Razer is one of the most popular solutions to all your PC and console gaming needs, with accessories, peripherals, and devices in almost every category you can imagine. That alone has sold millions, but Razer also regularly does collaborations with other companies and brands to appeal to the mega-fans that want something a little more unique.

I recently went hands-on with a new exclusive "Hello Kitty Edition" of one of Razer's best-selling gaming headsets, but that collaboration didn't personally speak to me. Now, Razer has dropped a new collection centered around the greatest character from the Hello Kitty universe. The arrival of everyone's favorite gothic rabbit girl, Kuromi, has led to some of the best-designed special edition products I've ever seen from Razer.

There's some really cool stuff here for fans and collectors... But none of this gear is anything I actually want to add to my setup. I'm reminded yet again that Razer's best rarely receives the special edition treatment.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Razer. Razer had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Breaking down the entire Razer Kuromi collection

The Razer Kuromi collection comprises six products, of which two are part of one bundle (so five things you can purchase). Each product boasts a unique black-and-purple design, complete with Kuromi herself and a healthy amount of Kuromi-related iconography (such as her iconic skull). Unfortunately, each Kuromi Edition does come with a premium up charge compared to the standard variants.

Here's everything in the Razer Kuromi collection:

• Razer Enki X Kuromi Edition Chair for $549.99 at Razer (instead of $399.99 for the standard black-and-green model)
• Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Kuromi Edition Headset for $129.99 at Razer (instead of $99.99 for the standard model or $139.99 for the Hello Kitty special edition)
• Razer Oranta V3 Tenkeyless Kuromi Edition Keyboard for $119.99 at Razer (instead of $69.99 for the standard model)
• Razer DeathAdder Essential Mouse & Goliathus Mousepad Bundle for $69.99 at Razer (instead of $29.99 for the standard bundle)
• Razer Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition Soundbar for $129.99 at Razer (instead of $99.99 for the standard model)
• Bonus: Razer Skins Kuromi Edition for...
  • Nintendo Switch OLED for $19.99 at Target
  • Nintendo Switch for $19.99 at Target
  • Nintendo Switch Lite for $14.99 at Target

All in all, you'd be paying an additional $300 for the complete bundle compared to what you'd pay if you bought this exact setup but without the Kuromi additions. That's a pretty steep increase, especially considering all of these products firmly belong in the "budget" category of Razer's catalog. There's no way to buy everything as a set, but you can learn more about the Razer Kuromi collection at Razer.com.

Everything but the gaming chair is also available to purchase from Target. You can find those links below (and the links for the Nintendo Switch skins above).

A brief hands-on with each Razer Kuromi accessory

Razer was kind enough to send me the entire Kuromi collection, so I was able to go hands-on with it all. Enjoy some pictures and my quick impressions on each product, followed by my conclusion detailing exactly who should buy these special editions... and who should not.

Razer Enki X Kuromi Edition

First off, we have what I think is the best-looking product in the entire Razer Kuromi collection. This is a Razer Enki X gaming chair (which we reviewed), one of Razer's most affordable chairs in its growing lineup. Of course, this Enki X boasts a special livery, and it's actually pretty thorough. The predominantly black design has been replaced by broad swathes of cross-hatched purple fabric, purple stitching, and a ton of cool details.

You have the Razer logo emblazoned in matching purple, Kuromi's iconic skulls below the headrest, and Kuromi herself striking a pose on the back of the chair. This isn't a cheap reskin, nor did Razer haphazardly slap a million tiny Kuromi's onto the existing Enki X and call it a day. I really like how this chair looks, and it is a decent gaming chair beyond the epic aesthetics. Well, the Razer Enki X is, at its normal pricing, but the Kuromi Edition is a lot more expensive, and you're still confined to static lumbar support and relatively limited adjustability.

Usually retailing for $400, the Razer Enki X Kuromi Edition is $549.99 at Razer. Yeah, that's a $150 up charge for nothing more than an alternative design. That design may be awesome and the quality may be there, but you're entering Secretlab territory with that pricing... and the Razer Enki X just isn't as nice as the Secretlab TITAN Evo.

Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Kuromi Edition

If you already owned the white-and-pink Hello Kitty variant of this headset, now you can add its black-and-purple counterpart to your collection. When I first saw the former, I thought that Razer probably could've done better — and I was right! This headset looks great, and it's also easier to recommend than the Enki X chair... As long as you're looking for a budget wireless headset to fulfil your needs.

