroo, I had my headphones on and made the mistake of leaving the volume at my regular listening level – the sharp pop that the Boostaroo made when it turned on nearly took out my eardrums. OUCH. You’re probably familiar with a similar sound when turning on your speaker amplifier or when your woofer overloads and pops.
The Boostaroo works as advertised, though I am wondering just how many people are going to be willing to lug around a separate amplifier when they’re on the go. The marketing materials claim the Boostaroo is small and lightweight – but think about it, this thing runs on 2 AA batteries, and packs its own amplification circuitry in what I consider a less than appealing, and fairly large casing. At 6ounces (or 170grams) including batteries, this thing is nearly the same weight as a Rio600. Yikes. I for one, don’t like to carry any added weight when I’m on the go, but that’s probably because I tend to slip my portable player in my jacket pocket, and any added accessories would just bog me down. If you don’t have any problems with carrying something that weighs nearly as much as your portable player, the Boostaroo could be a quick and easy ticket to increasing the battery life of your portable player, and giving you that needed volume boost when you’re surrounded by the sounds of a busy metropolitan rush hour.
Overall Score: 76%
Final Note: I scored the Boostaroo a 76% because as a general tool, I don’t find it to be as polished as it could be. However, if you have a specific need for a volume boost, this is a great addition, and if you like to share audio, this thing becomes a godsend. For example, when a friend and I took a ferry over to a local island, the Boostaroo was a total life saver. Other instances where the Boostaroo becomes almost indispensable could be on long plane trips, or on motorcycles and convertibles – just about anywhere well known for being noisy.
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