In this article, we will talk about Twist Speakers Reviews, Design, Build, Battery Life, and budget Alternatives.
When it comes to audio products, iSound isn’t the most reassuring nor a popular name in the business. However, if you are looking for a Bluetooth speaker on a strict budget, iSound does offer plenty of ultra-affordable, high-quality portable speakers.
For those who didn’t know, iSound launched its first speaker lineup in 2002 for iPod, Zune, and PlayStation Portable devices. In a relatively short time, this small company managed to set a baseline in affordability and quality across the industry with its uniquely designed, room-filling speakers, along with other audio accessories.
That’s enough history, but what about the present day? Many of you may wonder if iSound speakers are still worth considering to this date. Chances are you have recently come across the brand’s Twist wireless speakers that are now readily available on Amazon. They are surprisingly cheap, but should you buy one?
Our iSound Twist Bluetooth wireless mobile speaker review will answer your questions. We have also included brief reviews of other iSound speakers with buy links, just in case you are interested in purchasing one of those units.
iSound Twist Bluetooth Wireless Mobile Speaker Review
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The iSound Twist is one of the company’s best-selling speakers, thanks to its unique twisted design, decent performance, and affordable price tag. We recommend reading through the following sections if you want to learn more about the speaker.
Design & Build
- Dimensions (W x D x H):2 x 2.2 x 9.8 inches
- Weight: 71 lbs
- Construction: Plastic
As its name suggests, the iSound Twist features an eye-catching, twisted monolithic design. There are unlikely any practical benefits of such a design, though it looks pretty cool nonetheless. You can find it in many colors, including matte black, glossy black, white, red, blue, etc. The review unit we have is the matte black one, and honestly, we dig its super stealthy nature.
The entire body is twisted from the middle, giving the portable speaker its innovative look. It mostly uses solid plastic, except for the color-matching front metal grille that protects the main drivers. Additionally, the back of the unit has some dotted perforations to help the built-in subwoofer emanate bass.
Along the back is where we also find the on/off switch, a 3.5mm auxiliary input for wired connection, and an unconventional USB Mini-B port for charging purposes. It’s a flawed connector known for its durability issues, something you should keep in mind.
There are five control buttons on the top-left part of the speaker, which allows you to adjust the volume, control the playback, receive calls, toggle Bluetooth pairing mode, etc. The small hole beside the buttons is for the built-in noise-canceling microphone, offering hands-free calling functionality with crystal-clear voice calls.
Overall, we don’t have any major complaints with the build quality other than the Mini-B charging port. Our iSound Twist review unit is practically flawless and doesn’t have any noticeable defects. The included charging cable and 3.5mm AUX cord isn’t of the best quality, but they get the job done. Note that you don’t get a USB power adapter with the unit.
Performance
- Max Output Power: 6 Watts
- Speaker Drivers: 2 x 40mm (3W), Passive Subwoofer
- Bluetooth Version: Unspecified
The iSound Twist features dual 40mm drivers and has a peak output power of six watts in total. There’s also a passive subwoofer to help with the bass. The speaker does support Bluetooth A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for wireless music streaming, but we don’t know the version for sure. Given its age, the unit probably has Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, though iSound doesn’t mention anything in particular on the user manual or the product description page.
The iSound Twist offers passable sound quality. It doesn’t have the best frequency response accuracy, and it struggles to produce low bass. We found the bass response to be slightly on the boomy side. The recessed treble range also doesn’t help the case. The only good thing is that it has a balanced mid-range, making sure the vocals and musical instruments sound accurate as they should be.
Unlike other low-end speakers, the iSound Twist doesn’t downmix stereo tracks into mono, which is great to hear. It doesn’t sound “immersive” by any stretch of the imagination, albeit we found the directivity to be pretty good.
Since it’s a portable speaker, don’t expect the iSound Twist to blow your mind. We also wouldn’t recommend cranking up the volume to the max as it amplifies the compression artifacts. It may not be suitable for large indoor parties but should be okay for personal use.
During our testing, we didn’t encounter any disconnection issues when playing back music over Bluetooth. The pairing process is easy to follow and relatively seamless as well. However, the high audio latency isn’t the best for watching videos since it causes lip-sync issues. That said, it’s perfect for listening to music.
The wired 3.5mm AUX input works as intended, though we strongly advise buying a new cable instead of using the crappy one included in the box. You will get slightly better audio quality over a wired connection, and there won’t be any latency.
Battery Life
- Playtime: Up to 5 hours
- Charge Time: 2½ hours
- Charging Port: USB Mini-B
The iSound Twist offers decent battery performance. It’s advertised to provide up to five hours of playtime, and we measured just above four and a half hours after a full charge. However, it’s worth mentioning that the battery life can differ depending on your usage.
Charging times aren’t also that bad over the USB Mini-B port. One thing we noticed is that the speaker goes into standby mode after a few minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life.
iSound Twist Bluetooth Wireless Mobile Speaker: Verdict
The iSound Twist covers all the necessary functions of a portable wireless speaker. It’s compact, lightweight, offers serviceable audio performance, and has a long-lasting battery. This model also breaks the conventional form factors with its stand-out twisted design.
Granted, the speaker uses an older Bluetooth version and has a Mini-USB charging port for some reason. The sound reproduction could also be better. Even before we got our hands on the iSound Twist, we had relatively low expectations considering its cheap price tag.
But after giving it a try, we feel more content, less bitter with the speaker’s overall performance and features solely because of its affordability. As long as your keep your expectations low, the iSound Twist should offer an overall decent experience.
That said, if you are willing to pay slightly more, the Anker Soundcore 2 is a fantastic pick for the price.
