In the test: the Pocket Kick from Soundfreaq - my smallest Bluetooth speaker

Test report on the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick

The manufacturer sound freq gave me his little bluetooth speaker called "Pocket Kick" for a test. Aside from tiny bluetooth boxes the size of a matchbox (and a similar sound), the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick is now the smallest speaker in my collection. This makes it the right partner when it comes to mobile sound reinforcement in small spaces. You can read how well it does in practice in my review.

The small Bluetooth speaker "Pocket Kick" from Soundfreaq is about the same size as the iPhone XS (only a little deeper) (Photos: Sir Apfelot).
The small Bluetooth speaker "Pocket Kick" from Soundfreaq is about the same size as the iPhone XS (just a little thicker) (photos: Sir Apfelot).

Technical data of the Pocket Kick

As usual, I would like to briefly mention the “specs” of the Bluetooth box here, so that these have already been ticked off.

  • Manufacturer: Soundfreaq
  • Model: Pocket Kick (SFQ-10)
  • Charging port: Micro-USB
  • Running time: approx. 10 hours
  • Built-in microphone: yes
  • Stereo: no
  • Waterproof: no (no IPX protection class mentioned)
  • NFC pairing: no
  • Battery indicator: in the iOS device
  • AUX-in: 3,5 mm jack
  • Drivers: 2x 1-inch drivers + passive bass radiator
  • Size: 15 x 7,5 x 2,8 cm
  • Weight: 260 grams
In addition to the speaker itself, the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick also comes with a micro-USB charging cable and a wrist strap (photos: Sir Apfelot).
In addition to the speaker itself, the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick also comes with a micro-USB charging cable and a wrist strap (photos: Sir Apfelot).

Look and design of the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick

I had the blue model of the Pocket Kick sent to me because there are already enough black or gray Bluetooth boxes. I think the color is very pretty and the look of the device is really good from my point of view. If you have other color preferences, you can also find the Pocket Kick in black or silver.

The on/off switch is a slide that is easy to operate, but which cannot be triggered accidentally in the pocket, as it has been sunk into the housing to fit perfectly. On the other side you will find three buttons for "Volume Up", "Quieter" and "Pause/Play".

Fortunately, real, rubberized buttons were used here, which work reliably and are not as sensitive to moisture as the touch fields that are otherwise found in hip speakers.

The front and back of the Pocket Kick are provided with a metal grille that not only looks good, but also offers protection from damage. The rest of the housing is made of sturdy plastic, with two rubber lips installed on the underside, which ensure a non-slip stand on smooth surfaces.

The pocket kick is almost as big as our cat !? Not really ... but - like cats - suitable for use in the garden.
The pocket kick is almost as big as our cat !? Not really ... but like cats, it is suitable for use in the garden. Even if the IPX7 protection class for protection against strong splash water is missing.

Operation and handling of the Bluetooth speaker

The Pocket Kick from Soundfreaq is really a neat, small, portable Bluetooth sound box. In terms of dimensions, the Pocket Kick corresponds to the footprint of my iPhone XS (not MAX), but it is a bit thicker. To stick with comparisons, I would say: If you put three bars of chocolate on top of each other and assemble them with adhesive tape, you should get a feel for how big the box is. The weight is also roughly 260 grams.

Due to the dimensions of the speaker, it can be easily packed into a jacket pocket. So it is a perfect companion if you are looking for a small speaker that you can quickly slip into your jacket or backpack.

But it is also practical in the house: for example, I always have it with me when I want to cook something in the kitchen and listen to a little music or a podcast.

On the left side of the Pocket Kick you will find the power switch, the Bluetooth button as well as the micro USB and AUX input.
On the left side of the Pocket Kick you will find the power switch, the Bluetooth button as well as the micro USB and AUX input.

Pairing the Pocket Kick - solved super-easy

You can supply the small Soundfreaq loudspeaker with audio signals with a 3,5 mm jack cable, but since its actual purpose is to be portable and to play music, you will in most cases choose the connection via Bluetooth.

The connection required for this is extremely easy with the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick: Immediately after unpacking, you switch it on with the slide switch and it is already waiting for the connection in pairing mode. Via the Bluetooth settings on the iPhone, you can then connect it immediately and get started.

If you want to pair it with another device later, you press the Bluetooth button on the Pocket Kick and it goes back into pairing mode. This can be recognized by the flashing status light built into the power switch. Pairing itself is only ever possible with one audio source.

The controls on the Pocket Kick are very practical and easy to use. With some other speakers, manufacturers sometimes try to solve everything with a single button. The consequence is that you have to read the instructions until you understand how to get into pairing mode, change the volume or answer a phone call. With the Pocket Kick this is so intuitive that I didn't even have to read the instructions before using it for the first time.

After more than 10 hours of playing time, you have to recharge the Pocket Kick. This works with a micro USB cable. USB-C would have been great, but micro-USB is pretty common too.
After more than 10 hours of playing time, you have to recharge the Pocket Kick. This works with a micro USB cable. USB-C would have been great, but micro-USB is pretty common too.