The matte black plastic and purple cushions are obvious, but Razer also attuned the built-in Chroma lighting to Kuromi's iconic color scheme and added some other details. The Kraken Kitty V2's cat ears have also been replaced with... Well, they're not ears. I guess the points on Kuromi's hat thing? Whatever you call it, it certainly gives this headset a unique profile. On the inside, it's the same Kraken Kitty V2 with Razer's familiar sound tuning, 2.4GHz wireless connectivity for PC gaming, and Bluetooth connectivity for everything else.

Build quality isn't exceptional, but that's a characteristic of the headset. The Kuromi Edition alterations are not casual, and there's no danger of your special edition become less "special" over time. If you're interested, you can get the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Kuromi Edition for $129.99 at Razer, which is $30 more than the standard version (that's a fair — if still unwelcome — premium, in my opinion).

Razer Ornata V3 Tenkeyless Kuromi Edition

Next, we have the Razer Ornata V3 Tenkeyless, Razer's cost-effective low-profile wired gaming keyboard. This is a solid keyboard for those who don't need anything fancy, as you're getting solid key action, good software support, and Razer Chroma RGB lighting for some added customization. Of course, this version defaults to Kuromi's purple, because it wouldn't make sense otherwise.

As far as special editions are concerned, this one may be the most modest (if only because there's so much Razer could've done). Yes, all the keycaps are purple, and you get some cute Kuromis and other icons scattered around the keyboard, but most of the cool factor comes from the magnetically attached wrist rest in the box. Razer could've done more with a unique font, maybe Kuromi-fied icons for special keys, and even a custom "Escape" key (which seems to be the first key to get its own personality).

I love how this keyboard looks and the Ornata V3 Tenkeyless is a really solid low-profile keyboard, but it's hard to look past what could've been when the Razer Ornata V3 Tenkeyless Kuromi Edition costs $119.99 at Razer, which is a full $50 more than the normal version. To call that a major price increase would be an understatement, as you can start thinking about building your own custom Kuromi keyboard at that point.

Razer DeathAdder Essential & Goliathus Bundle Kuromi Edition

This is the least interesting item in the Razer Kuromi collection, but it's for a different reason than the Ornata V3 Tenkeyless keyboard. Razer honestly did a commendable job transforming the budget-tier DeathAdder Essential wired gaming mouse, with grippy pink sides and scroll wheel, a patterned top that blends seamlessly into the buttons, and a glowing purple skull to replace the Razer logo the Kuromi fans don't want.

The Goliathus mousepad is a great option for those that simply need a reliable soft mat for their mouse, and the Kuromi Edition is the same. There's purple stitching along the edges and a randomized Kuromi-themed pattern (with Kuromi herself in the center), and that's it... But what more could you ask for? No, I have no issue with how Razer designed these products, but I do take issue with how this bundle is priced. You see, the Razer DeathAdder Essential & Goliathus Bundle only costs $30 — for lack of better words, it's Razer's cheapest entry in its mouse lineup, for those who really don't want to spend a lot for a dependable gaming mouse.

The Razer DeathAdder Essential & Goliathus Bundle Kuromi Edition, on the other hand, is $69.99 at Razer. That's a ridiculous mark-up, seeing as you can get a dramatically better mouse (and still get an equivalent mouse pad) at that point. Don't get this unless you're a collector or mega Kuromi fan.

Razer Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition

Finally, we have what's probably my second favorite entry in the Razer Kuromi collection. The Razer Leviathan V2 X is the company's most affordable PC soundbar, so it's not the fanciest around, but it boasts an attractive and compact design alongside solid sound quality and just enough features to make it interesting. The Kuromi Edition has all of that, but it looks much better than the boring standard version.

You're looking at wired USB Type-C audio for your PC, Bluetooth 5.0 for all your wireless devices, Razer's tuned dynamic drivers, and a series of built-in controls so you don't need any additional software. Of course, you can always install Razer Synapse if you want to customize the 10-band equalizer or the 14 Razer Chroma RGB lighting zones. The Kuromi Edition swaps out the front-facing black fabric for purple, does the same to the buttons, and wraps the entire soundbar in randomized Kuromi-themed icons. Look closely, and you'll find Kuromi on the top and her iconic skulls on either side.