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| iSound Twist Bluetooth Wireless Mobile Speaker | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Unique twisted monolithic design | It doesn’t get loud enough |
| It offers passable audio quality | Older Bluetooth version |
| Physical volume and playback buttons | It uses the outdated USB Mini-B port for charging |
| You can use it in both wired and wireless mode | No smart app or voice assistant capabilities |
| Affordable price tag | |
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iSound also sells a smaller version of this speaker and calls it the Twist Mini. If you prefer portability over everything else, this is the version to get. You will also find the iSound Twist Mini Portable Bluetooth Speaker at a price slightly cheaper than the original.
Alternative #1: iSound iGlowSound Tower
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The iGlowSound Tower is a great alternative to the iSound Twist. It’s a cylinder-shaped portable speaker equipped with two 46mm drivers. The unit has a maximum output power of 7 watts at 4-ohm impedance, and its passive ported design enhances the bass response.
Aside from being stylish, the iGlowSound Tower is also quite durable. The smooth, rubberized finish protects the speaker against drops and bad weather conditions. It also comes with an IPX4 rating for water resistance, making it ideal for pool and beach parties.
This portable speaker has multi-color LED lights built-in to go along with your music. You can manually cycle between five color profiles to your liking. Plus, there’s a gravity sensor that auto-adjusts the lighting effect to match the speaker’s vertical or horizontal orientation.
Connectivity-wise, you get Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless audio streaming and a 3.5mm auxiliary jack for connecting to other devices. It even supports one-touch NFC pairing with compatible smartphones and tablets. The speaker uses a standard micro-USB port for charging.
The iGlowSound Tower does have physical buttons for volume adjustments and playback controls. There’s also a built-in noise dampening microphone for hands-free calling. The 2,600mAh battery inside provides up to eight hours of battery life, though it takes nearly five hours to charge.
If you are looking for a rugged portable wireless speaker on a budget, the iSound iGlowSound Tower is an excellent pick.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Cylindrical design, multi-zone LED lighting | Takes a long time to charge |
| Good performance for the price | |
| Weather-proof and water-resistant |
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Alternative #2: iSound HiFi Luxe
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Those who are searching for the best-sounding portable Bluetooth speaker without emptying their wallet will find the iSound HiFi Luxe compelling. It features two 52mm drivers that can achieve a peak 9W output together. The unit also packs a 76mm subwoofer, which is capable of delivering a max 8.5W output power.
The iSound HiFi Luxe sounds incredible, but it also manages to look sleek and stylish at the same time. The all-black enclosure has a soft-coated rubberized finish. It comes with a faux leather strap handle for easy carrying and traveling.
Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.1, providing up to 30 ft. of wireless transmission range. You also get a 3.5mm AUX port for plugging in smartphones, tablets, iPods, desktops, and laptops over a cable. The speaker uses a micro-USB plug for charging.
The top of the HiFi Luxe gives you access to all the basic functions. This includes play/pause, volume up/down, and forward/back buttons. You also get a receive/end call button and Bluetooth pairing toggle. Additionally, the speaker unit has an integrated noise-canceling microphone for hands-free voice calls.
The HiFi Luxe offers up to ten hours of continuous playtime. The large 4,400mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery takes only three hours to top up. However, your mileage may vary based on usage. It’s worth noting that the speaker enters power-saving mode to conserve battery after ten minutes of inactivity.
If you prioritize audio quality over ruggedness, the iSound HiFi Luxe is the way to go. Although the speaker has a higher retail price, it’s pretty easy to find online at steep discounts nowadays.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Compact yet powerful sound | Older Bluetooth version |
| Premium build quality | Lacks FM radio |
| Exceptional battery life |
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Other iSound Twist Bluetooth Wireless Mobile Speaker: Honorable Mentions
In our honest opinion, we recommend the above models as three of the best iSound speakers you can buy today. However, they aren’t the only models sold by the brand. A handful of them often go under the radar, but we think they still are worth considering, especially on a budget. Here are the honorable mentions:
iSound Duratunes Bluetooth Wireless Speaker
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- Single 45mm speaker offers 3.5 watts of output power, with rich sound and thumpy bass
- Rugged and sturdy build can survive drops from up to 6 ft., comes with an IPX4 water-resistance rating
- Features onboard volume and music playback controls, hands-free calling with noise-canceling mic
- Up to ten hours of uninterrupted music playtime in just three hours of charge
- Includes a wrist strap in the box, available in two color options
iSound iGlowSound Dance
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- It has a boxy design with rounded edges, with multi-color LEDs underneath the speaker grille
- Allows users to daisy-chain two of these units to get a stereo audio output
- Offers up to six hours of playtime based on usage, takes 3½ hours to charge fully
- Built-in microphone enables hands-free calling and digital voice assistance functionality
iSound HiFi Waves Pro
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- Equipped with two 52mm tuned drivers, a single passive bass resonator, 10 watts of maximum output power
- Premium build quality, seven-segment LED display, subtle lighting
- Sleek integrated carrying handle, along with buttons for switching between modes, music controls, and volume adjustments
- Bluetooth 2.1 support, 3.5mm AUX port, and FM radio
- 4,400mAh rechargeable battery, up to 11 hours of listening time
Bottom Line
In this guide, we have covered an in-depth review of the iSound Twist Bluetooth wireless mobile speaker and briefly discussed two of its best alternatives. iSound speakers are pretty easy to recommend due to their affordable prices, though they also have a few minor caveats, which we have pointed out in the reviews.
In case you didn’t notice, we have also included instant links so that you can check the prices of the following speakers. Some of the popular iSound speakers often go on sale on Amazon, so you may get the chance to secure a good deal.
If you want us to cover more speaker reviews like this one, tell us in the comments below. While you are here, be sure to check out our other reviews and shopping guides for more products.
