The Logitech Pure-Fi Mobile is one such wireless speaker system, but it's not limited to Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. The speaker also includes a 3.5mm auxiliary port for connecting MP3 players and other audio sources with an earphone jack, as well as a mini-USB port for hooking it up to a PC or Mac. Plus, it doubles as a speakerphone for connected mobiles and computers when you're using a VoIP program like Skype.

As you can guess from its name, the Pure-Fi Mobile is designed for life on the road. It's a bit longer than we're used to for a portable speaker, but it's reasonably light and comes with a soft nylon carry case to prevent scratches and damage in transit. Design-wise, the Pure-Fi is neither flashy nor generic, with a gloss black front, silver trim around the middle and rubberised black rear. It's powered off a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 12 hours, and while it isn't as convenient as replaceable AA batteries, you've got the option of charging it with the small power brick or through a computer using the included USB cable.

All the cables are included for connecting the Pure-Fi Mobile to compatible audio inputs, namely a male-to-male 3.5mm audio connector and a mini-USB cable. Setting it up is fairly straightforward if you've got the instructions to hand, but don't expect to get everything working off-the-cuff unless you've set up a similar system before. We noticed an error in the Bluetooth setup instructions that advise you to look for 'Logi Spkr' rather than 'Pure-Fi Mobile', and the instructions for setting the speaker as the default audio device on a PC or Mac – a multi-step procedure that involves fiddling with the computer's Audio settings – were too skimpy for beginners.

Sacrificing quality for portability is something we're used to in mobile devices, and in that sense  the Pure-Fi didn't throw any surprises our way. Compared to typical notebook speakers, the Pure-Fi is superior in both volume and bass, but if you compare them to a similarly-priced iPod speaker dock, audio quality is lacking. Bass-heavy tracks in particular get the rough end of the stick, with the bass bottoming out and lacking punch, however mid-range and treble are also muddy and distorted, and there aren't any controls for adjusting any of the sound levels (aside from volume).

The speakerphone feature is a nice touch for connected mobile phones and computers, with an integrated microphone array that's designed to pick up voices and block out unwanted background noise. The latter feature worked well, however callers reported that we sounded far away and echoey, almost as if the speaker was in another room and we were talking to them from a bathroom or toilet (it wasnt, and we weren't).

Travellers after a portable stereo will find lots to like in the Pure-Fi's compact size and wide compatibility, but if audio quality is high on your list of priorities, look elsewhere.