Now that mobile phones have become capable as MP3 players in their own right, Motorola has come to the rescue with a new range of MOTOROKR EQ speakers that are specifically designed for mobile phones and other portable devices. The EQ7 is the flagship model in the range, with built-in Bluetooth to stream music wirelessly, a standard 3.5mm audio jack for connecting non-Bluetooth devices, and speakerphone capability.

Right from the get go, it’s clear the EQ7 is a serious bit of kit, ditching the conventional fold-up speaker design for something that bears an uncanny resemblance to a car speaker. Four Odyssey transducers are covered by a black metal grill, and there are buttons on the lip for volume and playback control. The EQ7 is essentially a mix of JBL audio and Motorola Bluetooth technology, so both brands are stamped on the  top (although the JBL logo is more prominent than the Motorola one).

Setting up the EQ7 for wireless streaming is fairly easy. It uses Motorola’s ‘EasyPair technology’, which is a fancy way of saying that you don’t have to put it into pairing mode before connecting it to a Bluetooth phone or MP3 player. A power button on the back turns the speaker on, and after a brief startup sound, the Bluetooth logo flashes to indicate it’s ready for connection. You still need to enter the standard password (0000) on the phone to connect it to the speaker, but this only need to be done the first time you set it up.

Audio from the EQ7 is fantastic: excellent bass response, crisp highs, and a warm vibrant sound that rivals the quality of portable speakers that are double the price. Bluetooth playback doesn’t sound quite as good as when you’re using the wired 3.5mm connection, but that’s par for the course with wireless streaming, and it’s still the best we’ve heard from a Bluetooth stereo.