I really appreciate the simple design of this soundbar, and it's a solid option for those who don't need a luxury or hi-fi audio setup. You're not going to impress the guests, but it's good enough for casual music listening and gaming. The Razer Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition is $129.99 at Razer, so $30 more than the standard version... Which also feels reasonable, no matter how much I wish we didn't have to pay extra.

Awesome collectibles, but not for my personal use

Purely from a design perspective, I do believe that the Razer Kuromi collection is one of the company's finest collaborations. The consistency, attention to detail, and awesome color scheme make these some of the striking products in Razer's catalog. Sadly, they're also not the products I want to use, and most people probably won't want to pony up the premium just for special editions of these products.

That's because Razer only gave its most affordable accessories (and chair) the Kuromi Edition treatment, which leaves a lot of gamers out of the fun. It makes sense from a business perspective — Razer doesn't want to make a niche special edition of a niche premium product that already sells low volume. Any premium for the Kuromi branding on a product that's already meant to be as cheap as possible immediately makes that product a lot less desirable.

I can't seriously recommend anyone but hardcore gaming collectors and the biggest Kuromi fans spend over twice as much for a budget mouse and simple mousepad just because it has Kuromi on it; or spend an additional $150 on a gaming chair when there are better options at that price; or drop an additional $50 on a keyboard when it has never been easier to build your own, custom dream keyboard. The headset and soundbar are still approachable enough to be forgiven, but I do feel like a lot of people are going to be turned off to some epic special editions because they either cost too much or they aren't the products they want to use.

If one of the Razer Kuromi collection products did catch your eye, you can go back to its section to find the links you need. I'm going to go back to using the Razer gear I know and love... Maybe I'll buy some Kuromi stickers so I can pretend.

It can be extremely convenient to have a soundbar or capable set of speakers on your desk, and the soundbar sitting in front of me also happens to be incredibly easy to set up and use, and boasts Bluetooth connectivity in addition to its wired options. Helps when that soundbar is loud enough to fill your whole room with noise, too, and the BlueAnt Soundblade ticks all of those boxes.

I did criticize this sleek and slim soundbar for its pricing in my review, though, a flaw that has been wholly rectified by an aggressive Black Friday discount that has, at least for now, outlived Black Friday. For a little while, the BlueAnt Soundblade Under-Monitor Soundbar is only $119.99 $129.99 at Amazon, a 40% discount on any of its five colors. That's a great price, enough that I'd actually consider getting another one of these soundbars.

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A loud and capable soundbar with some serious style

Unlike most of the soundbars with which you're probably familiar, the BlueAnt Soundblade I reviewed isn't designed for living room televisions. Instead, this soundbar is made to be the perfect audio companion for your laptop or desktop PC, complimenting your desk and filling your office with loud, confident sound. To this end, BlueAnt did away with the classic "candy bar" design of most soundbars in favor of something sleeker and unique.

As the name suggests, the BlueAnt Soundblade Under-Monitor Soundbar is meant to sit directly under your monitor, with its design accommodating most monitor stands and allowing you to reclaim that precious desk space otherwise lost. The Soundblade can still take up a lot of desk space thanks to its deep design, but it is an admittedly slim and attractive soundbar that also comes in five different colors. I have the standard black, but that blue looks incredibly fun.

When you need to connect, the Soundblade supports USB audio (the preferred method for your computer), standard 3.5mm audio for, well, basically anything, and even Bluetooth 5.3 to connect to your smartphone and other wireless device. All of this works well, and there are helpful touch controls and a reliable remote to let you quickly control the Soundblade, including adjusting volume, changing inputs, swapping between audio EQs, and more. The Soundblade does very well at all the basics.

"But what about sound?" you may be asking. The BlueAnt Soundblade is a 2.1-channel surround sound system with dual drivers and a massive 80mm subwoofer nestled between them. That downward firing woofer is an impressive unit, pushing out a shocking amount of bass and helping support this soundbar's frankly ridiculous maximum volume levels. Yes, the Soundblade gets loud, to the point where I almost never go above 25% volume in my two-bedroom apartment.

