When it comes to speakers, Braven has delivered some exciting audio gear in the past, and it doesn't look like there's any sign of stopping now. For even better news, the folks at the Max Borges Agency sent out a Braven BRV-1M speaker for us to review, and if you're looking for a portable powerhouse that will run the show, you'll have all you need right here.

The Braven BRV-1M speaker is a ruggedized portable speaker that comes with a variety of points to deliver sound at almost staggering levels. It's sufficiently ruggedized, in fact, to boast IPX7 level waterproofing, allowing it to withstand one meter of water  to make it easily stand up to rain or wave spray. Throw in a crush-resistant frame and it will stand up to a lot of the worst pitfalls portability can generate. The 2200 mAh battery allows it to not only deliver 12 hours of continuous play--which will suffice for even the most raucous beach barbecue or anything else--but it will also let it serve as a backup battery charger for smartphones and similar small devices. Cuts into the runtime, of course, but that's to be expected.

Better yet, its portability is sufficient that it can be mounted to nearly anything; since it comes with an Action Mount accessory, it can mount to any GoPro mount, making it every bit as portable as the cameras of the same name. Weighing just over a pound, and coming with plenty of protection as mentioned previously, this delivers quite well. With connectivity offered in both Bluetooth and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a wide array of devices can be hooked in here. Charging is easily done by included USB cable, making it a snap to plug into a PC or into a wall with the appropriate adapter. Amazon offers these in three different colors for around $75.

By way of trying this out, I ran about a dozen different songs through this, from power ballads like Stan Bush's "The Touch" to Wednesday 13's "Gimme Bloodshed," and the range of sound going on here was truly impressive. Whether electroswing or death metal, it responded with appropriate if not necessarily outstanding highs and lows. This isn't a desktop system or a cabinet affair, after all. Hooking it to my Sony MP3 player was a snap, and the covered connection ports on the back won't prove an Achilles' heel in harsher environments. It's got all the protection you could ever ask for and probably a bit more besides. Don't even worry about dropping it or getting it wet; this is ready for most anything. Audio power was sufficient to the point where I had to actually turn down the volume to be in the same room with it. It was easily audible through closed doors and across the house. Charging it the first time was a snap and done in a few hours with a USB connection.

While it's not going to be a replacement for a home theater system, you can count on the Braven BRV-1M to deliver high-end sound on a portable basis, making it great for parties, for portable gaming, or just about any other portable application. Take it anywhere, and be confident; it will survive most any adventure you might have, and when it recharges your phone for you, well, it might save you in more ways than you expect.

Pros: highly resilent, takes on the world and delivers high end sound

Cons: not a match for some more dedicated powerhouse systems