The iHome iDM8 ($59.99 direct) is a cute and compact portable Bluetooth speaker that provides modest audio quality at an affordable price. It's not for audiophiles and won't power your next house party, but for casual, on-the-go listening, where all you want is a little background music, the iDM8  is a capable travel companion.

Design, Setup, and Performance
With a cool spherical design, the iHome iDM8 resembles an oversized microphone top. Measuring 3.1 by 3.5 by 3.5 inches (HWD), the 9.1-ounce speaker is about the size of an orange, and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The iDM8 comes in black or red, and a silver band extends around the iDM8 and houses the Power, Bluetooth/Play/Pause, and Volume buttons. The bottom of the speaker is flat, with a rubberized ring to keep the iDM8 in place, and there's a switch to toggle between Lock, Aux-In, and Bluetooth modes. Around back is a micro USB port, which connects to an included cable with connectors for both full USB (for charging) and 3.5mm (to connect a sound source via headphone jack).

There is no display, only a single LED that blinks either green or amber depending on the connection status. Power on the device by holding the Power button until the light turns amber. Hold the Bluetooth button until the light begins blinking, then pair like you would any other Bluetooth device, and the light will turn green to indicate an established connection. The process is simple and straightforward. The iDM8 auto-pairs with the last used device in range, which is great if you use a single sound source, but a bit cumbersome for switching between devices—you'll have to hold down the Bluetooth button again until the light blinks amber to pair with another device. 

Given the size and price of the iDM8, audio quality expectations shouldn't be very high. That said, the iDM8 gets loud enough to use at your desk, or bedside in a hotel room, though bass begins to distort at maximum volume. You'll get much better sound quality from the Jawbone Jambox ($199.99, 3.5 stars), which also acts as a speakerphone for your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, but you'll also be paying more than three times the price. Bass-heavy songs like The Knife's "Silent Shout" give the iDM8 trouble, with serious distortion creeping in at moderate volumes. At maximum, the iDM8 sounds like a tabletop radio, with a harsh, treble-heavy sound. The Logitech Mini Boombox ($99.99, 4 stars) is a bit more expensive, but provides more powerful audio and fuller sound—though it too distorts at maximum volume. iHome didn't provide an estimate for battery life, but in testing, the iDM8 lasted through a whole day of intermittent use on a single charge.

For the best audio quality from a Bluetooth speaker, our Editors' Choice, the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker ($299.95, 4 stars), delivers, but it's much bigger, and a lot more expensive. The iHome iDM8 isn't the best-sounding wireless speaker, but it does win points for its unique, portable design, and low price. 

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