For the most part, the BlueAnt Soundblade also sounds good. As I mentioned before, there's a ton of confident low-end that transfers through your desk surface, and the main tweeters also sound clean and detailed... For the most part. At higher volumes and with music especially, the Soundblade can begin to lose clarity and sound muddy, dipping below the standard I'd expect from a $200 soundbar. Fortunately, that criticism is far less of a concern with this deal.

BlueAnt is discounting the Soundblade by a massive 40% for a limited time, shooting past the attractive $150 sales price we've seen for this soundbar before. Right now, you can get the BlueAnt Soundblade in any of its five colors for just $119.99 $129.99 at Amazon, a price good enough that I'd happily pick up another (and get a more exciting color).

Building your audio setup can quickly get complicated in the office, especially with the majority of monitors not featuring built-in speakers. For those that don't want to have to reach for the headset every time sound comes into play, soundbars like the BlueAnt Soundblade answer the call.

This soundbar is designed to occupy the space below your monitor, which is typically eaten up by your monitor stand regardless. To this end, BlueAnt has designed a very attractive soundbar with considerably more fun color options than I expected. There's a lot to love about this soundbar (especially if you need something to fill, well, a whole house with noise), but its pricing underscores the handful of weaknesses it has a little too much.

If you're in the market for a soundbar or speaker setup on the desk, the BlueAnt Soundblade could be the perfect solution. You can skip the preamble and go straight to checking out the BlueAnt Soundblade for $199.99 at Best Buy, or keep reading to see why I'd personally recommend waiting for the deals I've already seen for this soundbar.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by BlueAnt. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

BlueAnt Soundblade review: Pricing and specifications

Pricing highlights

• The BlueAnt Soundblade Under-Monitor Soundbar retails for $199.99, and you can choose from five different colors.
• Considering the audio experience of this soundbar, though, that price point feels a little steep.
• The BlueAnt Soundblade has been seen to go on sale for as little as $150, though, and that point feels like a much better purchase.

The BlueAnt Soundblade Under-Monitor Soundbar is positioning itself as a more premium product in the space, retailing for $199.99 at Best Buy where you can find other decent soundbars for less than $100. BlueAnt is justifying this pricing largely based on the Soundblade's design, which admittedly does stand out in the sea of black bars we're accustomed to.

It does help that you can get the BlueAnt Soundblade in five different colors, including fun options like blue, green, and pink, for $199.99 at Amazon. BlueAnt sadly sent me the tried-and-true grey, but it's nice to see a company embrace "fun" in an era where everything seems to be black, grey, or white.

In the box, you'll find the BlueAnt Soundblade Under-Monitor Soundbar, an included remote control with 2x AAA batteries, a USB Type-C to Type-C cable, a USB Type-C to Type-A cable, and a 3.5mm audio cable. You'll also find eight extenders for the Soundblade's rubber feet, which elevate the soundbar more for taller monitor stands or legs. The BlueAnt Soundblade is also covered by a 1-year full warranty with a 7-day resolution guarantee.

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BlueAnt Soundblade review: The good

The pros highlights

• The BlueAnt Soundblade does have a sleek and quality design, and I love that there are multiple color options.
• This soundbar is dead simple to set up, too, with various connectivity options, integrated touch controls, and an included remote.
• The Soundblade also offers a solid audio experience with good low end and an absurdly high max volume.

The BlueAnt Soundblade clearly stands out from the get-go thanks to its iconic design, and I have to admit this is one of the more attractive soundbars I've seen. All of the speaker components are tastefully hidden underneath a swooping plastic top with a brushed finish, giving the soundbar a much sleeker look than your average black bar (I would've love to have seen some of the more colorful options in person). The construction feels quality, too, with sturdy plastic, snug ports, and quality fabric covering the forward-facing speakers.

On the right side you'll find a handful of touch controls for power and volume, which work but can be finicky. I suppose form won over function in this case, since capacitive buttons are undoubtedly sleeker than the physical alternative. All your connecting ports are aligned on the back of the soundbar, and it's obvious what goes where. Finally, the remote control included in the box (with batteries) also feels soundly constructed with a simple, easy-to-use layout and simple controls.

It's with this remote that you'll change audio inputs and EQs, but you also get volume and track controls, too. It all works great and — most importantly — works immediately. There's no need to install drivers or additional software; the moment you plug in the BlueAnt Soundblade and turn it on, it just works. The same goes for Bluetooth with your mobile devices, too. The Soundblade is always ready for me the moment I turn my computer on, and I've never had to wait for it to connect to my phone when I needed it to.