Sound quality of the Soundfreaq loudspeaker

As much as I like the look and the operation: Unfortunately, there are some compromises in terms of sound quality, because the bass is a bit weak with the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick.

I realize that loud speakers of this size cannot be expected to boom in bass, but I had heard other Bluetooth boxes with similar dimensions that sound much "rounder".

To test the sound, I always connected two different boxes to the iPhone and then switched from one to the other while listening to it. This makes it easy to compare the sound quality and quickly notice where the differences are.

On the left the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick and on the right the Soundcore Flare 2 - a not entirely fair comparison when you consider the size (photos: Sir Apfelot).
On the left the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick and on the right the Soundcore Flare 2 - a not entirely fair comparison if you consider the size, because larger speakers usually sound more voluminous (photos: Sir Apfelot).

I have the pocket kick at the same time as the Soundcore Flare 2 which is a bit larger and can therefore naturally produce more bass. Nevertheless, during the test I noticed that with the Pocket Kick a considerable range of the low frequencies is imperceptible.

Otherwise, the sound is not bad, because for songs that have less bass, I would have even preferred the Pocket Kick to the Soundcore Flare 2 because it sounds better and more balanced.

Point acoustics against 360 ° sound

In contrast to the Flare 2 from Soundcore, the Pocket Kick delivers the sound in a very straightforward manner. It's hard to describe, but while the music is "distributed" quite well with the 360 ​​° loudspeaker from Soundcore, with the Pocket Kick you can always locate exactly where the music is coming from.

It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's an effect I wanted to mention. If you are next to the pocket kick all the time because you are cooking in the kitchen, this is not a problem. But if the loudspeaker is 3 to 4 meters away, the thing just sounds less “spatial”.

Soundfreaq - definitely a speaker manufacturer to remember.
Soundfreaq - definitely a speaker manufacturer to remember.

My conclusion on the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick

I really like the look and the operation of the Pocket Kick. The fact that it is not waterproof is easy to get over if you don't have to take it with you into the pool. I haven't yet dropped a speaker in the lake or the bathtub, so one IPX7 rating is unimportant for me personally.

It is well protected against bumps and dirt thanks to its robust exterior. So you don't have to worry about using it in the garden or at a children's birthday party.

The Pocket Kick can withstand rough handling in a backpack or during outdoor activities. Just don't put it in water.
The Pocket Kick can withstand rough handling in a backpack or during outdoor activities. Just don't put it in water.

The only thing that is a bit painful is the poor performance at low frequencies. If you listen to well-known pieces of music with the Pocket Kick, you will quickly notice that “something is missing” here. Other manufacturers have installed a button in some of their speakers that increases the bass. Such a thing would have been good for the Pocket Kick to make the sound rounder. But it may be that it was deliberately left out of the Pocket Kick because the development team consists of music enthusiasts and such people tend to prefer a “neutral” frequency response rather than the bass-heavy sound found on most Bluetooth speakers today.

However, it is easily suitable for listening to music in the garden, in the kitchen or during a hiking break. If strong bass is not important, but pack size is more important, then the Pocket Kick from Soundfreaq is a good partner.

You can use the speaker from Soundfreaq here at Amazon find or buy via this product box:

Soundfreaq Pocket Kick Bluetooth speaker with hi-fi bass, portable speaker in ...
  • [Rich sound quality] Wireless speaker with loud sound and no harmonic distortion offers ...
  • [BOOMING HIFI-BASS] The Pocket Kick bluetooth speaker has extra bass included to increase the volume ...
  • [Effortless Connection] 4.0 Bluetooth technology enables wireless portable speakers provide flawless ...

Manual and instructions as download

If you are looking for the instructions or the operating manual for the Soundfreaq Pocket Kick, you will here find it. I have photographed them and make them available here as a photo. I often feel that after years I only have the loudspeaker and then look for the instructions. For this reason, I've gotten into the habit of always taking photos of the manuals for the devices. Maybe it will help one or the other ...

The operating instructions for the Pocket Kick Bluetooth speaker from Soundfreaq - here as a photo.
The operating instructions for the Pocket Kick Bluetooth speaker from Soundfreaq - here as a photo.

 

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The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de

2 comments on “In the test: the Pocket Kick from Soundfreaq – my smallest Bluetooth speaker”

  1. What is this Klickbait advertisement for recently in the blog? A lot of funny articles are displayed under the posts with fake pictures and sometimes really sexist titles ... is Corona so bad for you that you have to make money with something like that or is the malware in your system?

    1. Hello Ted! Thanks for your comment. You can imagine that it is not easy to maintain the blog and cover the costs. For this reason, I am currently experimenting with the advertising partner Taboola for 30 days to see whether one can generate advertising income with it without major annoyance to the readers. In this respect, your feedback is interesting, because I notice that the advertising is already attracting negative attention (at least to you). It would of course be nicer to have a couple more supporters at Steady to be independent of such advertising, but unfortunately there is not enough income at the moment. I hope you can hold out the advertising feed for another 25 days. Then it will probably be removed ... ;-)

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