Sound quality: iHome's iBN6 has only fair overall sound quality. Bass is weak and lacks impact, with just sub-par definition. Midrange is thin, nasal, gritty, and a bit metallic. Treble is prominent, sizzly, and spitty. The unit doesn't do a good job recovering room ambience. The sound is congested, harsh, and lacks fine detail. There's no significant sound-quality difference between Bluetooth and line-in connections. The speaker does provide a decent volume level in a small- to medium-sized room.
Ease of use: This speaker was relatively easy to use. Bluetooth pairing with NFC was simple: With the push of a button, you start the process and then select the speaker from your device. Selecting source connections-Bluetooth or line-in-is also simple. Just note that it's possible to play both simultaneously, so you may need to stop one to avoid overplaying the other. This unit also lacks a remote, which isn't an issue if it's near at hand or paired with a mobile Bluetooth device that can serve in that role.