You won't find any digital voice assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa here, though, and there are no mics anyways. This is just meant to be a soundbar, and it does accomplish that job. The dual drivers and internal subwoofer inside the Soundblade provide warm sound with deep low end bass, and it sounds great for video conferences, media consumption like movie, and even cinematic games. You have three different EQs on the remote (Game, Music, and Movie) and they do change the audio profile to a noticeable degree, but I tended to leave it on the more neutral "Music" profile.

By far, the most impressive part of the BlueAnt Soundblade Under-Monitor Soundbar is just how loud it gets. Keeping the soundbar at 10/100 is more than comfortable when I'm sitting on my desk, and at max volume the Soundblade easily fills my entire two-bedroom apartment with noise. I'll get into the downside of this ear-shattering volume in the next section, but those who are deliberately looking for an incredibly boisterous soundbar will meet their match in the BlueAnt Soundblade.

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BlueAnt Soundblade review: The bad

The cons highlights

• The Soundblade's premium design also comes with some downsides, including its extra deep shape.
• This soundbar also doesn't perform the best when it comes to music, quickly becoming muddied and losing separation (especially at higher volumes).
• These compromises wouldn't be so bad, if you weren't also paying $200 for a 2.1-channel soundbar.

The BlueAnt Soundblade is indeed an "under-monitor soundbar" in that it's designed to comfortably sit on your monitor stand, space that's already occupied. It's immediately much better than most normal soundbars that demand a completely flat, long surface to rest on because of that design, but there are some downsides, too. Well, one, actually.

Where most soundbars are long and narrow, the wide Soundblade squats on your desk. Reclaiming the space your monitor stand claims doesn't mean much if your soundbar claims all of it and more, and the Soundblade does indeed. I actually keep the Soundblade off to the left of my monitor, just so my keyboard (and its wrist rest) would have a little room to breathe. BlueAnt could've done with making this soundbar a little longer and a little narrower.

Another positive with this design? The rubber feet on the bottom. By default, they give you enough leeway to set the Soundblade on top of a flat monitor stand, but if you need more headroom you can elevate the Soundblade with included extenders. That being said... the extendable rubber feet feel like they were a stroke of genius during the design process, but the execution feels more like an afterthought.

I was pleasantly surprised to find them in the box and, indeed, the BlueAnt Soundblade wouldn't work nearly as well with my setup without them. However, they're all too easy to knock loose and don't feel sturdy in the slightest. They're simply rubber, and installing them gives the Soundblade a concerning amount of lateral movement. On the other hand, it gives the subwoofer a little more room to spread those low end notes out, which sounds lovely.

Speaking of sound quality, that's also an area where the BlueAnt Soundblade leans too far in one direction. Sure, this soundbar can get ridiculously loud (louder than I'll ever need), but the cost of that is a muddier audio profile that stands out most with music. It's not bad, but the Soundblade clearly struggles to maintain clarity and separate with complex music, and it only gets worse as the volume increases. I would happily trade some of that max volume for clearer sound, but you're not even given a way to tweak the Soundblade's EQ yourself to try and find a good middle ground.

That all brings me to my final point. The BlueAnt Soundblade retails for $200, which is easily among the more expensive 2.1-channel soundbars, firmly in the territory of 4.1-channel soundbars, and beginning to intrude on the dominion of the most affordable 5.1-channel soundbars. A unique design and a solid foundation of basic features isn't quite enough to justify that price tag when you can get more dynamic or outright better sounding speaker setups for the same price.

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BlueAnt Soundblade review: Final thoughts

You should buy this if ...

✅A soundbar perfectly designed to slot under your monitor is what you've been looking for

This design isn't perfect and the Soundblade can still take up a lot of space, but its design is nonetheless rather unique and can be the perfect missing piece for a lot of desk setups dealing with a space-eating monitor stand or arm mount.

