Treblab is a relative newcomer to the music industry, producing inexpensive Bluetooth speakers and headphones since 2015. With the exception of the HD-Max Speaker, nearly all of Treblab’s products retail for less than $100, portraying them as more affordable alternatives to wireless speaker staff favourites from JBL and Ultimate Ears. The Treblab HD77 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that can accompany you to a backyard barbecue or a wilderness trip, but not to a beach party or a bath.
It has a similar appearance to the JBL Charge 5 and Flip 5, so let’s compare the $89 HD77 to these outdoor speakers. The Treblab HD77 is a cylindrical wireless speaker with a flat edge that allows it to be placed either standing or lying down. Similar to the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, the majority of the speaker is encased in a black woven fabric, with rubber pieces on both ends to protect it from scratches. In contrast to the Boom 3, the HD77’s edges are more rounded, and the ends of the speaker are surrounded by a blue light that turns red when the battery is low. When the HD77 is upright, two faint Treblab logos on either end of the gadget reflect light.
Four huge buttons are located in the speaker’s centre. These buttons control a variety of features, including power, play/pause, volume, next/previous track, and phone calls, including answer, reject, hang up, and redial. The controls are intuitive, and the buttons clack satisfyingly when pressed. There is also a built-in microphone for making calls over the speaker, but no voice assistant or button to activate Alexa or Google on your phone. There are a micro-USB port and a 3.5mm jack on the rear of the speaker for connecting your phone with the included cable.
The speaker has a reassuring weight without seeming excessively bulky in the hand, and its construction appears and feels tough and resilient. The HD77 is shockproof and has a water-resistance grade of IPX6, which means it can withstand rain and splashes but should not be submerged in water. The HD77 has a 5200mAh battery and boasts 20 hours of playback duration at a low volume, 12 hours at a moderate volume, and 9 hours at a high volume; the aux cord can be used to prolong this time. The duration of charging is four hours. The audio is distinct and transparent. The tonal harmony is excellent. Also, impressive is the bass performance, albeit the lows could be deeper.