Was I expecting too little of the Stellé Audio Couture Audio Clutch
I have to wonder when a speaker-in-a-purse sounds so good. At a price of $300, maybe I shouldnât have been so surprised.
The Audio Clutch appears to be a womanâs handbag, but springs open to reveal two 1.5-inch speakers. It connects to a music source by Bluetooth or 3.5-millimeter phone jack, and pumps out very good sound.
The device is 9 by 4.5 by 2 inches when shut. While weightier than an evening bag, it shouldnât be too burdensome to carry.
The Audio Clutchâs Bluetooth connection, however, had glitches â" it had to be reset several times. In subsequent uses, it did not reconnect reliably, and when it did reconnect, it did so slowly.
The speakers handled a variety of music quite well, providing clear, full sound, with one exception â" the Overture to âThe Mikadoâ caused distortion. No other music I tried did, however.
I could blast jazz, rock, blues and hip-hop music at maximum, and while the volume was louder than I would like, it wasnât quite room-filling. Youâll be disappointed if your goal is to rattle the windows at a dorm party.
The fit and finish is good, with a glaring exception. The charging and accessory port is covered with a loose flap of faux hide material. How long before that little flap becomes worn
Carrying the Audio Clutch might look cooler than toting a speaker dock, except people may wonder why you are carrying two purses. The Audio Clutch is so crammed with electronics, it canât be used to carry anything else.