✅Volume matters more than pure audio quality

The Soundblade sounds quite good as far as the average 2.1ch soundbar is concerned, but its sheer ability to fill any available space with absurd amounts of noise is hands-down this soundbar's defining characteristic. If you're willing to sacrifice a little audio quality for that benefit, this is the way.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You listen to a lot of music at louder volumes

I overall enjoy how the Soundblade sounds, especially with its surprisingly present low end and warm tones, but I can't overlook that this soundbar struggles the most with complex music tracks. If you plan to primarily listen to music (especially at higher volumes) you can find better-sounding speaker setups for around the same price.

The BlueAnt Soundblade Under-Monitor Soundbar is a fascinating product that I can easily see slotting right into a lot of people's office or gaming setups, and it's clear this was not a product hastily thrown together to make a quick buck. It's a quality soundbar with great fundamentals and good (sometimes great) audio quality for a wide variety of content and tasks. On top of that, it's unbelievably easy to set up and just as simple to control, too.

If you highly value a loud sound system, then that's just the icing on the cake. I doubt I will ever use the Soundblade at max volume beyond the testing I did for this review, especially since I don't believe my neighbors would at all appreciate the ruckus. There are just enough compromises here to really make that $200 price point stand out, though.

The Soundblade still manages to take up a lot of valuable desk space because of how much deeper it is than your average soundbar, and the brilliant extendable feet feel less brilliant when they keep falling off. At this price, I also expect great audio quality across the board, and the Soundblade both struggles most with complex music and struggles more as the volume increases. When you can find solid soundbars with more speakers and audio options at this price, the Soundblade looks a little less appealing despite its unique design.

Don't get me wrong, I still really like this soundbar overall, and it'll keep its home on my desk until something undeniably better comes along. I also know that you can regularly get the BlueAnt Soundblade for $149.99 at Amazon, which feels like the perfect price for this monitor. If it's on sale, I absolutely recommend it.

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In recent years, sound bars have become a popular audio device that many prefer over traditional speakers, as they can produce high-quality sounds while taking less space on desks or tables. One example of these vaunted sound bars is the VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar, which just had its steep MSRP of $199.99 reduced to $36.99 thanks to Walmart's astronomical huge 82% Anti-Prime Day discount deal.

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Why should you buy this sound bar?

VEATOOL has a reputable track record for producing high-quality audio devices like earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, speakers, and more at affordable prices compared to premium devices made by its competitors like Razer or Turtle Beach, and the VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar is no exception.

This sound bar comes packed with a myriad of features and technological components that help it stand out among the best speakers on the market. For starters, the VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar comes equipped with 50W output power and two full-range drivers. These allow it to produce immersive, bassy, HiFi audio with expansive stereo effects when paired with your TV's speakers.

The VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar also has built-in DSP technology to ensure that the sounds it produces are stable and accurate, and it has three Equalizer modes. These Equalizer modes (Music, Movie, and News) will automatically alter the sound quality of your TV depending on what media you're experiencing. Movie Mode will enhance the sound effects of movies, Music Mode will add audio clarity to songs, and News Mode will make conversations during newscasts and movies clearer so you can more easily understand what the people are saying.

It also features Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, so you can pair it with compatible TVs with fast and stable connections with mighty anti-interference. You can even pair it with compatible mobile phones, so you can transmit your phone's song playlist to it and listen to your favorite songs in higher quality than your phone.

To top it off, the VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar is relatively simple to set up, and it supports 3.5mm (AUX&RCA) and optical wired audio inputs, mobile phones, tablets, TVs, computers, projectors, and set-top boxes. Do note that you will need to make sure your TV's audio settings are set to PCM for ARC/optical input before using the VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar, otherwise, it won't work.

However, the VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar has some caveats you need to be aware of before deciding if this sound bar is right for you. It lacks surround sound and Atmos content, it doesn't feature a center channel (which can affect the audio clarity of dialogue in movies, TV shows, and games for better or worse), and it doesn't have voice control or smart home integration.

If you can look past those flaws, then the VEATOOL 2.1ch Sound Bar will satisfy your auditory needs greatly, especially now its MSRP of $199.99 has been reduced to an amazing discounted price tag of $36.99 at Walmart. 

More Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals

We at Windows Central are scouring the internet for the best Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals, but there are plenty more discounts going on now. Here's where to find more savings:

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• Gaming headset deals: Walmart | Dell | Target | Best Buy | Amazon 
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• Gaming handheld deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
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Jabra is probably best known for its Bluetooth wireless headsets, but it also produces quality Bluetooth speakers. It offers an entry-level/easy series SP-200 and now are adding to their advanced model/smart series with the Cruiser. The Easy Series speakers from Jabra cover the basic hands-free operations and the Smart Series adds a few more bells and whistles such as a FM transmitter.

