Every time a new Gravastar equipment is released to the market is worth checking out what they’ve been doing. Gravastar’s scifi-themed designs always bring something new and unique to the table. And its latest Bluetooth speaker known as Gravastar Supernova, Gravastar Supernova, isn’t more different.
With its three of legs that resemble robotic spiders, the Gravastar Supernova incorporates the audio expertise of the company with a RGB lamp to make another striking Bluetooth speaker.
Gravastar Supernova Style
Gravastar’s products are based on a firm design principle. It is easy to spot the Gravastar speakers (or earbuds! ) that’s quite an accomplishment in the world of Bluetooth speakers of all shapes and size.
The Gravastar Supernova sits on three spider-robot legs with feet that can be folded in to lower the size (or keep them in the way when hanging the speaker – more on this in a second). The top of these legs, is the speaker’s housing that project audio directly onto the surface you place on. Supernova on.
Above that, you’ll find the LED lamp integrated, contained in a plastic cylinder that lets the three different light modes to be seen through. It’s a striking design and one that you can’t see anywhere else. The housing measures around 88mm wide and the whole thing is 285mm high.
The case is protected by zinc alloy, which should be able to withstand falls and shocks, but the plastic housing for the feet, the speaker and the LED’s case may not be as shock-absorbing like the steel. But throwing the Supernova from a height was not something I wanted to do.
I noticed that the LED light akin with the brain of the Gravastar Supernova. It pulsates and changing as your music plays. There are three modes of light one color: single, dynamic (with eight different options) as well as an outdoor light mode that is designed to mimic the crackling colours of the flames of a campfire.
The dynamic mode with pulsating ebb and flow is the most enjoyable of the three modes, ebbing and running through the Supernova’s color spectrum as well as the LED strip that is on each foot. The campfire lighting option is fine, but the biggest issue with all the lighting options is a absence of brightness overall. In dark rooms the Supernova’s lights shine brightly, but in a grey, gloomy morning in UK the lights won’t make much of a impact.
You can Hang on the Gravastar Supernova
Now, on the back columns of this Supernova are two tiny screw holes. They are used for the hanging kit that allows users to transform your Supernova into a speaker that hangs. The hanger is similar to an ax and is easily attached onto the Supernova frame with the included screws. The hanging of a speaker with this size and weight can seem a bit odd but on second thought the 1kg weight isn’t too expensive for a high-quality Bluetooth speaker and the hanger is made well.
Gravastar Supernova Battery Life
The Gravastar Supernova has a solid 3,350mAh battery. Gravastar promises an up-to 9 hours playback when listening at a volume of 60. In my tests, when it was the Gravastar Supernova was plugged into my kitchen as my go-to household Bluetooth audio device, it played for more than that because the volume was consistently minimal. Turn off the lighting effect to get more juice from the Supernova.
One of the issues that I have with one issue with the Supernova is the charging time. The Gravastar Supernova requires around three hours to get to a full charge and does not include a fast charging feature in the sense that I was able to be able to discern. I like the way the speaker’s light turns red when charging, and switches to the last lighting mode when you reach maximum capacity, but the three hours required to complete the charge takes a lot of time.
You can purchase the Gravastar Alpha65 GaN charging system (65W) that can improve the speed of charging However, it’s a cost of $60 in comparison to the Supernova.
Gravastar Supernova Connectivity
It is possible to connect with the Gravastar Supernova with Bluetooth or using a 3.5mm Jack one, which is always pleasant to see on a predominantly wireless speaker.
The Supernova makes use of Bluetooth 5.3 which is the most recent version of Bluetooth at the time of our review it connects to your device quickly and smoothly. It is also able to easily reconnect the last device you connected and it also has the Supernova proclaiming “Bluetooth connected” in a loud voice.
There’s a choice of your choice of SBC as well as AAC Bluetooth audio codecs, however, there isn’t any high-resolution audio available. It’s also not a device designed to play high-resolution audio, which means you won’t be missing the other choices.
It is also possible to pair 2 Gravastar Supernova speakers together to make a stereo sound this is a clever method. I did not receive the two speakers I reviewed (understandably! ) So I didn’t get the opportunity to test this feature.
Gravastar Supernova Audio Quality
My experiences in the past of Gravastar Bluetooth speakers have been excellent. The similar dismal Mars Pro delivered excellent sound and the less powerful Gravastar Venus has a significant punch..
However the Gravastar Supernova can’t quite reach the same highs like it’s counterpart, the Gravastar Mars Pro even though it produces 30W in comparison to that of the Mars Pro’s 20W. The added power is a contributing factor to an extremely powerful speaker that fills every space you place it in (within reasons, of course) However, the additional power hasn’t helped in refining the sound quality for the Supernova.
When you start cranking the volume, the massive noise will begin to blur the lower end. The more you push the volume knob the more clarity you lose.
When it’s operating at a acceptable volume at a lower volume, when operating in a more reasonable volume Gravastar Supernova sounds good. Although not amazing however, it’s still good enough to do great for an outdoor barbecue, on the beach for a day or in the garage while you work involved in some DIY.
The main issue with this Supernova has to do with its appearance. The futuristic spider-robot design is awesome and I am a fan of the design of Gravastar, but when the Supernova project its audio directly down, it’s audio bounces off the surfaces you put your speaker to. Sometimes, this provides greater bass and more full sound, but at other times it can make the more muddy and overwhelming and the sound reflects straight back to the point it was broadcast from.
The hanging of the Gravastar Supernova up gives the downward facing drivers more breathing space and alters the sound profile. It sounds more clear and clearer, without bounces off a wall.
In all honesty, Gravastar Supernova can be used with all genres of music. Our tastes in music are very diverse and its place in the kitchen meant that the Supernova was able to work with nearly everything you could think of. If you manage to keep the volume at a moderate level you’ll love the Supernova exactly as I did.
Should You Purchase Gravastar Supernova? Gravastar Supernova?
The Gravastar Supernova is available at $179.95 This puts it within the price range of Bluetooth speakers.
If you’re looking for a distinctive speaker then this Gravastar Supernova is the one you’re seeking. It’s like no other Bluetooth speaker currently available (bar the Gravastar’s designs) and it’s added changing color lighting system that helps bring it to life will increase the quality.
I’d like to see slight increase in battery life, and certainly a faster charging times in the future model however, all in all, the Gravastar Supernova package delivers enough design and quality to be worth your time.