Not everyone is comfortable wearing a Bluetooth headset, but still wants a hands-free environment while driving. The Jabra Cruiser, being part of the Smart Series, will give you hands-free operation of your Windows phone along with the ability to channel streaming audio to your FM radio.

We took the Cruiser out for a test drive with the AT&T Tilt 2 and Samsung Jack. Ease on past the break to see what type of impression the latest Jabra Bluetooth speaker made.

Design

Compared to the Jabra SP-200 and the SP-700, the Cruiser is more polished in appearance with the glossy black facing and chromed buttons. The Jabra Cruiser measures 5" L x 2.4"W x .67"D and attaches firmly to your visor with a wire hook.

To the right side of the Cruiser you'll find the volume keys and charging port. To the left are the power button and FM buttons. On the face of the Cruiser you'll find the playback buttons (play/next/previous) and the answer/end button. LED lights are also on the face of the speaker to show battery, call, connection and FM transmission status.

The Cruiser comes packaged with a USB cable, car charger adapter and a Quick Start guide. Battery life is being reported at 14 hours of talk time and 13 days of standby time. Based on the use during the test period, I won't disagree with these numbers and with the included car charger, battery duration becomes a non-issue.

Hands-Free

As a hands-free Bluetooth speaker, I found the Jabra Cruiser to be a good performer. The speaker has a dedicated power button and when powered up, goes automatically into pairing mode. The Cruiser has voice confirmations (a female voice with a slight British accent) that help guide you along the pairing process.

Pairing was easily accomplished with both the AT&T Tilt2 and Samsung Jack. Once paired, the Cruiser remembers the last device paired with so when you turn it back on, it searches for that device.

As a hands-free solution, the Cruiser allows you to answer/end calls, redial, access voice commands (phone dependent), and muting. The speaker has Voice Announcements where the British female voice announces incoming calls.

Call Quality

Call quality on the Jabra Cruiser is good.  It's not "knock your socks off" good but does the job well.  The strong point has to be with the microphones.

The Cruiser uses dual microphone technology to filter out background noises.  Some Bluetooth speakers require you to raise your voice to be heard but with the Cruiser, the dual microphones and noise filtering software allowed me to be heard nicely over my car stereo and the traffic noise using a normal tone and volume.

The weak point of the Cruiser's call quality was the speaker volume. The Cruiser's volume seemed muted and while the microphones battled background noise really good, the speaker struggled. It performed well with no background noise (e.g. car parked) but you had to max out the volume to hear the speaker over the engine and traffic noise.  Speaker volume is manageable but probably the weakest point of the Cruiser.

FM Transmitter

While the Jabra Cruiser is a hands-free solution for your Windows phone it is also a FM Transmitter. This allows you to direct audio files to your car's FM radio. If you tap the FM Transmitter the speaker will announce which station you should set your car radio to.

You can control the playback (play/pause, next track, and previous track) from the Cruiser.  Sound quality was good with very little static present.  If the pre-selected channel doesn't ring loud and true, you can have the Cruiser select an alternative channel to feed your audio files to.

Overall Impression

Personally, while from time to time I will use a Bluetooth headset, in the car I'm more comfortable using a speaker solution. I often find myself fumbling with the headset and the convenience of having a portable Bluetooth solution on the visor is nice.

I've used the Jabra SP-200, SP-700 and now the Cruiser. With respect to call quality the Cruiser is a good choice but a mixed bag. I feel the microphone performance of the Cruiser is the best of the bunch. The dual microphones and noise reduction software performs noticeably well. The speaker volume, however, is a little on the weak side. The SP-200 might be the stronger performer in this respect. The Cruiser's speaker seemed muted but workable.

The Cruiser does offer a FM Transmitter, which performed well sending your favorite tunes to your car stereo. The speaker is sleek and professional looking.

So when the dust settled, I look at the Cruiser this way. If you want more out of a Bluetooth speaker than just a hands-free solution then the Jabra Cruiser would be a good choice. If all you need is a hands-free solution then the SP-200 would be my choice.